How do I construct a "named character" programmatically?

Question

Why am I getting the error

Syntax::sntunc: Unicode longname in the string is unterminated.

from the following?

astroSymbol[name_String] := ToString[ToExpression["\[" <> name <> "]"]] <> "" ;

Is there something I need to do to wrap the escape sequence to avoid this error?

That's the answer. I'm surprised it works at all without the escape (it generates the expected string). — orome, Nov 14 '12 at 15:18

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 26 '13 at 17:29

4

To include a backslash in a string, you need to escape it, like so:

"\\[" <> name <> "]"

answered Feb 26 '13 at 17:29

Szabolcs

1 Answers1