# Basic for loop to build a string (Newbie question)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [20 July 2022 10:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360 "2022-07-20T10:53:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kenson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@Kenson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kenson)\
**Post date:** [20 July 2022 10:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360/1 "2022-07-20T10:53:54Z")

</div>

As a newbie, I'm experimenting, one of the things I would like to do is built a "string" to inject variables into SQLite. If I "write" the string it works i.e. : ""topic":"INSERT INTO LiveData(c01,c02,c03,c04,c05,c06,c07,c08" etc..

Works fine.

So I would like to build that string. Anyone explain why:

```auto
var myString= "c1"
for (int I=1; I<200; I++) {
    myString=myString & ",c" & I;
}

```

Gives me an error "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier (body:line 3)"

i.e. How do I use "For ... Next" within nodes.

K

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [20 July 2022 11:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360/2 "2022-07-20T11:33:40Z")

</div>

I would say JS does not have a int definition and concatenating strings is done with `+` not `&`.

I would also crerate an array and join it as it deals with the ending comma issue.

```auto
let myArray = [];
for(let I=0; I<200; I++) {
myArray[I] = "c" + (I+1).toString().padStart(2, "0");
}
msg.topic = "INSERT INTO LiveData(" + myArray.join(",") + ") etc...";
return msg;

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kenson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@Kenson](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Kenson)\
**Post date:** [20 July 2022 12:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360/3 "2022-07-20T12:22:54Z")

</div>

Mighty Cid 🙂

I thank you kindly. Spot on. I fiddled with an array, and went to "Strings" because usually I find diag easier. But you solved my problems and enhanced my knowledge in one 🙂

Thanks

K

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 September 2022 12:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/basic-for-loop-to-build-a-string-newbie-question/65360/4 "2022-09-18T12:23:54Z")

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