How to achieve multi-line strings in C#; an alternative to VB's XML Literals?

Question

I had a project in vb.net that used XML Literals to process large blocks of SQL like so:

Dim SQL As String =  Use test

alter table BarFoo alter col         


        

Answer 1

First – Use multiline string literals like

String sql = @"Use test
alter table BarFoo alter column CouponName nvarchar(328)
alter table Foo alter column IngredientName nvarchar(328)
alter table Bar alter column IngredientShortDescription nvarchar(328)
alter table FooBar alter column ItemName nvarchar(328)"

• note that all line breaks inside the string and whitespace at the beginning of each line is retained

---

 
Second – Let string interpolation work for you if you need any parametrization of string:

String databaseName = "test"
String tableName = "BarFoo"

String sql = @"Use \{databaseName}
alter table \{tablaName} alter column CouponName nvarchar(328)"

• no more puzzles like String.Format("Use {0}; alter table {1}", databaseName, tableName)

---

 
Third – Visual Basic already has multiline string literals, too. No more XML workarounds please.
In VB, use

Dim sql As String = "Use test

alter table BarFoo alter column CouponName nvarchar(328)
alter table Foo alter column IngredientName nvarchar(328)
alter table Bar alter column IngredientShortDescription nvarchar(328)
alter table FooBar alter column ItemName nvarchar(328)"

'and with interpolated strings:
Dim when As String = "since Visual Studio 2015"
Dim note As String = $"String interpolation works {when}, see this VB-specific syntax!"