# DE

Returns its argument with double quotes wrapped around it and all double quotes inside it escaped. The DE (Delay Evaluation) function prevents the evaluation of a string as an expression when it is passed as an argument to IIf or Evaluate.

See also Evaluate and IIf.

### Syntax

    DE(string)

##### string

String to be evaluated with delay.

### Examples

    <!--- This shows the use of DE and Evaluate --->
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
    <TITLE>
    DE Example
    </TITLE>
    </HEAD>

    <BODY BGCOLOR=silver>
    <H3>DE Example</H3>

    <CFIF IsDefined("FORM.myExpression")>
    <H3>The Expression Result</H3>

    <CFTRY>
    <!--- Evaluate the expression --->
    <CFSET myExpression = Evaluate(FORM.myExpression)>

    <!--- Use DE to output the value of the variable, unevaluated --->
    <CFOUTPUT>
    <I>The value of the expression #Evaluate(DE(FORM.MyExpression))#
    is #MyExpression#.</I>
    </CFOUTPUT>
    <!--- specify the type of error for which we are fishing --->
    <CFCATCH TYPE="Any">
    <!--- the message to display --->
        <H3>Sorry, there's been an <B>Error</B>.
        Try a simple expression, such as "2+2".</H3>
    <CFOUTPUT>
    <!--- and the diagnostic message from ColdFusion Server --->
        <P>#CFCATCH.message#
    </CFOUTPUT>
    </CFCATCH>
    </CFTRY>
    </CFIF>
    ...