diff --git a/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/command.ts
index 609bb423dd..1b57da6386 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/command.ts
@@ -141,9 +141,16 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
     context,
     emitNewWindowHandling,
     variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
   })
 }
 
+// How a variable is joined with a string literal, e.g. "Hi " + name
+const variableInString = {
+  quotes: ['"'],
+  toString: (lookup: string) => lookup,
+}
+
 function variableLookup(varName: string) {
   return `vars["${varName}"].ToString()`
 }
@@ -400,8 +407,7 @@ async function emitDragAndDrop(dragged: any, dropped: any) {
 }
 
 async function emitEcho(message: string) {
-  const _message = message.startsWith('vars[') ? message : `"${message}"`
-  return Promise.resolve(`Console.WriteLine(${_message});`)
+  return Promise.resolve(`Console.WriteLine("${message}");`)
 }
 
 async function emitEditContent(locator: any, content: any) {
@@ -645,9 +651,7 @@ function generateSendKeysInput(value: string | string[]) {
   if (Array.isArray(value)) {
     return value
       .map((s) => {
-        if (s.startsWith('vars[')) {
-          return s
-        } else if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
+        if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
           const key = (s.match(/\['(.*)'\]/) as RegExpMatchArray)[1]
           return `Keys.${exporter.parsers.capitalize(key.toLowerCase())}`
         } else {
@@ -1092,6 +1096,7 @@ async function emitWaitForElementNotVisible(locator: any, timeout: number) {
 export default {
   emitters,
   variableLookup,
+  variableInString,
   variableSetter,
   emit,
   register,
diff --git a/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/index.ts b/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/index.ts
index 57e46c7dad..70daef5aec 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-csharp-commons/src/index.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 // specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
-
 import Command from './command'
 import location from './location'
 
@@ -30,6 +29,6 @@ const exportFormat = {
   },
 } as const
 
-export default exportFormat;
-export {default as Command} from './command'
-export {default as location} from './location'
+export default exportFormat
+export { default as Command } from './command'
+export { default as location } from './location'
diff --git a/packages/code-export-csharp-nunit/src/index.ts b/packages/code-export-csharp-nunit/src/index.ts
index c4778235be..2e5c4c4fa7 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-csharp-nunit/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-csharp-nunit/src/index.ts
@@ -58,4 +58,4 @@ export const opts: LanguageEmitterOpts = {
 }
 
 // Emit an individual test, wrapped in a suite (using the test name as the suite name)
-export default languageFromOpts(opts, location.emit);
+export default languageFromOpts(opts, location.emit)
diff --git a/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/command.ts
index 62f5cac9cf..906d8b0fad 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/command.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
     context,
     emitNewWindowHandling: Command.extras.emitNewWindowHandling,
     variableLookup: Command.variableLookup,
+    variableInString: Command.variableInString,
   })
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/hook.ts b/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/hook.ts
index a2a3db1fe8..3c642645b1 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/hook.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-csharp-xunit/src/hook.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const emitters = {
   inEachEnd: empty,
 } as const
 
-export default emitters;
+export default emitters
 
 function beforeEach() {
   const params: HookFunctionInputs = {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/command.ts
index 7dcc39a6b9..71d88ddaa1 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/command.ts
@@ -140,10 +140,17 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
   return exporter.emit.command(command, emitters[command.command], {
     context,
     variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
     emitNewWindowHandling,
   })
 }
 
+// How a variable is joined with a string literal, e.g. "Hi " + name
+const variableInString = {
+  quotes: ['"'],
+  toString: (lookup: string) => lookup,
+}
+
 function variableLookup(varName: string) {
   return `vars.get("${varName}").toString()`
 }
@@ -389,8 +396,7 @@ async function emitDragAndDrop(dragged: string, dropped: string) {
 }
 
 async function emitEcho(message: string) {
-  const _message = message.startsWith('vars.get') ? message : `"${message}"`
-  return Promise.resolve(`System.out.println(${_message});`)
+  return Promise.resolve(`System.out.println("${message}");`)
 }
 
 async function emitEditContent(locator: string, content: string) {
@@ -632,9 +638,7 @@ function generateSendKeysInput(value: string | string[]) {
   if (typeof value === 'object') {
     return value
       .map((s) => {
-        if (s.startsWith('vars.get')) {
-          return s
-        } else if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
+        if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
           const key = s.match(/\['(.*)'\]/)?.[1] as string
           return `Keys.${key}`
         } else {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/hook.ts b/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/hook.ts
index ee51387dc3..726f2aa1b7 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/hook.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-java-junit/src/hook.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 // specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
-import { HookFunctionInputs } from "side-code-export"
+import { HookFunctionInputs } from 'side-code-export'
 
 const emitters = {
   afterAll,
diff --git a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
index e7b7cd2c45..bb2e33e63c 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
+++ b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ exports[`command code emitter should emit \`drag and drop to object\` command 1`
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command 1`] = `"console.log(\\"blah\\")"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"console.log(vars[\\"blah\\"])"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"console.log(String(vars[\\"blah\\"]))"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`edit content\` command 1`] = `
 "{
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command 1`] = `"await dr
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a key press 1`] = `"await driver.findElement(By.id(\\"input\\")).sendKeys(\\"SuperSecretPassword!\\", Key.ENTER)"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"await driver.findElement(By.id(\\"input\\")).sendKeys(vars[\\"blah\\"])"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"await driver.findElement(By.id(\\"input\\")).sendKeys(String(vars[\\"blah\\"]))"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`set speed\` 1`] = `"console.log(\\"\`set speed\` is a no-op in code export, use \`pause\` instead\\")"`;
 
diff --git a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/command.ts
index a3ded83e63..aa6ffcdeb1 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/command.ts
@@ -140,10 +140,17 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
   return exporter.emit.command(command, emitters[command.command], {
     context,
     variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
     emitNewWindowHandling,
   })
 }
 
+// How a variable is joined with a string literal, e.g. "Hi " + name
+const variableInString = {
+  quotes: ['"', "'", '`'],
+  toString: (lookup: string) => `String(${lookup})`,
+}
+
 function variableLookup(varName: string) {
   return `vars["${varName}"]`
 }
@@ -417,8 +424,7 @@ async function emitDragAndDrop(dragged: string, dropped: string) {
 }
 
 async function emitEcho(message: string) {
-  const _message = message.startsWith('vars[') ? message : `"${message}"`
-  return Promise.resolve(`console.log(${_message})`)
+  return Promise.resolve(`console.log("${message}")`)
 }
 
 async function emitEditContent(locator: string, content: string) {
@@ -647,9 +653,7 @@ function generateSendKeysInput(value: string | string[]) {
   if (typeof value === 'object') {
     return value
       .map((s) => {
-        if (s.startsWith('vars[')) {
-          return s
-        } else if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
+        if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
           const key = s.match(/\['(.*)'\]/)?.[1]
           return `Key.${key}`
         } else {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/hook.ts b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/hook.ts
index 868cd6e0cc..f692280c8f 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/hook.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-javascript-mocha/src/hook.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 // KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
-import { HookFunctionInputs } from "side-code-export"
+import { HookFunctionInputs } from 'side-code-export'
 
 const emitters = {
   afterAll,
diff --git a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
index 5f271ef7f1..a1500c777c 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
+++ b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ actions.drag_and_drop(dragged, dropped).perform()"
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command 1`] = `"print(\\"blah\\")"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"print(\\"blah = {}\\".format(self.vars[\\"blah\\"]))"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"print(\\"blah = \\" + str(self.vars[\\"blah\\"]))"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`edit content\` command 1`] = `
 "element = self.driver.find_element(By.ID, \\"contentEditable\\")
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command 1`] = `"self.dri
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a key press 1`] = `"self.driver.find_element(By.ID, \\"input\\").send_keys(\\"SuperSecretPassword!\\", Keys.ENTER)"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"self.driver.find_element(By.ID, \\"input\\").send_keys(self.vars[\\"blah\\"])"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"self.driver.find_element(By.ID, \\"input\\").send_keys(str(self.vars[\\"blah\\"]))"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`set speed\` 1`] = `"print(\\"\`set speed\` is a no-op in code export, use \`pause\` instead\\")"`;
 
diff --git a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/selection.spec.js b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/selection.spec.js
index 3037310ec1..a9c6c28b91 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/selection.spec.js
+++ b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/__test__/src/selection.spec.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 // specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
+import { defaultPreprocessor, resolveVariables } from 'side-code-export'
 import { emit } from '../../src/selection'
 
 describe('selection location code emitter', () => {
@@ -35,12 +36,14 @@ describe('selection location code emitter', () => {
       `By.XPATH, "//option[. = '${selector}']"`
     )
   })
-  it('should emit label locator with variable', () => {
-    const type = 'label'
-    const selector = 'self.vars["label"]'
-    return expect(emit(`${type}=${selector}`)).resolves.toEqual(
-      `By.XPATH, "//option[. = '{}']".format(${selector})`
-    )
+  it('should emit label locator with variable', async () => {
+    const code = await emit(defaultPreprocessor('label=${label}'))
+    expect(
+      resolveVariables(code, (name) => `self.vars["${name}"]`, {
+        quotes: ['"', "'"],
+        toString: (lookup) => `str(${lookup})`,
+      })
+    ).toEqual(`By.XPATH, "//option[. = '" + str(self.vars["label"]) + "']"`)
   })
   it('should emit id locator', () => {
     const type = 'id'
diff --git a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/command.ts
index a0e0ebbcdd..8e438c39da 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/command.ts
@@ -140,10 +140,17 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
   return exporter.emit.command(command, emitters[command.command], {
     context,
     variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
     emitNewWindowHandling,
   })
 }
 
+// How a variable is joined with a string literal, e.g. "Hi " + name
+const variableInString = {
+  quotes: ['"', "'"],
+  toString: (lookup: string) => `str(${lookup})`,
+}
+
 function variableLookup(varName: string) {
   return `self.vars["${varName}"]`
 }
@@ -394,21 +401,8 @@ async function emitDragAndDrop(dragged: string, dropped: string) {
   return Promise.resolve({ commands })
 }
 
-function translateToPythonString(str: string) {
-  const regExp = /self.vars\["\w+"]/
-  const vars = str.match(regExp)
-
-  if (vars && vars.length > 0) {
-    const fmtStr = str.replace(regExp, '{}')
-    return `"${fmtStr}".format(${vars.join(', ')})`
-  }
-
-  return `"${str}"`
-}
-
 async function emitEcho(message: string) {
-  const _message = translateToPythonString(message)
-  return Promise.resolve(`print(${_message})`)
+  return Promise.resolve(`print("${message}")`)
 }
 
 async function emitEditContent(locator: string, content: string) {
@@ -616,9 +610,7 @@ function generateSendKeysInput(value: string | string[]) {
   if (typeof value === 'object') {
     return value
       .map((s) => {
-        if (s.startsWith('self.vars[')) {
-          return s
-        } else if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
+        if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
           const key = s.match(/\['(.*)'\]/)?.[1]
           return `Keys.${key}`
         } else {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/hook.ts b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/hook.ts
index 8c2c8df398..3bf5c212bc 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/hook.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/hook.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 // KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
-import { HookFunctionInputs } from "side-code-export"
+import { HookFunctionInputs } from 'side-code-export'
 
 const emitters = {
   afterAll,
diff --git a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/selection.ts b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/selection.ts
index b84a7ca971..4f529eee6d 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/selection.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-python-pytest/src/selection.ts
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ function emitValue(value: string) {
 }
 
 function emitLabel(label: string) {
-  if (label.startsWith('self.vars[')) {
-    return Promise.resolve(`By.XPATH, "//option[. = '{}']".format(${label})`)
-  }
   return Promise.resolve(`By.XPATH, "//option[. = '${label}']"`)
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
index 2c4617b6ae..069f5b5cc3 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
+++ b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/__test__/src/__snapshots__/command.spec.js.snap
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ dropped = @driver.find_element(:link_text, 'dropped')
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command 1`] = `"puts('blah')"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"puts(@vars['blah'])"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`echo\` command with variables 1`] = `"puts(@vars['blah'].to_s)"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`edit content\` command 1`] = `
 "element = @driver.find_element(:id, 'contentEditable')
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command 1`] = `"@driver.
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a key press 1`] = `"@driver.find_element(:id, 'input').send_keys('SuperSecretPassword!', :enter)"`;
 
-exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"@driver.find_element(:id, 'input').send_keys(@vars['blah'])"`;
+exports[`command code emitter should emit \`send keys\` command with a variable input 1`] = `"@driver.find_element(:id, 'input').send_keys(@vars['blah'].to_s)"`;
 
 exports[`command code emitter should emit \`set speed\` 1`] = `"print(\\"\`set speed\` is a no-op in code export, use \`pause\` instead\\")"`;
 
diff --git a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/command.ts b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/command.ts
index 01ac79d2cf..8ac2363868 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/command.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/command.ts
@@ -139,10 +139,17 @@ function emit(command: CommandShape, context: EmitterContext) {
   return exporter.emit.command(command, emitters[command.command], {
     context,
     variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
     emitNewWindowHandling,
   })
 }
 
+// How a variable is joined with a string literal, e.g. "Hi " + name
+const variableInString = {
+  quotes: ['"', "'"],
+  toString: (lookup: string) => `${lookup}.to_s`,
+}
+
 function variableLookup(varName: string) {
   return `@vars['${varName}']`
 }
@@ -387,8 +394,7 @@ async function emitDragAndDrop(dragged: string, dropped: string) {
 }
 
 async function emitEcho(message: string) {
-  const _message = message.startsWith('@vars[') ? message : `'${message}'`
-  return Promise.resolve(`puts(${_message})`)
+  return Promise.resolve(`puts('${message}')`)
 }
 
 async function emitEditContent(locator: string, content: string) {
@@ -592,9 +598,7 @@ function generateSendKeysInput(value: string | string[]) {
   if (typeof value === 'object') {
     return value
       .map((s) => {
-        if (s.startsWith('@vars[')) {
-          return s
-        } else if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
+        if (s.startsWith('Key[')) {
           const key = s.match(/\['(.*)'\]/)?.[1]
           return `:${key?.toLowerCase()}`
         } else {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/hook.ts b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/hook.ts
index 7c0cbb00d4..7ee865f37d 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/hook.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/hook.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 // KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
-import { HookFunctionInputs } from "side-code-export";
+import { HookFunctionInputs } from 'side-code-export'
 
 const emitters = {
   afterAll,
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const emitters = {
   inEachEnd: empty,
 }
 
-export default emitters;
+export default emitters
 
 function afterAll() {
   const params = {
diff --git a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/index.ts b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/index.ts
index f5f4dd6047..30af7666b6 100644
--- a/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/code-export-ruby-rspec/src/index.ts
@@ -60,4 +60,4 @@ export const opts: LanguageEmitterOpts = {
   },
 }
 
-export default languageFromOpts(opts, location.emit);
\ No newline at end of file
+export default languageFromOpts(opts, location.emit)
diff --git a/packages/side-code-export/__test__/src/code-export/preprocessor.spec.ts b/packages/side-code-export/__test__/src/code-export/preprocessor.spec.ts
index 141b89ab1a..c8406d2a32 100644
--- a/packages/side-code-export/__test__/src/code-export/preprocessor.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/side-code-export/__test__/src/code-export/preprocessor.spec.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import {
   defaultPreprocessor,
   scriptPreprocessor,
   keysPreprocessor,
+  preprocessParameter,
+  resolveVariables,
 } from '../../../src/code-export/preprocessor'
 
 describe('preprocessors', () => {
@@ -32,9 +34,60 @@ describe('preprocessors', () => {
         command: 'echo',
         target: '${var}',
       }
-      return expect(
-        defaultPreprocessor(command.target, variableLookup)
-      ).toMatch('vars.get("var").toString()')
+      const target = defaultPreprocessor(command.target, variableLookup)
+      return expect(resolveVariables(target, variableLookup)).toBe(
+        'vars.get("var").toString()'
+      )
+    })
+  })
+  describe('resolve variables', () => {
+    const python = {
+      quotes: ['"', "'"],
+      toString: (lookup: string) => `str(${lookup})`,
+    }
+    const pythonLookup = (name: string) => `self.vars["${name}"]`
+    const resolve = (code: string) =>
+      resolveVariables(
+        code.replace(/\$\{(\w+)\}/g, (match) => defaultPreprocessor(match)),
+        pythonLookup,
+        python
+      )
+    it('should join a variable with the text around it', () => {
+      expect(resolve('print("a ${x} b")')).toBe(
+        'print("a " + str(self.vars["x"]) + " b")'
+      )
+    })
+    it('should convert a variable that is the whole string', () => {
+      expect(resolve('find("${x}")')).toBe('find(str(self.vars["x"]))')
+    })
+    it('should join several variables', () => {
+      expect(resolve("find('#${x}${y}')")).toBe(
+        'find(\'#\' + str(self.vars["x"]) + str(self.vars["y"]))'
+      )
+    })
+    it('should use the lookup outside of a string', () => {
+      expect(resolve('range(0, ${x})')).toBe('range(0, self.vars["x"])')
+    })
+    it('should keep a mark with no end as it is', () => {
+      expect(resolveVariables('print("a \uE000x")', pythonLookup, python)).toBe(
+        'print("a \uE000x")'
+      )
+    })
+    it('should remove marks typed in a parameter', () => {
+      const target = preprocessParameter(
+        "\uE000x') + `id`\uE001",
+        undefined,
+        pythonLookup,
+        { ignoreEscaping: false }
+      )
+      const code = resolveVariables(`run("${target}")`, pythonLookup, python)
+      expect(code).not.toMatch(/[\uE000\uE001]/)
+      expect(code).not.toContain('self.vars')
+    })
+    it('should skip escaped quotes', () => {
+      expect(resolve('find("//*[@id=\\"${x}\\"]")')).toBe(
+        'find("//*[@id=\\"" + str(self.vars["x"]) + "\\"]")'
+      )
     })
   })
   describe('script', () => {
@@ -119,8 +172,9 @@ describe('preprocessors', () => {
         target: 'id=t',
         value: 'test${var}foo${KEY_ENTER}',
       }
+      const keys = await keysPreprocessor(command.value, variableLookup)
       return expect(
-        await keysPreprocessor(command.value, variableLookup)
+        keys.map((key) => resolveVariables(key, variableLookup))
       ).toEqual(['test', 'vars.get("var").toString()', 'foo', `Key['ENTER']`])
     })
   })
diff --git a/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/emit.ts b/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/emit.ts
index 97983c714c..24406b5e83 100644
--- a/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/emit.ts
+++ b/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/emit.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import stringEscape from '../string-escape'
 import {
   Preprocessor,
   preprocessParameter,
+  resolveVariables,
+  VariableInStringOptions,
   VariableLookup,
 } from './preprocessor'
 import doRender, { PartialRenderParameters } from './render'
@@ -95,6 +97,34 @@ export interface EmitCommandContext {
     context: EmitterContext
   ) => Promise<ExportFlexCommandShape>
   variableLookup: VariableLookup
+  // How the language puts a variable in a string literal
+  variableInString?: VariableInStringOptions
+}
+
+// Replaces the variable marks left by the preprocessors in emitted code
+function resolveEmittedVariables(
+  result: ExportFlexCommandShape,
+  variableLookup: VariableLookup,
+  variableInString?: VariableInStringOptions
+): ExportFlexCommandShape {
+  const resolve = (code: string) =>
+    resolveVariables(code, variableLookup, variableInString)
+  if (!result) return result
+  if (typeof result === 'string') return resolve(result)
+  if ('statement' in result) {
+    return { ...result, statement: resolve(result.statement) }
+  }
+  return {
+    ...result,
+    commands: result.commands.map(
+      (command) =>
+        resolveEmittedVariables(
+          command,
+          variableLookup,
+          variableInString
+        ) as ExportCommandShape
+    ),
+  }
 }
 
 export interface ProcessedCommandEmitter {
@@ -110,7 +140,11 @@ export interface ProcessedCommandEmitter {
 export function baseEmitFactory(
   command: CommandShape,
   emitter: ProcessedCommandEmitter,
-  { variableLookup, emitNewWindowHandling }: EmitCommandContext
+  {
+    variableLookup,
+    emitNewWindowHandling,
+    variableInString,
+  }: EmitCommandContext
 ) {
   return async function emit(
     target: any | undefined,
@@ -126,7 +160,11 @@ export function baseEmitFactory(
     if (emitter.valuePreprocessor) {
       _value = await emitter.valuePreprocessor(value, variableLookup)
     }
-    const result = await emitter(_target, _value, context)
+    const result = resolveEmittedVariables(
+      await emitter(_target, _value, context),
+      variableLookup,
+      variableInString
+    )
     return emitNewWindowHandling(command, result, context)
   }
 }
@@ -134,12 +172,17 @@ export function baseEmitFactory(
 export async function emitCommand(
   command: CommandShape,
   emitter: ProcessedCommandEmitter,
-  { context, emitNewWindowHandling, variableLookup }: EmitCommandContext
+  {
+    context,
+    emitNewWindowHandling,
+    variableLookup,
+    variableInString,
+  }: EmitCommandContext
 ) {
   validateCommand(command)
   if (emitter) {
     const ignoreEscaping = command.command === 'storeJson'
-    let result = await emitter(
+    const emitted = await emitter(
       preprocessParameter(
         command.target as string,
         emitter.targetPreprocessor,
@@ -154,6 +197,11 @@ export async function emitCommand(
       ),
       context
     )
+    const result = resolveEmittedVariables(
+      emitted,
+      variableLookup,
+      variableInString
+    )
     if (command.opensWindow) {
       return await emitNewWindowHandling(command, result, context)
     }
diff --git a/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/preprocessor.ts b/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/preprocessor.ts
index bfbc113f92..48522ca951 100644
--- a/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/preprocessor.ts
+++ b/packages/side-code-export/src/code-export/preprocessor.ts
@@ -47,13 +47,27 @@ function escapeString(
   else return stringEscape(str)
 }
 
+// Private use characters that mark a variable in a preprocessed parameter.
+// resolveVariables replaces the marks once the code around them is emitted.
+const VARIABLE_START = '\uE000'
+const VARIABLE_END = '\uE001'
+
+// Only marks made by defaultPreprocessor may reach resolveVariables
+const removeVariableMarks = (param: string) =>
+  typeof param === 'string'
+    ? param.replace(new RegExp(`[${VARIABLE_START}${VARIABLE_END}]`, 'g'), '')
+    : param
+
 export function preprocessParameter(
   param: string,
   preprocessor: Preprocessor | undefined,
   variableLookup: VariableLookup,
   { ignoreEscaping }: PreprocessorOptions
 ) {
-  const escapedParam = escapeString(param, { preprocessor, ignoreEscaping })
+  const escapedParam = escapeString(removeVariableMarks(param), {
+    preprocessor,
+    ignoreEscaping,
+  })
   return preprocessor
     ? preprocessor(escapedParam, variableLookup)
     : defaultPreprocessor(escapedParam, variableLookup)
@@ -61,15 +75,89 @@ export function preprocessParameter(
 
 export function defaultPreprocessor(
   param: string,
-  variableLookup: VariableLookup
+  _variableLookup?: VariableLookup
 ) {
   if (!param) return ''
-  const _var = param.match(/\$\{(\w+)\}/)
-  if (_var) {
-    return param.replace(_var[0], variableLookup(_var[1]))
-  } else {
-    return param
+  return param.replace(
+    /\$\{(\w+)\}/g,
+    (_match, name) => `${VARIABLE_START}${name}${VARIABLE_END}`
+  )
+}
+
+export interface VariableInStringOptions {
+  // Quote characters that start a string literal in the language
+  quotes: string[]
+  // Converts a variable lookup to a string, to join it with a string literal
+  toString: (lookup: string) => string
+}
+
+export const defaultVariableInStringOptions: VariableInStringOptions = {
+  quotes: ['"'],
+  toString: (lookup) => lookup,
+}
+
+/**
+ * Replaces the variable marks in an emitted line of code. A mark outside a
+ * string literal becomes the variable lookup. A mark inside a string literal
+ * splits it: "Hi ${name}!" becomes "Hi " + name + "!".
+ */
+export function resolveVariables(
+  code: string,
+  variableLookup: VariableLookup,
+  { quotes, toString }: VariableInStringOptions = defaultVariableInStringOptions
+) {
+  if (!code.includes(VARIABLE_START)) return code
+  let result = ''
+  let quote: string | undefined
+  // Where the text of the current string literal starts in the result
+  let textStart = 0
+  for (let i = 0; i < code.length; i++) {
+    const character = code[i]
+    if (character === VARIABLE_START) {
+      const end = code.indexOf(VARIABLE_END, i)
+      if (end === -1) {
+        result += code.slice(i)
+        break
+      }
+      const lookup = variableLookup(code.slice(i + 1, end))
+      i = end
+      if (!quote) {
+        result += lookup
+        continue
+      }
+      const startsString = result.length === textStart
+      const endsString = code[i + 1] === quote
+      // Close the string before the variable, unless it's still empty
+      if (startsString) result = result.slice(0, -1)
+      else result += `${quote} + `
+      result += toString(lookup)
+      // Open the string again after the variable, unless it ends there
+      if (endsString) {
+        quote = undefined
+        i++
+      } else {
+        result += ` + ${quote}`
+        textStart = result.length
+      }
+    } else if (
+      quote &&
+      character === '\\' &&
+      code[i + 1] !== undefined &&
+      code[i + 1] !== VARIABLE_START
+    ) {
+      result += character + code[i + 1]
+      i++
+    } else {
+      if (character === quote) {
+        quote = undefined
+      } else if (!quote && quotes.includes(character)) {
+        quote = character
+        textStart = result.length + 1
+      }
+      result += character
+    }
   }
+  return result
 }
 
 export function scriptPreprocessor(script: string): ScriptShape {