How to - loading properties files with formatted sql in them?

My application needs to have queries externalized, so to make use of default resourcebundle, I've decided to go with queries in properties files. So, here's what a properties file looks like now:

SELECT_USER_QUERY = Select username, userid from user where userid=?

INSERT_USER_QUERY = insert into user values (?,?)

The problem here obviously is not a showstopper - this properties file gets picked up and gets processed nicely, but for somebody to edit in the near future, it looks ugly. I would like something like this:

SELECT_USER_QUERY = select username, userid
                    from user
                    where userid=?

I want to see that formatting in my properties file. I think one way to go about it would be to introduce a "\" (as per some answers on SO) at the end of each line. Are there any other ways to retain formatting in the properties file and still load it successfully?

Solution

Ok. I think one way to go about it (and most likely I would) is to write all queries in a properties file, but each query value spanning multiple formatted rows. I will be using a custom ResourceBundle to load these properties in a custom way. This way, I can ensure that there is formatting in properties file and also code wise load properties using ResourceBundle.