Validating User Input in Forms

You can use validations to check data a user enters before processing. Once you create a validation and the associated error message, you can associate it with a specific item. You can choose to have validation error messages display inline (that is, on the page where the validation is performed) or on a separate error page.

Creating an inline error message involves these steps:

Create a validation and specify error message text.
Associate the validation with a specific item.

Creating a Validation

To create a validation:

Navigate to the appropriate Page Definition. See "Accessing the Page Definition".
Access the Create Validation Wizard:
- Tree view - Under Page Processing, right-click Validating and click Create Validation.
- Component view - Under Processes, click the Create icon.
The Create Validations Wizard appear
For Level, select the validation level:
- Item Level Validation
- Tabular Form Validation
- Page Level Validation
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Note:

Validations cannot contain more than 3,950 characters.

Associating a Validation with a Specific Item

To associate an item with a validation and specify error message text:

Navigate to the appropriate Page Definition. See "Accessing the Page Definition".
Navigate to the Edit Page Validations page:
- Tree view - Right-click the validation name and click Edit.
- Component view - Under Validations, select the validation item you want to associate.
The attributes page for the validation appears.
Scroll down to Error Message:
- Error message display location - Verify the display location.
- Associated Item - Select the item you want to associate with this validation.
Click Apply Changes.

About Error Message

Error message display location identifies where a validation error message displays. Validation error messages can display on an error page or inline within the existing page. Inline error messages can display in a notification area (defined as part of the page template) or within the field label.

To create a hard error that stops processes, including any remaining validations, you must display the error on an error page.