Re[2]: [PEAR] RE: HTML/QuickForm: Setting rules for Groupelements

Hi, Bertrand! I used to have the same problem with the good old OOHForms once. I had to validate groups of fields at the same time without needing to validate them separately. To solve the issue, I added certain functionality (not 100% tested, but works as expected on our corporate site) to OOHForms which made it more robust. Here's how: Both Javascript and PHP support the eval() statement which is very handy for such things. I implemented a method called add_cond($cond_name, $cond_expression, $error_message) on the form class. Here, cond_name is the alias (id) of the condition, cond_expression is a conditional expression of type '(email || tel) && fax', and error_message is the error message displayed if the condition fails. The priority of these conditions is determined on the first-come basis. The expression to check for validity of an individual marker like fax, email, tel is determined by the condition of the element itself. Every element needs to implement self_get_short_js method which returns the javascript to be inserted in the group checking function. Thus, when the form is returned as HTML, it has a javascript function named $jvs_name.'_'.$cond_name.'_Validator(f)'; (if you remember the old OOHForms). This function is checked in the main validation function further on in $jvs_name.'_Validator(f)'; As to PHP, it is much easier since all one needs to do is eval the $cond_expression with markers replaced by either true or false depending on whether the server-side validation for individual elements is successful/fails. As to your suggestions on possible sum of fields / subtraction of fields, I think this is easier to do by providing a way to set a name of an additional Javascript function which needs to be called client-size, and providing a similar rule as above which is passed to PHP for server-side validation. The reason why client-side code should not be generated is that it is much more difficult to construct such code with Javascript and eval alone could probably not handle that. I know it sounds a bit messy, if you need the updated OOHForms with this functionality, email me. Best regards, Stanislav BM> le 7/06/02 1:06, Greg Gilbert à greg@treke.net a écrit : >> * Bertrand Mansion (bmansion@mamasam.com) wrote: >>> You can't validate against groups in QuickForm. You are the second person >>> who's asking for that. It might be implemented some day as I see it can be >>> useful. For now, just make a single textfield of your group. >> >> I'd also like to see this, or even better, a way to use multiple >> elements in a validation rule for a single element. For example, >> using an items text field, term text field, and borrower text field >> as seperate fields, but needing all of that data to validate the >> items field. BM> Ok. I think this can be done but there are many ways to validate against a BM> group of elements. For instance, you can choose to validate against a BM> concatenation of all the elements, this is useful for phone numbers. Or you BM> can choose to validate against a sum of elements, this is useful for an BM> invoice. Or you can choose to validate all group elements separately, this BM> is useful for a first-lastname group. And there are probably others. BM> How do you think this problem can be solved elegantly ? BM> Bertrand Mansion BM> Mamasam Best regards, Stanislav mailto:stanis@sibfair.nsk.su