When a validator control is flagged, can I change the color of a label to red instead of having a message pop out?

I had a similar requirement and I had to build a custom validator controls inherited from the standard ones .. i exposed a property called "LabelToHighlight" and this is set during design time .. in your case this will be "First Name" ..

then i registered a clientscript using RegisterClientScriptBlock (javascript function) which loops through the Page_Validators array (available when validators are placed in a aspx page)
I registered another function using RegisterOnSubmitStatement which calls the above javascript function on submit ..

After that its just a matter of drag and drop the custom validator and setting the "LabelTohighlight" property .. the other properties like controlToValidate, errormessage etc are still available and the page consuming the control is free to set it as needed ..

Rejo

Reason why I want this is because if I set 2 different validators next to each other, the second validtor displays its message with a space to the left, where i want it to align all the way to the left.  It's almost like the controlis there, but hidden, and when flagged its display is changed to true.  

Do you think javascript is the only way to go?

Would I be able to get an exmple to start me off in the right direction?

you can set the "display" property of the validator contros to "dynamic" .. default is "static" .. if made "dynamic", the space is only occupied if there is a error .. else no space is taken in the page by the validator control ..

Rejo

This is pretty easy if you just set the style for a Label, and then set the Visible property when you need to show or hide the message.

Bob

what event from the requiredfieldvalidtor can i use to change the labels style?

Here are examples from the Page_Load event:

C#
        if (!this.IsValid && this.RequiredFieldValidator1.IsValid)
            this.Label1.CssClass = "Error";
       else
            this.Label1.CssClass = "Valid";

VB.NET:
        If Not Me.IsValid AndAlso Me.RequiredFieldValidator1.IsValid Then
            Me.Label1.CssClass = "Error"
        Else
            Me.Label1.CssClass = "Valid"
        End If

Bob

The reason why I did not do that is because changing the style needs to be set at the server .. or even if done at the client .. you will need to call the function for each of the error .. I do the same thing using a control .. the style of the label is changed on the client in the extended control .. but there is no code involved for each page, no function to be called, but just set a property ..

mmedi005, did the display property not work for you?

Yes the dynamic property worked, but Bob's suggestion was the direction i was going.  I don't mind if the validation event  is called on postback.  

But using Bob's method I got...

Page.IsValid cannot be called before validation has taken place. It should be queried in the event handler for a control that has CausesValidation=True and initiated the postback, or after a call to Page.Validate.

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.Web.HttpException: Page.IsValid cannot be called before validation has taken place. It should be queried in the event handler for a control that has CausesValidation=True and initiated the postback, or after a call to Page.Validate.

Any ideas?

The code that Bob gave needs to be within the event that caused the postback .. maybe a button click .. I think you might have added that code in page load event ...

I am surprised that you do not mind the postback just to highlight the error .. this kind off negates the usage of validator controls, esp where in a web application scenario where we try to acheive the maximum possible on the browser before we process it on the server .. anyway, you might have your own reason for taking that approach ..

Rejo

by the way, I thoguht the reason why you are doing this is because "if I set 2 different validators next to each other, the second validtor displays its message with a space to the left, where i want it to align all the way to the left. " if the dynamic property worked, then where you not satisfied with the result? just curious ..

Rejo

You are going to get points, you helped me a lot and I am very thankful.  Different ideas were thrown at me and I am trying the different suggestions.  Your responses were very good, and maybe my question went the a different direction or I did explain myself right, but any how, you will both get points from me.

Thank you again.  I still would like see an example of your first response.

thank you for all your help.

       If Me.IsPostBack Then

            If Not Me.IsValid AndAlso Me.rfv_RequiredFieldValidator1.IsValid Then
                Me.Label1.ForeColor = Drawing.Color.Red
            Else
                Me.Label1.ForeColor = Drawing.Color.Black
            End If

        End If

is what i put and still got the error...

>>I did explain myself right, but any how, you will both get points from me.

I meant "did not explain"

That almost sounds like you don't have validation set up correctly, like not setting the ControlToValidate property on the validator.

Bob

its set....with out the code, it would setfocus or show its errortext.

all was set up

I am being brain-dead today, so I am going to sit back, and clear my head before I say any more--OK?

Bob

I have some work to do, but im gonna try to make this work tonight.  thanks for all the help...ill be back posting early tomorrow.  My brain is also getting fried up.

       If Not Me.IsValid AndAlso Not Me.rfv_firstname.IsValid Then
            Me.lbl_first_name.ForeColor = Drawing.Color.Red
        Else
            Me.lbl_first_name.ForeColor = Drawing.Color.Black
        End If

worked in the click event. Also there was a NOT missing from the if statement.

 im gonna try the code later tonight when i'm done with some stuff around the office.

thanks again

good .. as i said before .. you do not seem to be noticing my comments ;-) .. it will not work in page load as there is nothing to be validated and if you look the error message, that is what it says "It should be queried in the event handler for a control that has CausesValidation=True and initiated the postback, or after a call to Page.Validate"

anyway, try the other code for the control and tell me if it works ..

Rejo