How do I prompt messages to a user in ASP?

Are you using asp.net?

Of so, you can use the built int validators:

<asp:TextBox ID="txt" runat="server" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="rfv" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txt" ErrorMessage="required" />
<!--makes sure that txt has something in it, otherwise the form won't submit-->

Select allOpen in new window

With ASP classic you can use client-side scripting - vbscript (MsgBox) or javascript (alert) to do so.

I am using classic ASP only.

Well, then either wire your onSubmit event of your form, or have the submit button call a js function for validation, and if it finds a need to get the user's attention, it should call alert('message'); and return false;

Actually I hava to call a stored procedure and then print the error message in a text area.
I tried to define a text area and made it disabled on page load.
Then I need to retreive the return value from the stored procedure and print the message accordingly.
So basically I want to print a message using something like response.write I guess.
can I use something like
<TEXTAREA rows=2 cols=20 id=textarea1 name=textarea1>
</TEXTAREA>
<%
Request.Form("textarea1").Item = "error message"
Response.Write(Request.Form("textarea1").Item)
%>

Thanks for your help

try this,

<%'this code would run on server
strMsg = "Type your message here.."
%>
<script language="vbscript">
'this code would run on client
msgbox "<%=strMsg%>"
</script>

Select allOpen in new window

ref http://www.w3schools.com/VBScript/func_msgbox.asp

try this
<%
errMsg = "Error msg from Stored Procedure"
%>
<TEXTAREA rows=2 cols=20 id=textarea1 name=textarea1>
<%=errMsg%>
</TEXTAREA>

How do I enable the text area only when an error occurs?
any idea please?

thanks

when i try the following
<%
errMsg = "Error msg from Stored Procedure"
%>
<TEXTAREA rows=2 cols=20 id=textarea1 name=textarea1>
<%=errMsg%>
</TEXTAREA>

It is printing "0" in the text area

actually when I declared the errMsg in a sub method, it is giving "0"
If I try to declare errMsg in <%  %>
it is giving the actual message.
But I need to capture the error code in a method.
How can I modify this?

thanks

Not clear..