asked on

Why does my custom validator not work?

I have a form with a birthdate field and a custom validator that SHOULD validate if the person filling out the form is at least 16 years old. As I have it now, I can't seem to get the error message to show up regardless of what I put in the field.

public void validateDOB(object sender, ServerValidateEventArgs e)
        {
 
            // Declare variables.
            DateTime dtDOB = new DateTime();
            DateTime dtTest = new DateTime();
            DateTime dtDOBMinus16Years = new DateTime();
 
            // Get the registrant's birthdate.
            String strDateFormat = "MM/dd/yyyy";
            dtDOB = DateTime.ParseExact(Server.HtmlEncode(txtBirthDate.Text), strDateFormat, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
 
            // Get the date 16 years ago.
            dtTest = DateTime.Today.AddYears(-16);
 
            // Get DOB minus 16 years.
            dtDOBMinus16Years = dtDOB.AddYears(-16);
 
            // Compare them.
            if (dtDOBMinus16Years < dtTest)
            {
                e.IsValid = false;
            }
            else
            {
                e.IsValid = true;
            }
 
        }
 
// ASPX:
 
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldBirthDateAge" runat="server" OnServerValidate="validateDOB" ErrorMessage="You must be 16 or older to register for these classes." Display="None" />
 
Jeremy

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guru_sami

I don't see any ControlToValidate property set...
Also make sure to set the ValidationGroup property if you are using it for other controls.

mrcoulson

ASKER

Hey, yeah, I had taken the ControlToValidate property off to see if that would make a difference. I added it back and it was still not working.

This validator only validates one control, so there's no group necessary, right?

Jeremy

guru_sami

Hold on ...i see you have Display="None"?
Change it to Static or Dynamic...
ValidationGroup is not necessary ...but make sure either it is set for all or none controls participating in Validation.

mrcoulson

ASKER

ValidationGroup isn't anywhere around.

I changed the Display but that made no difference.

I'm attaching the part of my ASPX with all of the validators and the control I'm validating.

<%-- Control: --%>
<asp:TextBox ID="txtBirthDate" runat="server" />
 
<%-- All of my validators and my summary: --%>
<asp:ValidationSummary ID="vldSummary" runat="server" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldFirstName" runat="server" EnableClientScript="true" ClientValidationFunction="validateFirstName" ErrorMessage="Please enter your first name." Display="None" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldLastName" runat="server" EnableClientScript="true" ClientValidationFunction="validateLastName" ErrorMessage="Please enter your last name." Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldBirthDate" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtBirthDate" ErrorMessage="Please enter your birthdate." Display="None" />
<asp:RegularExpressionValidator ID="vldBirthDateFormat" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtBirthDate" ErrorMessage="Please enter a valid birthdate." ValidationExpression="^([1-9]|1[0-2])/([1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])/\d{4}$" Display="None" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldBirthDateAge" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtBirthDate" OnServerValidate="validateDOB" ValidateEmptyText="true" ErrorMessage="You must be 16 or older to register for these classes." Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldSSN" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtSSN" ErrorMessage="Please enter the last 4 digits of your social security number." Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldMailingAddress" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtMailingAddress" ErrorMessage="Please enter your mailing address." Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldMailingCity" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtMailingCity" ErrorMessage="Please enter your mailing address city." Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldMailingState" runat="server" ControlToValidate="ddlMailingState" ErrorMessage="Please enter your mailing address state" Display="None" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="vldMailingZip" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtMailingZip" ErrorMessage="Please enter your mailing address zip code." Display="None" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldPhone" runat="server" EnableClientScript="true" ClientValidationFunction="validatePhone" ErrorMessage="Please enter at least one phone number." Display="None" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldAcceptTerms" runat="server" EnableClientScript="true" ClientValidationFunction="validateTerms" ErrorMessage="Please accept the terms & conditions." Display="None" />

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guru_sami

One more question...did you set breakpoint in your validateDOB method and see if atleast you method is being called or not?

mrcoulson

ASKER

Unfortunately, I can't use that. Unless there's a way to change it that I don't know about (quite possible), the testing server in VS uses localhost. On our network, any request for localhost goes directly to the proxy's home page. Yes, it's annoying.

Jeremy

guru_sami

Looks its your code...try this:

// Declare variables.
DateTime dtDOB = new DateTime();
DateTime dtTest = new DateTime();
DateTime dtDOBPlus16Years = new DateTime();

// Get the registrant's birthdate.
String strDateFormat = "MM/dd/yyyy";
dtDOB = DateTime.ParseExact(Server.HtmlEncode(TextBox1.Text), strDateFormat, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

// Get the date 16 years ago.
dtTest = DateTime.Today.Date;

// Get DOB minus 16 years.
dtDOBPlus16Years = dtDOB.AddYears(16).Date;

// Compare them.
if (dtDOBPlus16Years > dtTest)
{
e.IsValid = false;
}
else
{
e.IsValid = true;
}

mrcoulson

ASKER

No change, my friend.

Jeremy

guru_sami

This is the code working for me:
<asp:TextBox ID="txtBirthDate" runat="server" />
<asp:CustomValidator ID="vldBirthDateAge" runat="server"
ControlToValidate="txtBirthDate"
OnServerValidate="validateDOB" ValidateEmptyText="true"
ErrorMessage="You must be 16 or older to register for these classes."
Display="None" />
<asp:ValidationSummary ID="vldSummary" runat="server" />
<asp:Button ID="Button1" runat="server" onclick="Button1_Click" Text="Button" />

----------------
protected void validateDOB(object source, ServerValidateEventArgs e)
{
// Declare variables.
DateTime dtDOB = new DateTime();
DateTime dtTest = new DateTime();
DateTime dtDOBPlus16Years = new DateTime();

// Get the registrant's birthdate.
String strDateFormat = "MM/dd/yyyy";
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(txtBirthDate.Text))
{
dtDOB = DateTime.ParseExact(Server.HtmlEncode(txtBirthDate.Text), strDateFormat, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

// Get the date 16 years ago.
dtTest = DateTime.Today.Date;

// Get DOB minus 16 years.
dtDOBPlus16Years = dtDOB.AddYears(16).Date;

// Compare them.
if (dtDOBPlus16Years > dtTest)
{
e.IsValid = false;
}
else
{
e.IsValid = true;
}
}
else
{
e.IsValid = false;
}
}

mrcoulson

ASKER

Well, why is it failing here? I'm so close to telling this guy that he'll have to accept applications from people who are too young.

Is there altogether some other way to do this?

Jeremy

guru_sami

for troubleshooting purpose...can you just put this line inside of your function like:

protected void validateDOB(object source, ServerValidateEventArgs e)
{
Respose.Write(txtBirthDate.Text)
//all other code as before
}
observe the output for these two inputs:
1: 5/15/1995
2: 11/10/1995

mrcoulson

ASKER

Okay! I got it working. It after all my script.

So, here's my question for you since I may still have your attention:

If I enter a birthdate of less than 16 years of age and I leave another field blank, the blank fields show up in the summary, but not the custom validator about the age. That only works if every RequiredFieldValidator is made happy. Any reason for that?

Jeremy

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

guru_sami

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mrcoulson

ASKER

Okay. I will try option 1. I have some client-side validation scripts, so 2 seems like some trouble.

Jeremy