validation regex that checks the blank space

Hi ,
The regex(validation-regex="[^ ]+") I wrote to check for a blank space is working fine for "text" item ,but the same is not working for "textarea" item.

The regex I wrote will not allow the user to save the dcr if he tries to enter only space bar.

anyway I am attaching the code below for both the items

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Adam Stoller

Hi ,
The regex(validation-regex="[^ ]+") I wrote to check for a blank space is working fine for "text" item ,but the same is not working for "textarea" item.

The regex I wrote will not allow the user to save the dcr if he tries to enter only space bar.

anyway I am attaching the code below for both the items

I believe the problem is due to the fact that visualformat textareas (at least with the default configuration) always embed <P>...</P> tags in the field's content. (I think you want to set something like

continueparagraph="true"

in the VF config file).

Because of this - you would probably be better off using FormAPI to validate these (and, IMO, any and all) fields - the FormAPI code can strip out all HTML tags before verifying whether the field contains any actual content.

Read the TeamSite FormsPublisher VisualFormat Developer's Guide and the FormsPublisher: FormAPI Developer's Guide for more details.

ISCBorisB

Hi ,
The regex(validation-regex="[^ ]+") I wrote to check for a blank space is working fine for "text" item ,but the same is not working for "textarea" item.

The regex I wrote will not allow the user to save the dcr if he tries to enter only space bar.

anyway I am attaching the code below for both the items

Can you explain what you are trying to accomplish? Basically, you set items' required attribute to true and validate that only space can be entered.
Is it the sort of field that is populated by system (inline, FormAPI, whatever) and the only thing allowed for the user is to clean it up?
If so, make the field read-only and give him "CleanUp" callout button. If not, what is the purpose of it?

Adam Stoller

Can you explain what you are trying to accomplish? Basically, you set items' required attribute to true and validate that only space can be entered.
Is it the sort of field that is populated by system (inline, FormAPI, whatever) and the only thing allowed for the user is to clean it up?
If so, make the field read-only and give him "CleanUp" callout button. If not, what is the purpose of it?

I think you misread the regex (as I did at first) - it's not validating that only a space can be entered (

"^[ ]+$"

) it's validating that the field contains at least one non-space character (

"[^ ]+"

) anywhere within the value - i.e. it needs to be filled in with at least one character other than a space character in order to be valid.

The problem with VF textareas is that even when they appear "blank" they may contain HTML tags (i.e.:

) which invalidate the validation (so to speak) - hence my suggestion that the validation be done in FormAPI where JavaScript can be used to strip out all the HTML tags and then verify if the field has any non-space characters in order to declare it valid (or invalid).

ISCBorisB

I think you misread the regex ...

I absolutely did. Thanks

kisnak

I absolutely did. Thanks

Hi, ISCBorisB
I think you understood what I am trying to do with that regex from Mr ghoti's reply.
anyway what it does is
1)It will force the user to input atleast one character(character can be anything).
and this regex works fine for text item ,but not for textarea item where I used visual format.

here I am left with only one chance ,that is to use regex only ,but not javascript to validate that field

best regards
srikanth kyatham

Sailesh

Hi, ISCBorisB

here I am left with only one chance ,that is to use regex only ,but not javascript to validate that field

best regards
srikanth kyatham

Did understand why you are left with using regex only, why not use the formAPI for the same. As Adam has mentioned you can do the same using formAPI.

Adam Stoller

Here I am correcting posts again ;-)

Did not understand why you are left with using regex only, why not use the formAPI for the same? As Adam has mentioned you can do the same using formAPI.

Sailesh

Here I am correcting posts again ;-)

Seems not just good with Teamsite but also with proof reading... MUP (Multi-utility Person)

Adam Stoller

Seems not just good with Teamsite but also with proof reading... MUP (Multi-utility Person)

You're lucky - I usually charge for such services ;-)

kisnak

You're lucky - I usually charge for such services ;-)

So finally ,it cant be done by using validation regex!
and Iam going to put a request to my lead to change the specification and replace validation regex with form api

best regards
srikanth