Hi,

I want to validate a date formed with drop down selections. I have three different drop down menus. (Year, Month, Day)
When it is submitted the controller receives three different POSTS. One for each drop down.

I can make the validation very easy with PHP checkdate() function:

but if it fails how can I display the custom error message?

I would make 1 field to input the date.

If you want to use CI’s formvalidation class you can do something like this:

[CODE]
$this->form_validation->set_rules(‘date’, ‘Date’, ‘callback_date_check’);
[/CODE]

[CODE]
function date_check ($value)
{
  $parts = explode(’/’, $value);
 
  // make sure that all parts are digits. otherwise the checkdate method will throw errors
 
  if ( count($parts) != 3 || !checkdate($parts[1]  ,$parts[0]  ,$parts[2]) )
  {
      $this->load->library(‘validation’);
      $this->validation->set_message(__FUNCTION__, ‘The %s field must have dd/mm/yyyy format.’);
      return FALSE; 
  }
     
  return true;
}
[/CODE]

That’s the thing. I don’t want to use a text input field. I would like to have the drop downs… every one is using drop downs.

The date check finetuned:
[CODE]
function date_check ($value)
{
  //match the format of the date
  if ( preg_match (”#^([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{4})$#”, $value, $parts) )
  {       
      //check weather the date is valid of not
      if( checkdate($parts[2],$parts[1],$parts[3]) )
      {
        return true;
      }
  }
         
  $this->load->library(‘validation’);
  $this->validation->set_message(__FUNCTION__, ‘The %s field must have dd/mm/yyyy format.’);
  return FALSE; 
}
[/CODE]

Petsoukos - 01 September 2010 05:00 PM

That’s the thing. I don’t want to use a text input field. I would like to have the drop downs… every one is using drop downs.

I don’t agree about that

I notice that the dropdowns are more and more replaced by textfields together with a datepicker. is more userfriendly (only one click)

jquery datepicker: http://www.kelvinluck.com/assets/jquery/datePicker/v2/demo/

or:

[CODE]
// run the validation on 1 of the dropdowns
$this->form_validation->set_rules(‘d’, ‘Date’, ‘callback_date_check’); 
[/CODE]

[CODE]
function date_check ($value)
{
  $y = $this->input->post(‘y’);
  $m = $this->input->post(‘m’);
  $d = $this->input->post(‘d’);

  if( checkdate($m,$d,$y) )
  {
      return true;
  }
         
  $this->load->library(‘validation’);
  $this->validation->set_message(__FUNCTION__, ‘The %s field is not a valid date.’);
  return FALSE; 
} 
[/CODE]

I tried the jQuery datepicker but for some odd reason when I click on the text field it just displays it in the main body of the page and not as a “pop-out” frame. Can’t figure out how to make it work.

You have to include the css:

http://www.kelvinluck.com/assets/jquery/datePicker/v2/demo/styles/datePicker.css

I didn’t forget…

This is the code from my header.

Maybe the CSS file has to be on a different location…

Does the link to your css file work?
Try view source and copy paste the css link in your browser.

iConTM - 01 September 2010 07:21 PM

Does the link to your css file work?
Try view source and copy paste the css link in your browser.

Yes it spits out the script…

Ah maybe it’s the version of jquery?

I used jquery-1.3.2.min.js

I noticed that some jquery plugins only work with a certain version of jquery installed.

I have the latest in use.

try using jquery-1.3.2.min.js

Well I mixed up the datepicker utilities. Actually I’ve used this http://javascriptcalendar.org/javascript-date-picker.php this was causing the problem I’ve mentioned.

The one you are referring is working. You said the textfield+datepicker is more userfriendly. One click only. But I think otherwise. With this date picker I have to click 25 times to get to my year of birth + 1 to select the date.

Hm… I’ve got it running with drop down and it validates correctly as far I can tell.

I check the validation from on point only

The form validation on the year input.

The callback method:

Can someone else confirm this? When for example I enter an erroneous date like 2010 02 31 (31 Feb ) I get the error message. Or any invalid date. If someone was so kind to review it for any loopholes or a trick to bypass it I would be greatfull.

Thanks!