How should I go about validating a large form that has a "grid" of input fields and check boxes?

[Gleep]

Hi PHP coders,
I've got an issue I'm stuck with. Imagine there is a large form that has 5 columns and 20 rows.
In each row there is a check box - then 4 input fields. I already have the code that inserts all
the data BUT the validation is a nightmare.

What I need is. If an entire row is empty (not checked or filled out) that's OK. However if a user
fills in one or two input fields within a row - that's NOT ok. The entire row needs to be filled
out. It's an all or nothing situation.

Lets say each column is called a, b, c, d, e
I started writting various if statements but it instanly becomes out of control.
example if a but not b and a and b and not c etc.... each row has many combinations.

How can i structure php code that looks at each row and determines if the row is partically filled
out, then valdiation fails . Validation passes if the row is complely empty or completely full.

Heres the kicker, the input fields in this form do not have a consistant naming pattern all the
fields have unique identifier. Also one column expect a date another an integer another text.

Thanks for your help

[Pedro Graca]

Re: How should I go about validating a large form that has a "grid&quot ; of input fields and check boxes?

Gleep wrote:[color=blue]
> I've got an issue I'm stuck with. Imagine there is a large form that
> has 5 columns and 20 rows.
>
> In each row there is a check box - then 4 input fields. I already
> have the code that inserts all the data BUT the validation is a
> nightmare.
>
> What I need is. If an entire row is empty (not checked or filled out)
> that's OK. However if a user fills in one or two input fields within
> a row - that's NOT ok. The entire row needs to be filled out. It's
> an all or nothing situation.
>
> Lets say each column is called a, b, c, d, e
> I started writting various if statements but it instanly becomes out
> of control.
> example if a but not b and a and b and not c etc.... each row has
> many combinations.
>
> How can i structure php code that looks at each row and determines if
> the row is partically filled out, then valdiation fails . Validation
> passes if the row is complely empty or completely full.[/color]

// assuming no field can ever have the character '#':
$allfields = implode('#', array($row['a'], $row['b'], $row['c'], $row['d'], $row['e']));

$validated = false;
if (preg_match('^# ###$', $allfields) validated = true;
if (preg_match('^. +#.+#.+#.+#.+$' , $allfields)) validated = true;

// $validated is now true if the row is completely empty or completely full

[color=blue]
> Heres the kicker, the input fields in this form do not have a
> consistant naming pattern all the fields have unique identifier.[/color]

Ugh!
[color=blue]
> Also one column expect a date another an integer another text.[/color]

The data you receive from the HTML form is *all* text!


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[Gleep]

Re: How should I go about validating a large form that has a "grid&quot ; of input fields and check boxes?

On 29 May 2004 18:59:23 GMT, Pedro Graca <hexkid@hotpop. com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Gleep wrote:[color=green]
>> I've got an issue I'm stuck with. Imagine there is a large form that
>> has 5 columns and 20 rows.
>>
>> In each row there is a check box - then 4 input fields. I already
>> have the code that inserts all the data BUT the validation is a
>> nightmare.
>>
>> What I need is. If an entire row is empty (not checked or filled out)
>> that's OK. However if a user fills in one or two input fields within
>> a row - that's NOT ok. The entire row needs to be filled out. It's
>> an all or nothing situation.
>>
>> Lets say each column is called a, b, c, d, e
>> I started writting various if statements but it instanly becomes out
>> of control.
>> example if a but not b and a and b and not c etc.... each row has
>> many combinations.
>>
>> How can i structure php code that looks at each row and determines if
>> the row is partically filled out, then valdiation fails . Validation
>> passes if the row is complely empty or completely full.[/color]
>
>// assuming no field can ever have the character '#':
>$allfields = implode('#', array($row['a'], $row['b'], $row['c'], $row['d'], $row['e']));
>
>$validated = false;
>if (preg_match('^# ###$', $allfields) validated = true;
>if (preg_match('^. +#.+#.+#.+#.+$' , $allfields)) validated = true;
>
>// $validated is now true if the row is completely empty or completely full
>
>[color=green]
>> Heres the kicker, the input fields in this form do not have a
>> consistant naming pattern all the fields have unique identifier.[/color]
>
>Ugh!
>[color=green]
>> Also one column expect a date another an integer another text.[/color]
>
>The data you receive from the HTML form is *all* text![/color]


Ah yes now I see...
turn each row into an array, implode by a unique character, then run ereg to examine the pattern.
Brilliant! I was using a riduculous array of if statements. Thanks Pedro

[Pedro Graca]

Re: How should I go about validating a large form that has a &quot;grid&quot ; of input fields and check boxes?

Gleep wrote:[color=blue]
> On 29 May 2004 18:59:23 GMT, Pedro Graca <hexkid@hotpop. com> wrote:[color=green]
>>Gleep wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> How can i structure php code that looks at each row and determines if
>>> the row is partically filled out, then valdiation fails . Validation
>>> passes if the row is complely empty or completely full.[/color]
>>
>>// assuming no field can ever have the character '#':
>>$allfields = implode('#', array($row['a'], $row['b'], $row['c'], $row['d'], $row['e']));
>>
>>$validated = false;
>>if (preg_match('^# ###$', $allfields) validated = true;[/color][/color]
// '/^####$/' $validated
[color=blue][color=green]
>>if (preg_match('^. +#.+#.+#.+#.+$' , $allfields)) validated = true;[/color][/color]
// '/^.+#.+#.+#.+#.+ $/' $validated
[color=blue][color=green]
>>// $validated is now true if the row is completely empty or completely full[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> Ah yes now I see...
> turn each row into an array, implode by a unique character, then run ereg to examine the pattern.
> Brilliant! I was using a riduculous array of if statements. Thanks Pedro[/color]

Sorry for my previous errors -- just like this post it was written
directly into my editor and not tested.


I just figured another way that might be better :-)

$validated = false;
$count = 0;
if (empty($row['a'])) ++$count;
if (empty($row['b'])) ++$count;
if (empty($row['c'])) ++$count;
if (empty($row['d'])) ++$count;
if (empty($row['e'])) ++$count;
if (($count == 0) || ($count == 5)) $validated = true;

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[Leif Neland]

Re: How should I go about validating a large form that has a &quot;grid&quot ; of input fields and check boxes?

Gleep wrote:[color=blue]
> Lets say each column is called a, b, c, d, e
> I started writting various if statements but it instanly becomes out
> of control.
> example if a but not b and a and b and not c etc.... each row has
> many combinations.
>
> Validation passes if the row is complely empty or completely full.[/color]

You have been given one solution.
Another way is
error = (a or b or c or d or e) and not (a and b and c and d and e)

Leif