Thread: Validating multiple sets of checkboxes as one

Create a new validator, and apply it to each of the elements. Inside the validator, you also have access to other elements and their values.

Check out the validation documentation as it should explain how to do the custom validators.

Cheers

Thanks for the input Adrian.
Unfortunately it appears even if I apply a custom validator to each of the sets of checkboxes, if no checkboxes are selected then none of the validators get called.
My current solution would be to apply a validator to a random element (the submit button for example) and check the state of the checkboxes from there. But surely there's a better way?

This is the code currently by the way...

Code:

class BBC_Buzzpage_ReportForm extends Zend_Form {
	
	public function __construct() {
		
		$offensive = new Zend_Form_Element_MultiCheckbox('o');
		$offensive->setLabel("O...")
				  ->addMultiOptions(array(
				  		'0' => 'P', 
				  		'1' => 'H',
				  		'2' => 'G'
				  ));
				  
		$unlawful = new Zend_Form_Element_MultiCheckbox('u');
		$unlawful->setLabel("U...")
				 ->addMultiOptions(array(
				  		'0' => 'C',
				  		'1' => 'B',
				  		'2' => 'D',
				  		'3' => 'H',
				  		'4' => 'D'
				  ));
		
		$accessSafety = new Zend_Form_Element_MultiCheckbox('a');
		$accessSafety->setLabel("P...")
				     ->addMultiOptions(array(
				  		'0' => 'P',
				  		'1' => 'S',
				  		'2' => 'S',
				  		'3' => '1',
				  		'4' => 'F',
				  		'5' => 'S'
				  ));
				  
		$promotional = new Zend_Form_Element_MultiCheckbox('p');
		$promotional->setLabel("Pr")
				    ->addMultiOptions(array(
				  		'0' => 'S',
				  		'1' => 'P',
				  		'2' => 'C',
				  		'3' => 'C'
				  ));
				  
		$value = new Zend_Form_Element_MultiCheckbox('v');
		$value->setLabel("L...")
			  ->addMultiOptions(array(
				  		'0' => 'S'
				  ));
		
				  
		$reason = new Zend_Form_Element_Text('r');
		$reason->setLabel("Use this box to give us more details on your reason:");
				  
		$submit = new Zend_Form_Element_Submit('Submit');
		
		$this->addElements(array(
			$o,
			$u,
			$a,
			$p,
			$v,
			$r
		));
	
		$this->setMethod("post");
		
		$this->clearDecorators();
		$this->setDecorators(array(array('ViewScript', array(
    						'viewScript' => 'path/to/form/reportform.phtml',
    						'class'      => 'form element'
						)), 'Form'));
	}
}

Try $element->setRequired(true) - that will force it to run all the validation chians for it, and may also add notEmpty validator, which I think also is what you need?

$element->setAllowEmpty() is probably what you need.
Validate Empty when other field is true

Sorry for the slow reply guys I had to work on something else for a few days, thanks alot for your help.
setAllowEmpty(true) has forced my custom validator to run on the checkboxes as required, however I expected to be able to validate the multicheckbox element as a whole rather than each individual checkbox.
How do I get access to the other form elements whilst in the validator for a checkbox?

I echoed $this while in the validator and it just returned:

Code:

object(App_Validate_OOC)[84]
  protected '_value' => string 'accepted' (length=8)
  protected '_messageVariables' => 
    array
      empty
  protected '_messageTemplates' => 
    array
      empty
  protected '_messages' => 
    array
      empty
  protected '_obscureValue' => boolean false
  protected '_errors' => 
    array
      empty
  protected '_translator' => null
  protected '_translatorDisabled' => boolean false
  public 'zfBreakChainOnFailure' => boolean false

How do I get access to the other form elements whilst in the validator for a checkbox?

AFAIK you don't have access to the elements. You have access to the values (array of form data) if you define the validator's method as

Code:

public function isValid($value, $formData) {...}

instead of the usual

Code:

public function isValid($value) {...}

You can get access to the elements if you pass them to your validator somehow. How to do that is up to you I guess.

Originally Posted by maciek.231

You have access to the values (array of form data) if you define the validator's method as

Code:

function isValid($value, $formData) {...}

Values is fine, as long as I can check them I can do what I want. But if I use the isValid above with the $formData included it throws an exception saying it must be compatible with Zend_Validate_Interface::isValid()?

Originally Posted by ro88o

Values is fine, as long as I can check them I can do what I want. But if I use the isValid above with the $formData included it throws an exception saying it must be compatible with Zend_Validate_Interface::isValid()?

That is strange. Have you put "public function" or just "function"? I see I forgot the keyword "public".