CakePHP - Model validation does not work - forms

Question

again alot of similar questions out there but none of them really help me.
HTML5 form validation seems to be triggering with messages "Please fill in this field" instead of the model validation messages which should be "Please enter the model"
I have a form to add Computers to the database.
Here is my form:
echo $this->Form->create('Computer');
echo $this->Form->input('Computer.model', array('label' => 'Model'));
echo $this->Form->input('Computer.memory', array('label' => 'memory'));
echo $this->Form->input('Computer.hdd', array('label' => 'hdd'));
echo $this->Form->input('Computer.price', array('label' => 'price'));
echo $this->Form->end('Save Computer');
Here is the full controller code with index and add actions
<?php
class ComputersController extends AppController {
public $helpers = array('Html', 'Form', 'Session');
public $components = array('Session');
public function beforeFilter() {
parent::beforeFilter();
$this->Auth->allow('add');
}
public function index() {
$this->set('computers', $this->Computer->find('all'));
}
public function add() {
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
if (!empty($this->request->data)) {
$this->Computer->save($this->request->data);
$this->Session->setFlash(__('Your Computer has been saved, or so it seems.....'));
return $this->redirect(array('action' => 'index'));
}
$this->Session->setFlash(__('Not sure why we got here 1.'));
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash(__('By right, this should be the index page'));
}
}
}
?>
Here's the model
<?php
class Computer extends AppModel {
public $validate = array(
'model' => array(
'Please enter model name'=> array(
'rule'=>'notEmpty',
'message'=>'Please enter model'
)
)
);
}
?>
I read from other forms that triggering the model save function, which I do, will automatically trigger the model validation. How can i get the model validation to work?
Thanks
Kevin

Answer 1

As you were saying, if you have the notEmpty validation in the model, CakePHP adds required="required" on the input attributes. This is handled by the browser, so you see the default Please enter this field message when you try to submit an empty value. An advantage is that if you are using the browser in a different language, the message will be displayed in that language.
If you want to change that message, you can try a solution like the ones from this question. (this is probably not what you want)
If you want to remove that client-side message, you can disable it using novalidate
echo $this->Form->create('Computer', array('novalidate' => 'novalidate'));
This way, the HTML5 required property will be ignored, and you will get the message from the model.
I am not sure if there is a way to tell Cake to use the server-side value on the client.

Answer 2

$this->{Model}->save() returns false if the validation fails, but in your case you're redirecting with a flash message after save function. so first check the form is saving perfectly or not, if perfectly saving then redirect to listing page other wise render your view file with a flash message where you can view the validation messages.
if ($this->Computer->save($this->request->data)) {
$this->Session->setFlash(__('Your Computer has been saved, or so it seems.....'));
return $this->redirect(array('action' => 'index'));
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash(__('Unable to save form'));
}
Note: To disable html validation just do
$this->Form->inputDefaults(array(
'required' => false
));
in your view file
Hope this helps you.

Answer 3

Set 'novalidate' => true in options for FormHelper::create()
echo $this->Form->create('Computer', array('novalidate' => true));
For more information, go to http://book.cakephp.org/2.0/en/core-libraries/helpers/form.html