form validation-client and server verifying your visitors form submissions jon brundage cf...
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Form Validation-Client and Server
Verifying your visitors form submissions
Jon Brundage CF developer/Section 508/web
accessibility [email protected]
Why validate?
Safety protects your database and site
Better user experience Makes your site more professional
Saves time Less submits and page calls
Two types of Validation
Client Via Scripting Javascript most
common May be defeated
by disabling JS in browser
Poses risks but convenient
Saves server load
Server Via CGI/ASP etc This discussion
focuses on the power of CF
Can’t be defeated by changes in browser settings
Safer but less convenient
Client validation CFFORM Writes Javascript validation for you CFINPUT tag
http://www.macromedia.com/support/coldfusion/ts/documents/cfform_hotfix.htm hotfix for CFMX 6.1
Javascript Write your own Many free scripts available on the
Web http://webdeveloper.earthweb.com/webjs/ http://www.jsmadeeasy.com/ http://www.js-examples.com/js/ http://www.dynamicdrive.com/ (DHTML)
Test for state of scripting on client
Inside the FORM tag, add a NOSCRIPT tag with a hidden form field <noscript> <input type="hidden" name="scriptOff"
value="scriptOff"> </noscript>
Use Isdefined(form.scriptOff) in action page with a CFIF tag to determine if you need to apply server side validation.
Server validation
CF functions CF tags CF custom tags- developers exchange CF structures and arrays
CF STRUCTURE
Contain variables called keysCreate with a CFSET statement <cfset formerrors=structnew()>
A structure with elements contained in it will have a count similar to query recordcount <cfif structcount(formerrors) gt "0">
CF STRUCTURE cont.
Structures may be looped. <cfloop collection=#formerrors#
item="ErrorType"> <ul class="list"> <li style="color: ##FF0000;"> #formErrors[errorType]# </li> </ul> </cfloop>
Using a structure to hold errors
<cfset formerrors=structnew()> as errors encountered, add to structure
<cfset temp=structinsert(formerrors,"ErroruserFirst","You failed to enter your first name." ,"yes")>
At the end of processing form errors, display by looping over the structure:
<cfloop collection=#formerrors# item="ErrorType"> <ul class="list"> <li style="color: ##FF0000;"> #formErrors[errorType]# </li> </ul> </cfloop>
Make use of CF functions
IsNumeric Verify numeric fields
Findoneof Look at characters
And others! Use you creativity.
THANK YOU
Remember, CF has many tools at your disposal.Have fun, be creative and don’t worry too much about “being right”Many ways to solve problems.Questions/comments- [email protected]