cake php form validation is not working for me - cakephp

Question

I have a a form which adds first_name and last_name of user in cakephp.
here is the code
code for view (add.ctp)
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('User');
echo $this->Form->input('first_name',array('label'=>'First Name'));
echo $this->Form->input('last_name',array('label'=>'Last Name'));
echo $this->Form->end('Add User');
?>
code for UserController (UsersController.php)
<?php
public function add(){
if($this->request->is('post')){
$addData = $this->request->data;
$this->User->create();
if($this->User->save($addData)){
$this->Session->setFlash('User has been added successfully');
$this->redirect(array('action'=>'index'));
}
}
}
?>
view code for User Model (UserModel.php)
<?php
class UserModel extends AppModel{
public $validate = array(
'first_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'first name should not be empty.'
),
'last_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'last name should not be empty.'
)
);
}
?>
This is the code I am using, I have seen on cakebook as well and used various other rules, but no validation is working for my form. Can some please help me what could be the reason ?
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Your model filename is incorrect. It should be User.php not UserModel.php

Answer 2

please change your file name to user.php if your using table name in mysql as users instead of UserModel.php
and your classname must be like below
<?php
class User extends AppModel{
var $name = 'User';
public $validate = array(
'first_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'first name should not be empty.'
),
'last_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'last name should not be empty.'
)
);
}
?>

Answer 3

Your model name should be User (as your table name and controller name is users).
So try this in your model file(User.php)
<?php
App::uses('AppModel', 'Model');
class User extends AppModel{
public $validate = array(
'first_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'first name should not be empty.'
),
'last_name' => array(
'rule' => 'notEmpty',
'message' => 'last name should not be empty.'
)
);
}