validate function in cakephp - cakephp

Question

Can anyone help me with a clear and complete example on how to set validations for 2 fields, say an email and password, with error messages?
From my understanding, the correct format is:
var $validate = array(
'password' => array(
'rule' => array('minLength', '8'),
'message' => 'Minimum 8 characters long'
),
'email_id' => array('email')
);
but I can’t seem to get it work (show a validation message, or halt the execution of the action) in my tests.
Validations work fine but no way for the custom messages to appear!
EDIT
The validations and page redirections work fine now. Only the specific messages do not appear. That is, if I enter a password less than 8 characters, the message "minimum 8 characters needed" should appear immediately or after I click the register button. Is there any method to do this?
EDIT 2
My view file
<!-- File: /app/views/forms/index.ctp -->
<?php
echo $javascript->link('prototype.js');
echo $javascript->link('scriptaculous.js');
echo $html->css('main.css');
?>
<div id="register">
<h3>Register</h3>
<?php
echo $form->create('User',array('action'=>'register'));
echo $form->input('User.name');
echo $form->input('User.email_id');
echo $form->input('User.password');
echo $form->end('Register');
?>
</div>
<div id="login">
<h3>Login</h3>
<?php
echo $form->create('User',array('action'=>'login'));
echo $form->input('User.email_id');
echo $form->input('User.password');
echo $form->end('Login');
?>
</div>
Controller:
<?php
class UsersController extends AppController
{
var $name = 'Users';
var $uses=array('Form','User','Attribute','Result');
var $helpers=array('Html','Ajax','Javascript','Form');
function register()
{
$userId=$this->User->registerUser($this->data);
$this->User->data=$this->data;
if (!$this->User->validates())
{
$this->Flash('Please enter valid inputs','/forms' );
return;
}
$this->Flash('User account created','/forms/homepage/'.$userId);
}
function login()
{
$userId=$this->User->loginUser($this->data);
$this->User->data=$this->data;
if (!$this->User->validates())
{
$this->Flash('Please enter valid inputs','/forms' );
return;
}
if($userId>0){
$this->Flash('Login Successful');
$this->redirect('/forms/homepage/'.$userId);
break;
}
else{
$this->flash('Username and password do not match.','/forms');
}
}
}
?>
Model:
<?php
class User extends AppModel {
var $name = 'User';
var $components=array('Auth');
var $validate = array(
'name' => array(
'rule' => VALID_NOT_EMPTY,
'message' =>'Name cannot be null.'
),
'password' => array(
'rule' => array('minLength', '6'),
'message' => 'Minimum 6 characters long.'
),
'email_id' => array(
'rule'=> array('email'),
'message'=>'Invalid email.'
)
);
function registerUser($data)
{
if (!empty($data))
{
$this->data['User']['name']=$data['User']['name'];
$this->data['User']['email_id']=$data['User']['email_id'];
$this->data['User']['password']=$data['User']['password'];
if($this->save($this->data))
{
$this->data['User']['id']= $this->find('all',array('fields' => array('User.id'),
'order' => 'User.id DESC'
));
$userId=$this->data['User']['id'][0]['User']['id'];
return $userId;
}
}
}
function loginUser($data)
{
$this->data['User']['email_id']=$data['User']['email_id'];
$this->data['User']['password']=$data['User']['password'];
$login=$this->find('all');
foreach($login as $form):
if($this->data['User']['email_id']==$form['User']['email_id'] && $this->data['User']['password']==$form['User']['password'])
{
$this->data['User']['id']= $this->find('all',array('fields' => array('User.id'),
'conditions'=>array('User.email_id'=> $this->data['User']['email_id'],'User.password'=>$this->data['User']['password'])
));
$userId=$this->data['User']['id'][0]['User']['id'];
return $userId;
}
endforeach;
}
}
?>

Answer 1

Here is a live example from my project..
This is how you set up your validation in your model: Article model
Ignore the fact that I'm initializing the validate array from constructor, you can keep doing it like you're doing it now if you don't plan on implementing I18n and L10n.
Handling validation errors in controller: Articles controller
From line 266 to 280 you can see validation and save errors being handled with setFlash() + return.
That's pretty much all you need to do, just don't forget you need to use the FormHelper for your forms for the messages to work as expected.
Common error: you must not do a $this->redirect() after failed validation.
Hopefully this will set you on the right track :)

Answer 2

Why dont you try $this->modelName->invalidFields(), which will return you an array with the fields that failed validation and the message to display.
http://book.cakephp.org/view/1182/Validating-Data-from-the-Controller