InfoPath Dev

I have tried both "cannot be blank" and a validation rule "field is blank".  I have ticked the "show dialog messages immediately" option.  Trouble is, if you just tab past the field, the rule doesn't fire!  So I get the annoying "some rules were not applied" message on Submit, and no obvious clue as to which has failed.  If I enter text, tab away, then tab back and delete the text and tab away again, the rule fires and the popup appears.  It would be much more intuitive to get this to fire as you tab away from the field if it is blank.

 Suggestions?  I thought of coding for a lost focus event perhaps, but I really want to avoid code as others will have to follow in my footsteps!

Thanks in advance!

Hi apatrick,

basically rules are fired when there is change in the value of the field same with data validations. if you set the "cannot be blank". it will give a * mark at the end of the field that indicates that its value is not correct. If the control is passed to this field and passed to someother field validations/rules wont fire.

I figured, but that means there is no point in trying to tell the user through a message, nor the show immediately option, for blank fields!  How can I achieve this - it is much more intuitive for a user to get a dialog box as they pass through a field telling them the data is invalid, if it is blank.  the asterisk is indeed displayed but I wanted a little bit more...

 Thanks for your quick response!

Why did data validation not work?  With data validation saying "field is blank," the control will have a red-dashed border.  You can't expect a popup when no action has been taken.  Focus doesn't have much meaning, but if they do tab into a field with invalid data, it does show a screen tip at minimum.  I wouldn't rely on pop-up messages, because those don't even exist in browser forms.

well - with field is blank, all you get is the red star.  If you at least got the border as well that would help.  I just think this is counter-intuitive if there was a possibility of fooling control as you tabbed away to say it had changed to trigger the validation it would be good.  If you validate on anything else "say it can't be "a" for example) it will fire immediately.

 No worries if this is not possible.

Thanks!

Angus

You don't get a red star with data validation - only when checking the "Cannot be blank" box.  That's not what I was talking about.

aptrick,

If there are datavalidations on a field, and the form is blank and has not changed it will just show a * mark. untill the "Changed" event gets fired the data validations wont work.