Re: Data validation, mapping, and error handling

From: Peter Dow (ML)
What I'm talking about is how it looks to the user. The user doesn't
care where you put the edits; most of them wouldn't understand if you
tried to explain where they are. What the user sees is what counts.

Good point, Peter. I normally store error messages in a table, and use a procedure to retrieve them. Users can change the message text, although they should leave the parameter markers (&1, &2, ... &n) to be filled in at runtime. For example:

Please enter a numeric value (decimal format)
Please enter an integer value greater than &1
Please enter an integer value from &1 to &2
Please enter a date value in *USA format (mm/dd/yyyy)
Please enter a date value greater than or equal to &1
Please enter a date value from &1 to &2
Please enter a monetary value greater than or equal to &1
Please enter a monetary value from &1 to &2
Please enter a real number greater than or equal to &1
Please fill in a real number from &1 to &2
Please enter a value (not blank)

Nathan.