How to make a custom profile input field "required". WordPress

Fahad Murtaza comments:

Also, for the server end, I'd recommend you to use this plugin.

This one saved me countless hours of coding the extra fields for users and error messages for validation etc.

[[LINK href="http://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-my-login/"]]http://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-my-login/[[/LINK]]

This page explains about the required fields validation in the second heading i.e "2. Validate the new fields (optional)"

[[LINK href="http://www.jfarthing.com/development/theme-my-login/adding-extra-registration-fields/"]]Adding Extra Registration Fields[[/LINK]]

Sean Gartlan comments:

Thanks for the response...

I am aware of the required attribute in html however I wasn't aware that this had anything bearing on wordpress php error messages??? I think I'm looking for a solution that utilises standard Wordpress error messaging...

Thanks,
Sean.

Fahad Murtaza comments:

No, it has nothing to do with the html5 attribute, just that its a good practice and takes care of the issue for most users and improves UX. For the solution to wordpress errors, I suggested plugin.

I am also going to suggest a solution for your existing code so you don't need to change anything.

Sean Gartlan comments:

Thanks again for the response...

Without boring you with specific details of the entire solution, a plugin is not what I'm looking for...

I am looking for code that targets an input or dropdown field as required, checks the field to determine whether it has been given a value and in the event that the page is saved without a value uses the standard Wordpress error messaging that appears at the top of the profile page...

Thanks,
Sean.

Fahad Murtaza comments:

Do something along these lines.



add_action( 'user_profile_update_errors', 'validate_field' );

function validate_field(&$errors, $update = null, &$user = null)
{
if (!preg_match("/^DUMMY_TEXT_[0-5]:[01]:\d+$/", $_POST['exp_years'])) // Change to check for empty or any regular expression.
{
$errors->add('empty_exp_years', "<strong>ERROR</strong>: Please select a valid value for exp years!");
}
}



The d3 within regex should check for number with lendth = 3. Same goes for d4

Another way to check if a year number of length 2 to 4 is:

^[0-9]{2,4}$


but your values are like

value1. value2, value3

So, you can simply do this






add_action( 'user_profile_update_errors', 'validate_field' );

function validate_field(&$errors, $update = null, &$user = null)
{
if ($_POST['exp_years']=='' or $_POST['exp_years']==NULL) // Change to check for empty or any regular expression.
{
$errors->add('empty_exp_years', "<strong>ERROR</strong>: Please select a valid value for exp years!");
}
}



Fahad Murtaza comments:

I haven't tested the code, just typed here, so if there is a syntax error, please fix :)

Sean Gartlan comments:

Fahd,

Thanks that looks like just what I need...

So using the example;

<tr>
<th><label for="dropdown">Years Of Experience</label></th>
<td>
<?php
//get dropdown saved value
$selected = get_the_author_meta( 'exp_years', $user->ID );
?>
<select name="exp_years" id="exp_years" style="width:100%;">
<option value=""></option>
<option value="value1" <?php echo ($selected == "value1")? 'selected="selected"' : '' ?>>Less than 1 year</option>
<option value="value2" <?php echo ($selected == "value2")? 'selected="selected"' : '' ?>>1-3 years</option>
<option value="value3" <?php echo ($selected == "value3")? 'selected="selected"' : '' ?>>4-7 years</option>
<option value="value4" <?php echo ($selected == "value4")? 'selected="selected"' : '' ?>>8-15 years</option>
<option value="value5" <?php echo ($selected == "value5")? 'selected="selected"' : '' ?>>15+ years</option>
</select>

<span class="description">Years of experience.</span>
</td>
</tr>


Where do I place your code into my functions.php file???

Above or below the;

add_action( 'show_user_profile', 'my_show_extra_profile_fields' );
add_action( 'edit_user_profile', 'my_show_extra_profile_fields' );

Or nested within the html???

Or above or below the save;

add_action( 'personal_options_update', 'my_save_extra_profile_fields' );
add_action( 'edit_user_profile_update', 'my_save_extra_profile_fields' );

I have tried placing it in a few different positions, however the user update takes place successfully...

I was assuming (probably incorrectly) that if the initial dropdown value select was <option value=""></option> then it was equal to NULL and upon saving an error message would result??? Please excuse my ignorance...

Many Thanks,
Sean.


So where

Fahad Murtaza comments:

It should be in functions.php

Just append it to the functions.php

Sean Gartlan comments:

Fahd,

Sorry must have been a caching issue... Updated your suggested code to include other fields and it works like a charm...

You have solved this and I have 100% satisfaction with your solution... I really appreciate your assistance and such a quick response...

Many Thanks,
Sean.

Sean Gartlan comments:

Fahd,

Sorry one final question regarding your solution...

As you would have noticed from the first code snippet that I posted, depending on the users role they will see differing profile custom fields... So some roles will see more custom fields than others...

When I use your solution to ensure mandatory fields are completed correctly I have a problem with the error output...

If a particular role can only see one custom field and they fill it out correctly they receive error messages for not completing custom fields they cannot see...

I need some logic to distinguish the error output based on the role...

I'm using this to hide or show fields currently;

<?php } if($user->has_cap('s2member_level1')) {// Custom fields only display to Level 1 accounts?>

// fields

<?php if($user->has_cap('s2member_level2')) { // Custom fields only display to business accounts?>

// fields

Thanks,
Sean.