Validation errors: Popup or errorline ?

[lister]

I have lots of form validation going on.

When something fails validation, I highlight the offending field and
write an error message at the bottom of the form.

This was fine until I was trying to click on a submit button *of my own
form* and wondering why nothing was happening. I had made a mistake in
one of the fields so it had highlighted it, but when I corrected it I
made a *second* mistake which caused the same error. Due to this it
appeared that absolutely nothing was happening when I was pressing
submit.

So I got to wondering whether I should throw up an alert() box instead
(providing Javascript is enabled obviously). This provides immediate
and obvious feedback that an error has occured. However I cannot think
offhand of any sites which do this, so I guess there must be a good
useability reason for not doing it? Other than an extra click though I
cannot see the problem (but then I'm a newbie to this web authoring
lark)

[McKirahan]

"lister" <li************@hotmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@l12g2000cwl.googlegr oups.com...

I have lots of form validation going on.

When something fails validation, I highlight the offending field and
write an error message at the bottom of the form.

This was fine until I was trying to click on a submit button *of my own
form* and wondering why nothing was happening. I had made a mistake in
one of the fields so it had highlighted it, but when I corrected it I
made a *second* mistake which caused the same error. Due to this it
appeared that absolutely nothing was happening when I was pressing
submit.

So I got to wondering whether I should throw up an alert() box instead
(providing Javascript is enabled obviously). This provides immediate
and obvious feedback that an error has occured. However I cannot think
offhand of any sites which do this, so I guess there must be a good
useability reason for not doing it? Other than an extra click though I
cannot see the problem (but then I'm a newbie to this web authoring
lark)

I do it with my intranet apps.
Here's an example of the alert():

Missing/invalid data found.
Fix the fields with red arrows.

3 error(s) encountered:

Customer Name
City
State

I store thr value of the field's display name as
a hidden field then show that rather than the
field's internal (database) name; e.g. cusName.

If JavaScript isn't enable how are you doing
client-side validation? If you're only doing
server-side validation that down't the screen
refresh with the errors? (unless AJAX...)

[lister]

If JavaScript isn't enable how are you doing

client-side validation? If you're only doing
server-side validation that down't the screen
refresh with the errors? (unless AJAX...)

If Javascript is disabled then validation is done server side. The end
result is identical, but if they have Javascript then it is instant
rather than requiring a round trip to the server.

Even when processed server side it can seem confusing as to why the
page hasn't seemingly refreshed.