Checking for spaces in input validation.

[Markus]

Making a basic validation script, i hit a snag.

If user was to input say " "(minus quotes), into the textfield and then submit it the length check i have used would return it as true and therefore execute the rest of the code.

Is there a way to compensate for spaces, as to include them in the length?

Or do you have a different idea?

The code:

function validateInput()
{
 var username = document.sign_up.username
 var password = document.sign_up.password
 var email    = document.sign_up.email
 var secondary_email = document.sign_up.secondary_email
  if(username.length <= 6 || username.value == ""){ //check for length
    alert("Username must be longer than 6 characters!\n\n- mahcuz")
  }
  else if(username.length >= 14){ //check for length
    alert("Username must be shorter than 14 characters!\n\n- mahcuz")
  }
  else{
  document.sign_up.submit()
  }
}
 

[iam_clint]

Your question is hard to answer because I don't understand what you want to do... do you want the spaces to be stripped and the spaces removed from the length of the input? so the code halts?

[jasone]

Hi,
just to confirm your question,
do you want a validation like the one on this website which i am currently working on: http://www.simplicity-design.co.uk/

if you go to the register section and try to enter a name under 5 characters an error is shown.

if this is the problem will happily provide the script for you..

jason

[gits]

hi ...

you may use the following adaption for the length check:

username.replace(/ /g, '').length;

kind regards

[Markus]

This little thing is bugging me ¬_¬

I'm trying to validate a form and then submit it through javascript.

But i've hit the folllowing problem:

when i do

function validateInput()
{
 var username = document.form.username
  if(username.length <= 6){
   alert("Username must be longer than 6 characters!")
  }
}
 

But if i enter a space(and nothing else), it for some reason validates and then submits the form.

Anyone know how i can counter this?

[Logician]

var username = document.form.username
  if(username.length <= 6){
 

You need to read the .value property, and you should always strip any leading or trailing spaces before reading the string, and display that it has been done:

var username = document.form.username.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,'');
document.form.username.value=username;
if( username.length <= 6 )
 alert("Username must be longer than 6 characters!")
 

[Markus]

You need to read the .value property, and you should always strip any leading or trailing spaces before reading the string, and display that it has been done:

var username = document.form.username.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,'');
document.form.username.value=username;
if( username.length <= 6 )
 alert("Username must be longer than 6 characters!")
 

Thanks for that!

A question though:

(/^\s+|\s+$/g,'');
 

Could you explain that?

Thanks :)

[gits]

hi ...

that is a regular Expression that matches leading and/or trailing spaces of the value you want to check. using it with the replace method the way it was done cuts off the spaces and so trims your value for such spaces ...

kind regards

[Markus]

hi ...

that is a regular Expression that matches leading and/or trailing spaces of the value you want to check. using it with the replace method the way it was done cuts off the spaces and so trims your value for such spaces ...

kind regards

Thanks :)

but i just changed it to

(/ /, '')
 

It seems to work, but is there something it's not doing now by me changing it?

[Logician]

Thanks :)

but i just changed it to

(/ /, '')
 

It seems to work, but is there something it's not doing now by me changing it?

Yes - it's only removing the first space that it finds, which is why it wasn't given like that.