Regular Expression Validator with MultiLine TextBox

[wagswvu]

I have created a regular expression to validate dates in MM/DD/YYYY, MM/YYYY, and YYYY. "((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d" . How can I make this expression work with a multi-line textbox, so that a user would be able to enter multiple dates (each on a new line) and still be validated by my expression.

Example: 3 dates entered into textbox, all be validated by expression.
Multi-Line TextBox:
01/01/2008
01/2007
2006

[Sick0Fant]

I have created a regular expression to validate dates in MM/DD/YYYY, MM/YYYY, and YYYY. "((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d" . How can I make this expression work with a multi-line textbox, so that a user would be able to enter multiple dates (each on a new line) and still be validated by my expression.

Example: 3 dates entered into textbox, all be validated by expression.
Multi-Line TextBox:
01/01/2008
01/2007
2006

Well, you can split the input by newline, then use a for each loop to validate each one. Although, I'd wonder if you shouldn't just use a date-time picker to populate a listbox-- then you wouldn't need to validate it yourself because the date-time picker returns a date data type.

[wagswvu]

I'm using a RegularExpressionValidator.

here is sample code

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)   
    {   
 
        TextBox textBox1 = new TextBox();   
        textBox1.ID = "textBox1";
        textBox1.TextMode = TextBoxMode.MultiLine;
        textBox1.Rows = 10; 
        form1.Controls.Add(textBox1);       
 
        Button SubmitButton = new Button();   
        SubmitButton.ID = "SubmitButton";   
        SubmitButton.Text = "Submit";   
        SubmitButton.Click += new EventHandler(SubmitButton_Click);   
        form1.Controls.Add(SubmitButton);   
 
        RegularExpressionValidator datevalidator = new RegularExpressionValidator();   
        datevalidator.ControlToValidate = "textBox1";   
        datevalidator.Text = "Enter Correct Date";   
        datevalidator.ValidationExpression = @"((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d";    
        form1.Controls.Add(datevalidator);   
 
    }   
 
    private void SubmitButton_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)   
    {   
        //Get output from textbox   
        //Value output will look like : "value1\r\nvalue2\r\nvalue3"   
    }  

[Sick0Fant]

I'm using a RegularExpressionValidator.

here is sample code

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)   
    {   
 
        TextBox textBox1 = new TextBox();   
        textBox1.ID = "textBox1";
        textBox1.TextMode = TextBoxMode.MultiLine;
        textBox1.Rows = 10; 
        form1.Controls.Add(textBox1);       
 
        Button SubmitButton = new Button();   
        SubmitButton.ID = "SubmitButton";   
        SubmitButton.Text = "Submit";   
        SubmitButton.Click += new EventHandler(SubmitButton_Click);   
        form1.Controls.Add(SubmitButton);   
 
        RegularExpressionValidator datevalidator = new RegularExpressionValidator();   
        datevalidator.ControlToValidate = "textBox1";   
        datevalidator.Text = "Enter Correct Date";   
        datevalidator.ValidationExpression = @"((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d";    
        form1.Controls.Add(datevalidator);   
 
    }   
 
    private void SubmitButton_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)   
    {   
        //Get output from textbox   
        //Value output will look like : "value1\r\nvalue2\r\nvalue3"   
    }  

Is this for an assignment? If so, do it to your specs. I'm just saying that you never want to reinvent the wheel. The date-time picker gives you a valid date, so you wouldn't have to validate it yourself. If the idea is that the user will be entering so many dates that the dtp would be cumbersome, you may want to look ate date.TryParse().

BTW, why create the controls at run time? Especially if you're doing this in the load event, you might as well optimize performance and create the controls at design time.

EDIT:

I forgot that what is being inputed might not be only the year. I'm not sure that TryParse would be successful with such an input. So, like I said before, split the text of the text box by the newline character, trim any spaces, then use a foreach to validate each line using your regex.

[wagswvu]

Is this for an assignment? If so, do it to your specs. I'm just saying that you never want to reinvent the wheel. The date-time picker gives you a valid date, so you wouldn't have to validate it yourself.

BTW, why create the controls at run time? Especially if you're doing this in the load event, you might as well optimize performance and create the controls at design time.

No, I'm working a proof of concept for a business project. The reason I can't use the datetime picker is because the data that will be inputed in either MM/DD/YY, MM/YYYY, or YYYY.(this is document metadata, so it's need to be inputed as is) As for the code it's just a crappy concept I made to mess with the expression. What I am trying to figure out is how to get the RegularExpressionValidator to validate my input when the user enters multiple dates in a multi-line textbox.....

[Sick0Fant]

No, I'm working a proof of concept for a business project. The reason I can't use the datetime picker is because the data that will be inputed in either MM/DD/YY, MM/YYYY, or YYYY.(this is document metadata, so it's need to be inputed as is) As for the code it's just a crappy concept I made to mess with the expression. What I am trying to figure out is how to get the RegularExpressionValidator to validate my input when the user enters multiple dates in a multi-line textbox.....

I know nothing of the RegularExpressionValidator.

I've only used the .NET RegEx object. To validate if a string is accepted by your regular expression, first declare a RegEx object:

RegEx MyRegEx = new RegEx(MyStringRepresentationOfMyRegularExpression) ;

Then, too see if a string is validated:

MyRegEx.IsMatch(StringToBeValidated);

[wagswvu]

I know nothing of the RegularExpressionValidator.

I've only used the .NET RegEx object. To validate if a string is accepted by your regular expression, first declare a RegEx object:

RegEx MyRegEx = new RegEx(MyStringRepresentationOfMyRegularExpression) ;

Then, too see if a string is validated:

MyRegEx.IsMatch(StringToBeValidated);

somebody help me on another forum.. FYI, here is the answer:

(((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d(\s+)?)+

[Sick0Fant]

somebody help me on another forum.. FYI, here is the answer:

(((0[1-9]|1[012])[/]((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[/])?)?(19|20)\d\d(\s+)?)+

Next time, say that you need help with the regular expression itself. I assumed that you had a valid re and merely wanted to know how to validate a string with it. The unix forum is a better place for this question.