Configuring the User Interface › How to Configure the User Interface › Field Data Validation Configuration › Add a Data Validation for a Text Field

Add a Data Validation for a Text Field

You can validate the data entry in text fields (for example, contact name, email address, or telephone number) to enforce specific format requirements. You create the data validations for text fields by defining the regular expressions that apply to the different types of text fields.

Note: A regular expression is a text string that describes a particular pattern or format. Regular expressions are used to validate text to ensure that the text matches a predefined format. For example, create a regular expression to specify the correct format for an email address, telephone number, or IP address.

Important! Compose and test your regular expression before creating the text field data validation. You can find resources on the Web for creating, analyzing, and testing regular expressions.

Follow these steps:

1. Click the tab and optional subtab for the object that you want to configure.
2. On the left, click CONFIGURE: ON.

   The configuration of the page is enabled.

3. In the Configuration Information area of the page, complete the following steps:
   1. Specify the information for the new global or local configuration (see page 35), or select an existing configuration that you want to change.

      Note: Permissions for data validation are allowed by default. You can deny data validation permissions for the current configuration. The users assigned to the configuration do not then see the Data Validation icon and cannot add data validations.

   2. (Optional) In the Object drop-down list, select the part of the object that you want to configure. Any permission changes you make (for example, deny permissions to move a field) apply only to that part of the object.

      For example, when configuring a legal document, you select Legaldoc Status History in the Object drop-down list. You deny permissions to move fields for that part of the object (the status history). The permission changes apply only to the status history part of the object, and not to the other parts of the object.

   Important! Global configuration changes affect all users, regardless of their role. Local configuration changes only affect users in the roles that are assigned to the selected configuration.

4. Next to the text field that you want to validate, click the Data Validation icon.
5. Enter the regular expression that applies to the type of field (for example, telephone number or email address) and click OK.

   Important! Verify that you selected the correct regular expression for the field type and that you entered the regular expression accurately.

   Note: To modify or delete an existing data validation, complete one of the following steps:

   • To modify the validation, edit the regular expression in the text entry field and click OK.
   • To delete the validation, clear the regular expression in the text entry field and click OK.
6. Click Save Configuration.

   When you assign the configuration to a role, users in the role receive data validation messages if their text entries do not match the defined format.