Using List in Simple Form Validation

In LotusScript, List is a very useful collection data type. I've spoken to quite a few developer and not many of them is taking advantage of List data type. Below is a simple validation example using List.

First example, is a typical simple validation I found in a form

Function ValidateSubmit As Boolean
Dim ws As New NotesUIWorkspace
Dim uidoc As NotesUIDocument
Set uidoc = ws.CurrentDocument

If uidoc.FieldGetText("FirstName") = "" Then
  Msgbox "Please enter your first name"
  ValidateSubmit = False
  Exit Function
Elseif uidoc.FieldGetText("LastName") = "" Then
  Msgbox "Please enter your last name"
  ValidateSubmit = False
  Exit Function
Elseif uidoc.FieldGetText("Gender") = "" Then
  Msgbox "Please select your gender"
  ValidateSubmit = False
  Exit Function
'........ other validation
End If
ValidateSubmit = True
End Function

Second example, fields and messages stored in a List for validation

Function ValidateSubmit As Boolean
Dim ws As New NotesUIWorkspace
Dim uidoc As NotesUIDocument
Set uidoc = ws.CurrentDocument

Dim fieldList List As String
fieldList("FirstName") = "Please enter your first name"
fieldList("LastName") = "Please enter your last name"
fieldList("Gender") = "Please select your gender"
'...fieldList("OtherFields") = "return message"

Forall f In fieldList
  If uidoc.FieldGetText(Listtag(f)) = "" Then
    Msgbox f
    ValidateSubmit = False
    Exit Function
  End If
End Forall
ValidateSubmit = True
End Function

As the number of fields to be validated grows, maintaining the List in the second example is much simple than the first example. This is just a very simple example to showcase the use of List. You can even store objects in the List. Try using List if you haven't done so.

Show-n-Tell Thursday