Validation sequencing not working

Question

hi
I have found that my item level validations on a page are not working as I expected. I validate a field (P74_change_id) to 'must be numeric', then I have another validation with a much higher sequence number that checks whether the value already exists in the database, but this is causing an error if the value if not numeric. The following text is taken from my debug mode, what surprises me is the second line that clearly states the first 'not numeric' validation is functioning correctly and returning a fail, but it still carries on with the other validations.
0.28: ...Item is numeric validation: P74_CHANGE_ID
*0.28: ...Validation did NOT pass*
0.28: ...Item Not Null or zero Validation: P74_CHANGE_ID
0.28: ...Item Not Null Validation: P74_RAISED_DATE
0.29: ...Item is date validation: P74_RAISED_DATE
*0.29: ...Validation did NOT pass*
0.29: ...Item Not Null Validation: P74_APPROVED
0.29: ...Item Not Null Validation: P74_TYPE
0.29: ...Item is date validation: P74_APPROVED_DATE
0.30: ...Exists Validation: type="NOT_EXISTS" select * from budget_ct_header where (change_ID = :P74_change_Id) and (change_ID_rev = :P74_change_id_rev) and (project = :P74_project) and (type = :P74_TYPE)
0.30: Show ERROR page...
I get a 'ORA-01722: invalid number' and 'Error ERR-1006 Error in validation routine' referring to 'Exists Validation: type="NOT_EXISTS" select * from' etc the on the page below the debug.
Any ideas/thoughts??
Thanks
-Marc

Answer 1

Marc
Apex will check all validations before the error page - hence the 'X errors have occured' message. This is a good thing, there's nothing worse for a user to get an error, fix it, re-submit the page only to get another error etc etc.
Looks like you need to check you NOT EXISTS validation so make all the other validation conditional never and then get that one working.
I think the problem is probably with one of the bind variable predicates where you reference the page items. Have you tried wrapping them in TO_NUMBER() where appropriate?
By the way you don't need brackets round your predicates in the WHERE clause of your not exists query.
Let me know if you need further help.
Cheers
Ben
Sorry forgot to mention that your ORA error seems to relate to your NOT EXISTS query - not your IS NUMERIC validations
Edited by: Munky on Apr 8, 2009 11:37 AM