Define a Validation Rule in an MDK App

When allowing end-users to make updates to data, it is important to add validation rules to verify that they are entering valid information.
If the Update action fails due to the validation rule, the application will display a validation failure message to the end-user. You can customize this message by creating a Message action and adding the action to the validation Failure Message field in the Update action.

1. Right-click the Actions folder | MDK: New Action | choose MDK Message Actions in Category | click Message Action | Next.

   

2. Provide the below information:

   Field	Value
   Action Name	ValidationFailure
   Type	Select Message from the dropdown
   Message	Email address is not in the correct format recipient @ domain . domaintype
   Title	Validate Email
   OKCaption	OK
   OnOK	--None--
   CancelCaption	leave it blank
   OnCancel	--None--

   

3. Click Next and then Finish on the Confirmation step.

In the MDK editor, you will create a new JavaScript file called EmailValidation.js to handle validation if a @ symbol exists in the email address. In the validation rule, you will grab the data entered by the end-user, validate it and check for the @ symbol then return true if the email address is of a valid format or false if it is not. The returning result of the validation rule can be used in the Update action to determine whether the action succeeds or fails.

You can find more details about writing a Rule.

1. Right-click the Rules folder | MDK: New Rule File | select Empty JS Rule.

   

2. Enter the Rule name EmailValidation, click Next and then Finish on the confirmation step.

   

3. Replace the generated snippet with below code.

   JavaScript

   Copy

   export default function EmailValidation(context) {
       //The following evaluateTargetPath will retrieve the current value of the email control
       if ((context.evaluateTargetPath('#Control:FCEmail/#Value').indexOf('@')) === -1) {
           //If email value does not contain @ display a validation failure message to the end-user
           context.executeAction('/DemoSampleApp/Actions/ValidationFailure.action');
       } else {
           //If @ is present in the email value, return true to indicate validation is successful
           return true;
       }
   }
   

4. Save the changes.

   The indexOf() method returns the index within the calling String object of the first occurrence of the specified value and -1, if no occurrence is found.

   In above code there is a reference to ValidationFailure.action , you can navigate directly from here to the MDK file by right clicking on it.
   

   

Now, that you have created the validation rule, you will add it to the Update action. This will tell the Update action to run the validation rule before saving any data. If the validation rule is successful, the Update action will save the changes as expected. If the validation rule fails, the end-user receives the validation failure message telling them useful information so they can fix the problem before continuing.

1. Open Customers_UpdateEntity.action by double clicking on the action in the project explorer pane.

2. Expand the Common Action Properties and select EmailValidation.js rule for Validation Rule field.

   

Deploy the updated application to your MDK client.

1. Right-click Application.app and select MDK: Deploy.

   

2. Select deploy target as Mobile & Cloud.

   

   You should see success message for both deployments.

   

   Alternatively, you can select MDK: Redeploy in the command palette (View menu>Find Command OR press Command+Shift+p on Mac OR press Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows machine), it will perform the last deployment.

   

Make sure you are choosing the right device platform tab above.

Once you complete this tutorial you can continue with enhance Your First MDK App with Additional Functionalities mission.