CodeIgniter num_rows() not working? - php

Question

Ok I don't know what's not working. I know my form validation is definitely working because all my other functions work properly, but I am setting messages whether it's true OR false and none of them show up so I feel like it's skipping right over the validation rule.. which is weird...
$this->form_validation->set_rules('region', 'required|valid_region');
The rule in MY_Form_validation.php in my libraries folder. The library IS loaded first. As I said all my other validations work properly such as my reCaptcha and everything.
function valid_region($str) {
$this->load->database();
if($this->db->query('SELECT id
FROM region
WHERE name = ?
LIMIT 1', array($str))->num_rows() == 0) {
//not a valid region name
$this->set_message('valid_region', 'The %s field does not have a valid value!');
return false;
}
$this->set_message('valid_region', 'Why is it validating?');
}
None of the messages will set so I have a feeling nothing is validating!

Answer 1

set_rules() function takes 3 parameters
The field name - the exact name you've given the form field.
A "human" name for this field, which will be inserted into the error message.
For example, if your field is named "user" you might give it a human
name of "Username". Note: If you would like the field name to be
stored in a language file, please see Translating Field Names.
The validation rules for this form field.
You put the validation rules as second parameter. That is why the validation is not running. Try this instead:
$this->form_validation->set_rules('region', 'Region', 'required|valid_region');

Answer 2

instead of
$this->form_validation->set_rules('region', 'required|valid_region');
try
$this->form_validation->set_rules('region', 'required|callback_valid_region');
when using custom validation rules you should use
callback to prepend the function name.
UPDATE
and use
$this->form_validation->set_message
instead of
$this->set_message
and in function valid_region
use return true when validation is successfull

Answer 3

$this->form_validation->set_rules('region', 'Region', 'required|valid_region');
function valid_region() {
$str = $this->input->post('name_of_input');
$this->load->database();
if($this->db->query('SELECT id
FROM region
WHERE name = ?
LIMIT 1', array($str))->num_rows() == 0) { // why compare "=" between `name` field and array() ?
//not a valid region name
$this->form_validation->set_message('valid_region', 'The %s field does not have a valid value!');
return false;
}
$this->form_validation->set_message('valid_region', 'Why is it validating?');
return true;
}