Codeigniter - How to validate dynamic INPUT array? - php

Question

I am not being able to run validation on an array of input fields. When I submit the form, it is submitted OK (data is saved correctly), but without validation (no errors, no messages).
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
My view:
<?php echo form_open('save', array('id' => 'form')); ?>
<?php foreach ($cars as $row): ?>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<h2>
<?php echo $row->cars_name; ?>
</h2>
</td>
<th>
Number
</th>
<td>
<?php echo form_input("car[$row->cars_id][cars_number]", $row->cars_number); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<th>
Registry
</th>
<td>
<?php echo form_input("car[$row->cars_id][cars_number_reg]", $row->cars_number_reg); ?>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<?php endforeach; ?>
<?php echo form_close(); ?>
My config/form_validation.php:
'test/save' => array(
array(
'field' => 'car[]', // also tried car[][], but no go
'label' => 'Field',
'rules' => 'alpha|htmlspecialchars|trim'
),
),
My controller:
function save()
{
if ($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE) {
$json['success'] = '0';
$json['message'] = validation_errors();
echo json_encode($json);
} else {
$car = $this->input->post('car');
foreach ($car as $k => $v) {
$data['cars_number'] = $v['cars_number'];
$data['cars_number_reg'] = $v['cars_number_reg'];
$cars_id = $k;
$this->emergency_model->save($data, $cars_id);
}
$json['success'] = '1';
echo json_encode($json);
}
}

Answer 1

I suggest using a callback validation function like in this tutorial
in this tutorial

Answer 2

From the user guide form_validation
You must use the "exact" name for validation rules.
In your case validation rules should be generated in foreach, same as your view.
$validation_rules = array();
foreach($cars as $row){
$validation_rules[] = array( 'field'=>'car['.$row->cars_id.'][cars_number]',
'Field',
'rules' => 'alpha|htmlspecialchars|trim'
);
}
$this->form_validation->set_rules($validation_rules);
(note:this code was not tested)
I think you have to do this in controller instead of config.