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How to: Implement Attributes-Based Validation

  • 6 minutes to read

This example shows how to apply DataAnnotations attributes that specify data validation rules. The RequiredAttribute is applied to the 'Name' and 'Department' data fields. The StringLengthAttribute is applied to the 'Position' data field.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;

public class Employee {
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public int ParentID { get; set; }
    [Required(AllowEmptyStrings = false, ErrorMessage = "The Name cannot be empty. Please correct.")]
    public string Name { get; set; }
    [StringLength(20)]
    public string Position { get; set; }
    [Required(AllowEmptyStrings = false, ErrorMessage = "The Department cannot be empty. Please correct.")]
    public string Department { get; set; }
}

public static class Stuff {
    public static List<Employee> GetStuff() {
        List<Employee> stuff = new List<Employee>();
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 1, ParentID = 0, Name = "Gregory S. Price", Department = "", Position = "President" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 2, ParentID = 1, Name = string.Empty, Department = "Marketing", Position = "Vice President" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 3, ParentID = 1, Name = "John C. Powell", Department = "Operations", Position = "Vice President" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 4, ParentID = 1, Name = "Christian P. Laclair", Department = "Production", Position = "Vice President" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 5, ParentID = 1, Name = string.Empty, Department = "Finance", Position = "Vice President" });

        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 6, ParentID = 2, Name = "Brian C. Cowling", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 7, ParentID = 2, Name = "Thomas C. Dawson", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 8, ParentID = 2, Name = "", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 9, ParentID = 2, Name = "", Department = "Marketing", Position = "Manager" });

        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 10, ParentID = 3, Name = "Harold S. Brandes", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 11, ParentID = 3, Name = "Michael S. Blevins", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 12, ParentID = 3, Name = "Jan K. Sisk", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 13, ParentID = 3, Name = "Sidney L. Holder", Department = "Operations", Position = "Manager" });

        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 14, ParentID = 4, Name = "James L. Kelsey", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 15, ParentID = 4, Name = "Howard M. Carpenter", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 16, ParentID = 4, Name = "Jennifer T. Tapia", Department = "Production", Position = "Manager" });

        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 17, ParentID = 5, Name = "Judith P. Underhill", Department = "Finance", Position = "Manager" });
        stuff.Add(new Employee() { ID = 18, ParentID = 5, Name = "Russell E. Belton", Department = "Finance", Position = "Manager" });
        return stuff;
    }
}