$.validator.addMethod("required", function(value, element, param) {
// reg-first-name custom errors
if (element.id==’reg-first-name’ ) {
if( value == ” ){
$.validator.messages.required = "Please enter your first name.";
return false;
} else if( !value.match(/^[A-Za-z]+$/) ){
$.validator.messages.required = "Please enter only alpha characters ( Aa-Zz )";
return false;
}
return true;
}
return $.validator.methods.oldRequired.call(this, value, element, param);
},
$.validator.messages.required // use default message
);

So I used:
$.validator.messages.nameOfMethod = ‘custom message here’;
and it worked!

Thanks again

I wanted an optional date validation and was using the dateITA from the additionalmethods.js. However, I had a watermark in the text box due to which the date validation would always trigger.

Extended the dateITA to my own custom function which checked if it there was a watermark or not and then if necessary called the original dateITA method. Worked like charm!

Specifically my question deals with the message part of the addMethod function. I have the following code in my document.ready function.

$(document).ready(function() {
var message = "";
jQuery.validator.addMethod("IsSelectionValid", function(value, element, param) {
var result = true;

if ($(’#auditTypeDropDownList option:selected’).val() == ‘1′ && element.id == ‘opinionDropDownList’) {
if (value == ‘7′ || value == ‘8′) {//7 = other 8 = N/A
result = false;
message = "* Can use all choices except Other and N/A";
}
else {
result = true;
}
}
else if ($(’#auditTypeDropDownList option:selected’).val() == ‘2′ && element.id == ‘opinionDropDownList’ ||
$(’#auditTypeDropDownList option:selected’).val() == ‘3′ && element.id == ‘opinionDropDownList’) {
if (value == ‘8′) {
result = true;
}
else {
result = false;
message = "* N/A is the only available option for audit opinion with this audit type";
}
}
return result;
},message);
});

The problem is I’m unable to get the message to be displayed. When I put the message variable in an alert I can see the text just fine. However when I put the variable in its expected place I get nothing. However if I put a string like "* Can use all choices except Other and N/A" it displays. I just don’t seem to be able to use a variable. Any thoughts?

Response: Well, you just added a validator with an empty message. Your validation function does not run until well after the validator has already been added, so the message variable will be unassigned when you add the validator. It seems to me like you are attempting to roll two different validation rules into a single validation. Why not just make them two separate rules?