Question

I have only recently started using CakePHP and have been unable to get validation to work in a contact app that I have created for the sole purpose of testing forms. Once I setup the $validate array in the modal, the asterisks showed up on the form, however, I still am not getting the validation messages when I submit the form. Here is my code:

/app/View/Contacts/index.ctp

<h1>Contact Form</h1>
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('Contact');
echo $this->Form->input('name');
echo $this->Form->input('age');
echo $this->Form->end('Submit This Form!!!');
?>

/app/Controller/ContactsController.php

<?php
    class ContactsController extends AppController {

    public $helpers = array('Html', 'Form');

    public function index() {

    }
}
?>

/app/Model/Contact.php

<?php
class Contact extends AppModel {
    var $useTable = false;

    public $validate = array(
        'name' => array(
            'rule' => 'notEmpty',
            'message' => 'Cannot leave this field blank.'
        ),
        'age' => array(
            'rule' => 'notEmpty',
            'message' => 'Cannot leave this field blank.'
        )
    );
}
?>

Answer 1

Your mistake is probable in the code you DIDN’T show us:
How you process your form data in the controller.
You probably forgot to set the data to the model.

Take a look on this tutorial here:
http://www.dereuromark.de/2011/12/15/tools-plugin-part-2-contact-form/

My guess looking at your empty (!) index action.
You are not doing anything at all. How should that trigger the validation?

I refer to the above link. It shows you how you can validate such a form using set() and validates().
Basically it boils down to:

if ($this->request->is('post') || $this->request->is('put')) {
    $this->ContactForm->set($this->request->data);
    if ($this->ContactForm->validates()) {
    }
}

PS: and since “contacts” is not really a word here and doesnt mean what is supposed to mean I suggest you rename your controller to “ContactController”. which also makes the url /contact