Question

I’m using “jQuery Validate Unobtrusive” with ASP.NET MVC3 Razor.

I have a page with a “Comments” form, like this:

Model

public class CommentModel
{

    [Required]
    public string Name { get; set; }

    [Required]
    [DataType(DataType.EmailAddress)]
    public string Email { get; set; }

    [DataType(DataType.Url)]
    [Display(Name = "Website URL")]
    public string WebsiteUrl { get; set; }

    [Required]
    public string Message { get; set; }

}

View

    @using (Html.BeginForm("AddComment", "Blog", new { @articleID = article.ID }))
    {
        <p>
            @Html.LabelFor(m => m.commentModel.Name)
            @Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.commentModel.Name)
            @Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.commentModel.Name)
        </p>
        <p>
            @Html.LabelFor(m => m.commentModel.Email)
            @Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.commentModel.Email)
            @Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.commentModel.Email)
        </p>
        <p>
            @Html.LabelFor(m => m.commentModel.WebsiteUrl)
            @Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.commentModel.WebsiteUrl)
            @Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.commentModel.WebsiteUrl)
        </p>
        <p>
            @Html.LabelFor(m => m.commentModel.Message)
            @Html.TextAreaFor(m => m.commentModel.Message)
            @Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.commentModel.Message)
        </p>
        <p>
            <input type="submit" value="Submit Comment" />
        </p>
    }

However, when the form is submitted, only Name and Email return a validation error, when Message should be too:

If I change Message from TextAreaFor to TextBoxFor, then the validation works correctly.

Why is this, and how can I get the validation to work on my text box?

---

It might also be worth noting I’ve not had to write any specific jQuery for this form. I followed a tutorial which explained this isn’t required as its all handled by MVC3.

Answer 1

Decorate the corresponding model property with [DataType(DataType.MultilineText)] data annotation and use Html.EditorFor Helper method.

[Required]
[DataType(DataType.MultilineText)]
public string Message { get; set; }

Now use @Html.EditorFor Helper method

@Html.EditorFor(m => m.RoleDescription)