Missing required failure message for CollectionInputFilter

[Maks3w]

CollectionInputFilter fails without error message when is required but data is empty or not set.

[n3vrax]

Is this fixed? Using the latest version, and it seems indeed that the collection input filter does not have some sort of default message when required is true and an empty array is given. Need to extend the input filter for now.

[tigran-m-dev]

Issue is still exists. @weierophinney can you confirm this?

[tigran-m-dev]

Any updates on this? Problem still exists.

[weierophinney]

Please provide us with a minimal coffee sample that demonstrates the issue; right now, we'd be doing guess work.

[tigran-m-dev]

Example Input Filter

$factory     = new \Zend\InputFilter\Factory();
$inputFilter = $factory->createInputFilter(
[
    'collection-element' => [
        'type'         => \Zend\InputFilter\CollectionInputFilter::class,
        'required'     => true,
        'input_filter' => [
            'type'  => [
                'required'     => true,
                'validators' => [
                    [
                        'name'    => \Zend\Validator\Between::class,
                        'options' => [
                            'min' => 50,
                            'max' => 100,
                        ],
                    ],
                ],
            ],
            'price' => [
                'required'     => true,
                'validators' => [
                    [
                        'name'    => \Zend\Validator\Between::class,
                        'options' => [
                            'min' => 50,
                            'max' => 100,
                        ],
                    ],
                ],
            ],
        ],
    ],
]
);

First Try, when you have a problem with empty error message

$inputFilter->setData([]);
var_dump($inputFilter->isValid());
var_dump($inputFilter->getMessages());

Second Try with Valid error messages if provided some data

$inputFilter->setData([
    'collection-element' => [
        0 => [

        ],
    ],
]);
var_dump($inputFilter->isValid());
var_dump($inputFilter->getMessages());

[froschdesign]

Output is:

First try

boolean false

array (size=1)
  'collection-element' => 
    array (size=0)
      empty

Second try

boolean false

array (size=1)
  'collection-element' => 
    array (size=1)
      0 => 
        array (size=2)
          'type' => 
            array (size=1)
              'isEmpty' => string 'Value is required and can't be empty' (length=36)
          'price' => 
            array (size=1)
              'isEmpty' => string 'Value is required and can't be empty' (length=36)

[froschdesign]

No error message is generated.

Compare the Input class and the CollectionInputFilter class in this case:

https://github.com/zendframework/zend-inputfilter/blob/a2962cf00f86a58f2192ba63b572606dacbe1c20/src/Input.php#L410-L415

https://github.com/zendframework/zend-inputfilter/blob/a2962cf00f86a58f2192ba63b572606dacbe1c20/src/CollectionInputFilter.php#L171-L213

[tigran-m-dev]

Do you have any updates related this issue?

[weierophinney]

@developer-devPHP No, no updates at this time.

We actually need to address this by getting some feedback first.

InputFilters do not have a concept of required/optional by default. We tacked it on to the CollectionInputFilter (and, for the 2.8.0 release, the OptionalInputFilter, which allows marking an input filter as optional, vs. required, meaning it can validate if the data set is empty). However, when we did, the only thing we had it affect is whether or not an empty set is valid. In the case that we have an empty set, there is currently no mechanism to provide a message why.

Normally, if data is present, getMessages() will return a nested set of messages, one for each data set:

0 => [
    'foo' => [ /* array of messages */]
],
1 => [
    'bar' => [ /* array of mesages */ ]
],
/* etc. */

The problem area is that the each element of the above array is expected to be an array of key/messages pairs. How, exactly, do we represent a message indicating that a data set was empty in a way that is either consistent in structure, or easily differentiated from the existing structure?

Some thoughts off the top of my head:

• Use the same format, but use a "meta key", such as __required__:

  [
    0 => [
        '__required__' => [ /* 'values are "required", but none present' messages */ ],
    ],
  ]

• Use a string value for the set:

  [
    0 => 'Some error message here',
  ],

We need to choose one, but I need input from users as to which one to choose.

Additionally, we need:

• A default message to display when a collection is required.
• A mechanism for setting a custom "required" message.
• Updates to the factories to allow setting that message.

If anybody would like to tackle this, I'd appreciate the help.

[ruzann]

I have a solution for this. Please have a look into pull request #170