Enterprise Library Validation Application Block Message Template Tokens

by David Hayden ( Sarasota Florida .NET Developer ), Filed: Enterprise Library 3.0

Message Template Tokens in the Validation Application Block are an absolute life saver when creating custom error messages for validation. When you combine the Message Template Tokens with Resource Files you get some serious maintainability pleasure in your applications.

The code below hardcodes the error message which is less than ideal:

[StringLengthValidator(1, 200,
    MessageTemplate = "Invalid Name, 1 - 200 Characters."]
public string Name
{
    get { return _name; }
    set { _name = value; }
}

This example uses Message Template Tokens {x} that are part of the Validation Application Block. Each validator has specific tokens that are described in the documentation:

[StringLengthValidator(1, 200,
    MessageTemplate = "Invalid {1}, {3} - {5} Characters."]
public string Name
{
    get { return _name; }
    set { _name = value; }
}