# Override validates message **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [February 12, 2007, 1:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297 "2007-02-12T13:09:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 1:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/1 "2007-02-12T13:09:38Z")
Hi all, I have the some fields being validated on my model and if the validation fails I can override the Message by using :message but how can I override the field name that apears on the messge: Intead of password is too long -\> where “is too long” i can set in message bu I want the message to be “field\_1 is too long” Thnaks, ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/2 "2007-02-12T20:05:53Z")
On Feb 12, 2:09 pm, “J. mp” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I have the some fields being validated on my model and if the validation > fails I can override the Message by using :message but how can I > override the field name that apears on the messge: > Intead of password is too long → where “is too long” i can set in > message > bu I want the message to be > “field\_1 is too long” You could specify an arbitrary attribute name to ActiveRecord::Errors#add. Arguably, this is an abuse of the API and may not work in future releases of ActiveRecord. Alternatively, use ActiveRecord::Errors#add\_to\_base to add a message to the base object instead of a specific attribute. This gives you control of the full error message. Finally, you could use a localization plugin to handle translation of error messages in the view. Ciao, Sheldon. ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/3 "2007-02-12T20:11:53Z")
[http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) ed ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/4 "2007-02-12T20:22:34Z")
Ed Hickey wrote: > [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) > > ed I use this and love it. ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/5 "2007-02-13T00:55:50Z")
Alex W. wrote: > Ed Hickey wrote: > > > [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) > > > > ed > > I use this and love it. Could not found any documentation for [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) Regarding the Sheldon 2nd proposal: > Alternatively, use ActiveRecord::Errors#add\_to\_base to add a message > to the base object instead of a specific attribute. This gives you > control of the full error message. Can I do this per attribute, how would I do that? Must I have my own validation methods and not rely on Ruby validates\_ methods? ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/6 "2007-02-13T20:01:09Z")
J. mp wrote: > Alex W. wrote: > > > Ed Hickey wrote: > > > > > [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) > > > > > > ed > > > > I use this and love it. > > Could not found any documentation for > [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) > > Regarding the Sheldon 2nd proposal: > > > Alternatively, use ActiveRecord::Errors#add\_to\_base to add a message > > to the base object instead of a specific attribute. This gives you > > control of the full error message. > > Can I do this per attribute, how would I do that? Must I have my own > validation methods and not rely on Ruby validates\_ methods? From the missing answers on this topic I assume that Rails haven’t a flexible solution for my problem. I have to rely on plugins or rely on my own validations. Am I right? Anyway, can someone provide-me docs or sample for [http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom\_error\_message](http://www.agilewebdevelopment.com/plugins/custom_error_message) If it lacks documentation, I wouldn’t mind to write a bit about it, but I need a starting point. ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 11:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/7 "2007-02-14T11:20:30Z")
Thanks a lot all for the help, it is very useful ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/8 "2007-02-14T11:40:16Z")
J. mp wrote: > Thanks a lot all for the help, it is very useful Just one more question. I have no experience in how to install plugins. How can I install this? (sorry for my newbie kink of questions, but is becuse I’m getting started with ruby on rails) ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/override-validates-message/85297/9 "2007-02-13T20:38:44Z")
it doesn’t lack documentation - see the README file inccluded in the plugin: # Custom Error Message This plugin gives you the option to not have your custom validation error message prefixed with the attribute name. Ordinarily, if you have, say: ``` validates_acceptance_of :accepted_terms, :message => 'Please accept ``` the terms of service’ You’ll get the following error message: ``` Accepted terms Please accept the terms of service ``` This plugin allows you to omit the attribute name for specific messages. All you have to do is begin the message with a ‘^’ character. Example: ``` validates_acceptance_of :accepted_terms, :message => '^Please accept ``` the terms of service’ ## Detail Redefines the ActiveRecord::Errors::full\_messages method: Returns all the full error messages in an array. ‘Base’ messages are handled as usual. Non-base messages are prefixed with the attribute name as usual UNLESS they begin with ‘^’ in which case the attribute name is omitted. On 2/13/07, J. mp [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). > > > –