Validates_format_of / nil

Rails
1

When using validates_format_of I am not able to enter a nil value?

It’s a mute point that I think that validates_format_of should NOT do
the job of validates_presence_of, but how should i get around this?

I want to validate a field only if someone has entered something in,
otherwise i do not want it to validate nothing. I do not mind if he user
enters nothing, but if they intend for something to be there, it needs
the correct format.

HELP!?

thanks!
mk

2

Validations provide mechanisms to do what you’re asking. See the API on
validations for more info.

Possible solutions can be found via google “validates_format_of nil”

http://brighter.net/2007/6/23/validates_format_of-something-without-validates_presence_of

Good luck!

3

validates_format_of :foo, :with => /bar/, :if => Proc.new(|o| o.foo !=
nil }

Mason K. wrote:

HELP!?

thanks!
mk

–
Sincerely,

William P.

4

:allow_nil works for most of the validates_ calls, but it is not an
option of validates_format_of

Mason K. wrote:

Thanks!

–
Sincerely,

William P.

5

Thank you!

:allow_nil => true

did not work (though some said it worked fine for them)

:if => column_name?

did work though.

Thanks!