Field Validation

Field validation ensures data quality by enforcing rules on what users can enter. Validation rules run on both the frontend (immediate feedback) and backend (API enforcement), so data integrity is maintained regardless of how records are created.

Field Validation Overview

Navigate to Admin > Field Validation to manage validation rules.

Selecting a Module

Use the Module dropdown at the top to choose which module's fields you want to configure. Validation rules are defined independently for each module.

Available modules: Contacts, Accounts, Leads, Opportunities, Deals, Tasks, Projects.

Validation Types

Type	Applies To	Description
Required	All field types	The field must have a value before saving
Min Length	Text, Textarea, Rich Text	Minimum number of characters
Max Length	Text, Textarea, Rich Text	Maximum number of characters
Email Format	Text, Email	Must match a valid email pattern
Number Range	Number, Currency	Minimum and/or maximum numeric value
Custom Regex	Text, Phone, Link	Must match a custom regular expression pattern

Creating Validation Rules

1. Select the module.
2. Find the field you want to validate in the field list.
3. Click Add Rule next to the field.
4. Configure the rule:
   • Rule type — select from the types above
   • Parameters — varies by type (e.g., min value, max value, regex pattern)
   • Error message — the message displayed when validation fails
5. Click Save Rule.

Example: Required Field

Field: Company Name
Rule: Required
Error Message: "Company name is required"

Example: Number Range

Field: Deal Amount
Rule: Number Range
Min: 0
Max: 10000000
Error Message: "Deal amount must be between $0 and $10,000,000"

Example: Custom Regex

Field: Tax ID
Rule: Custom Regex
Pattern: ^\d{2}-\d{7}$
Error Message: "Tax ID must be in format XX-XXXXXXX"

tip

You can add multiple validation rules to a single field. All rules must pass for the field to be accepted. For example, a field can be both Required and have a Min Length of 3.

Field Dependency Rules

Field dependencies let you create dynamic forms where certain fields appear or become required based on the value of another field.

Conditional Visibility

Scenario: Show the "Reason for Loss" field only when the Stage is "Closed Lost".

1. Find the "Reason for Loss" field.
2. Click Add Dependency.
3. Configure:
   • Depends on field: Stage
   • Condition: Equals
   • Value: "Closed Lost"
   • Action: Show field
4. Save.

When the Stage field is not "Closed Lost", the "Reason for Loss" field is hidden from the form entirely.

Conditional Required

Scenario: Make "Discount Justification" required only when "Discount %" is greater than 20.

1. Find the "Discount Justification" field.
2. Click Add Dependency.
3. Configure:
   • Depends on field: Discount %
   • Condition: Greater than
   • Value: 20
   • Action: Make required
4. Save.

Available Conditions

Condition	Description
Equals	Field value matches exactly
Not Equals	Field value does not match
Greater Than	Numeric value exceeds threshold
Less Than	Numeric value below threshold
Contains	Text value includes substring
Is Empty	Field has no value
Is Not Empty	Field has a value

Testing Validation Rules

After configuring rules:

1. Open a create or edit form for the module.
2. Try submitting with invalid data.
3. Verify that error messages appear correctly.
4. Test edge cases (empty values, boundary values, special characters).

warning

Validation rules apply retroactively to new saves only. Existing records that violate newly added rules will not be flagged until someone tries to edit and save them.

Impact on Create/Edit Forms

• Validation runs on blur (when the user leaves a field) and on submit.
• Error messages appear directly below the invalid field in red text.
• The save button is disabled until all validation errors are resolved.
• Required fields are marked with a red asterisk (*).

Best Practices

1. Write clear error messages — tell the user what is expected, not just what went wrong. "Enter a valid email (e.g., user@example.com)" is better than "Invalid format".
2. Be conservative with Required — every required field is a barrier to data entry. Only require what is truly essential.
3. Test regex patterns thoroughly — a too-strict regex will frustrate users. Test with edge cases.
4. Use dependencies sparingly — complex dependency chains make forms hard to understand. Limit to 1-2 levels of dependency.
5. Document your rules — maintain a reference of what validation exists per module so new admins do not create conflicting rules.

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