[VALIDATOR-81] [validator] JS Validation fails on CSS hidden elements.

• Type: Bug
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed

Environment

Operating System: Windows XP
Platform: PC

• Bugzilla Id: 32476
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Paul Benedict
• Created: 02/Dec/04 04:09
• Updated: 12/Nov/07 19:25
• Resolved: 12/Nov/07 19:25

Description

PROBLEM:
I am working on a web-app that has "flip-book" navigation, where multiple
fieldsets within a large form are shown/hidden determined by the tab selected.
JavaScript manages the navigation.

When our form is submitted, the client-side JavaScript bombs when it tries to
set focus to the first invalid field (missing required, not an integer, etc.)
which is also CSS hidden. JavaScript cannot set focus on a field that is hidden.
Internet Explorer generates this message: "Cannot move focus to the control
because it is invisible, not enabled, or of a type that does not accept the focus."

This is the offending code in all the validateXXX JS methods:

if (fields.length > 0)

{ focusField.focus(); alert(fields.join('\n')); }

POSSIBLE RESOLUTION:
Only set focus if "focusField.style.visibility" is not "hidden" – since CSS can
be used to hide elements.

I tested using Commons Validator 1.1.3 with Struts 1.2.4