Profile Questions: Text Input Boxes Need Proper Validation.

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:19 AM EDT

    Guys,

    Profile Questions > Any Input Box  (Single-Line/Multi, Youtube, Soundcloud etc.)

    We've had issues with these fields, which we feel could be addressed.

    Issue

    -------

    Users enter all sorts of crazy text in these fields/boxes,

    which craps out the pages sometimes as well as ruins the presentation on pages.

     

    A Possible solution

    ----------------------------

    What would really help for ANY Text input box ,

    would be some  basic validation just like any input-text modern form.

     

     

    A basic validation like : 

    'What are the No. Of Max Characters allowed ?"

    and 

    validation : making sure that the text entered has the appropriate

    "allowed"  characters for that particular field.

     

    thanks:)

     

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:49 AM EDT

    Are you looking to submit a feature request? http://community.socialengine.com/forums/topic/3/submitting-feature-requests . I can move this to the feature request section but it needs to follow the guidelines.

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:50 AM EDT

    Sure, Donna.

    Am new to this forum...

    What do we need to change in it to fit the guidelines/format

     

    please do the needful.

    thanks


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 7:52 AM EDT
    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:52 AM EDT

    It's usually best to copy/paste the guidelines in and just fill it in as it helps to ensure we get all of the details as you want them.I'll move this to the correct section. This is for SEPHP?

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:52 AM EDT

    BTW, Welcome aboard!

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:54 AM EDT

    yup,

    SEPHP

     

    Thanks !:))

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:55 AM EDT

    I thought so, just had to ask.We have custom fields in SE Cloud which can be used for the same thing. This is in the SEPHP Feature requests section now. cool

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 7:58 AM EDT

     

    awesome)))

    Will check the requests section, 

    Thank You..!

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 8:29 AM EDT

    Now for the nitty gritty - details. Please give more info as this feature request isn't complete and the missing info is needed in order for us to understand the issue.

    playmusician said:

    Guys,

    Profile Questions > Any Input Box  (Single-Line/Multi, Youtube, Soundcloud etc.)

    We've had issues with these fields, which we feel could be addressed.

    Issue

    -------

    Users enter all sorts of crazy text in these fields/boxes,

    which craps out the pages sometimes as well as ruins the presentation on pages.

    What crazy text - examples please?

    How is it "crapping" out? Screenshot please (removing any sensitive info or adult images if your site is adult which I don't think it is). 

    A Possible solution

    ----------------------------

    What would really help for ANY Text input box ,

    would be some  basic validation just like any input-text modern form.

    A basic validation like : 

    'What are the No. Of Max Characters allowed ?"

    Is that a setting for admin or hard coded? If hard coded, do you have a suggestion for max characters?

    and 

    validation : making sure that the text entered has the appropriate

    "allowed"  characters for that particular field.

    thanks:)

    I thought we already had validation but that's something I would need to check for text input fields.

     

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 9:05 AM EDT

     

    Give me a day Donna, 

    I will give you a detailed / snapshotted example explaining every question.

     

    Thanks !!

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 10:02 AM EDT
    got some unexpected time off, so here we go...
    We are definitely definitely not an adult site, we are a musicians/music platform portaljust to get that out of the way .
    I'm suggesting, we should never leave it to users to enter- any  amount of text -  in any text input field.
    1) Example of a large amount of text, copied and pasted without validation/ no.of max characters in Single-Line Text Input Box.
     In this case I just copied ,pasted  & saved a large adhoc paragraph from the internet into a Single-Line Text input (Question). I could have copied a book and it would save it
    2) Youtube Channel / Youtube User  Input Fields - data Validation
    Unfortunately I cant give you a non-working example with snapshots - cause we had a vendor fix a workaround , just today !
    We couldn't get youtube input fields to work correctly with links.
    a) On the landing page - the links would say "https://youtube.com/https://youtube.com...."
    b) Also, when youtube fields were enabled,  On the Member-Browse page (the "search members form" / "Browse Members" widgets) we would get incorrect results from searches .)
    3) URL Types (http, email, youtube,soundcloud)  should be properly validated .for example :  http, : , //, mailto: , etc...
    4)The Admin should have some indication what the field can and cannot do.
    5) 

    'What are the No. Of Max Characters allowed ?"

    Is that a setting for admin or hard coded? If hard coded, do you have a suggestion for max characters?

     

     

    >>>For Admins - option box , not hardcoded

    Profile Question for every input Box could have a 

    "Max No Of Characters Allowed ? " box

     

    an example:

      I guess the goal is to input  capped validated data so that it doesnt affect the clean presentation on landing pages, browse member pages etc.. and affect other search dropdowns / results etc.

     

     

     

    6) Another Suggestion would be to move the "Location" field from the Edit profile into the Question List.

    The current Location in the Question List , is a separate field with no bearings to the final Location of the member in the Profile Edit field tab.

    So, let's say I needed to get the New Signup's Location.

    If I used the current Location in the Question List in a Signup form ,and entered say : "Boston"

    I could go  in  Edit Profile and enter  "Jersey City " , now the signup Location is unrelated.

    Right Now ,Both Location Fields are unrelated. 

    Would be better to move the "real" Edit Profile Location field into questions so it becomes available for signup .

    7) 

    Also ,

    The Email field at signup should be in the Questions List

    Just like the Location field (expressed above)

     

    this would help the member,

    if he wanted to publicly display his email (Like a work email) or location 

    or billboard it.

    8) 

    Another issue was "Choices"

    I added a bunch and after that started getting the dreaded

    "We're sorry!
    We are currently experiencing some technical issues. " error

     

    It took us a few days  to figure out maximum choices allowed is 64.

    its something to do with linux  or apache SET rules .

     

    These kind of things should be validated natively, then alerted to the user if validation is not met and lastly also added in tool tips, FAQs etc  . My 2 cents...

     

     

     

     

     

    Hope this helps)
    please do let me know, if theres anything else you need ..
    Thanks !!
     
     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Donna said:

    Now for the nitty gritty - details. Please give more info as this feature request isn't complete and the missing info is needed in order for us to understand the issue.

    playmusician said:

    Guys,

    Profile Questions > Any Input Box  (Single-Line/Multi, Youtube, Soundcloud etc.)

    We've had issues with these fields, which we feel could be addressed.

    Issue

    -------

    Users enter all sorts of crazy text in these fields/boxes,

    which craps out the pages sometimes as well as ruins the presentation on pages.

    What crazy text - examples please?

    Like a large large paragraph any no. of characters if copied 

    can be easily pasted into single-line text input and it will save it.

     

    Then on the landing page if using a SEAO

     

     

    How is it "crapping" out? Screenshot please (removing any sensitive info or adult images if your site is adult which I don't think it is). 

    A Possible solution

    ----------------------------

    What would really help for ANY Text input box ,

    would be some  basic validation just like any input-text modern form.

    A basic validation like : 

    'What are the No. Of Max Characters allowed ?"

    Is that a setting for admin or hard coded? If hard coded, do you have a suggestion for max characters?

    and 

    validation : making sure that the text entered has the appropriate

    "allowed"  characters for that particular field.

    thanks:)

    I thought we already had validation but that's something I would need to check for text input fields.

     

     


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 2:38 PM EDT
    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 12:56 PM EDT

    Thanks! That's a lot of good info for us to look into.

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 1:28 PM EDT

    Regarding youtube, I tested this and it worked before we released. You just add the handle, not the full url. Were you adding the full url or just the handle (such as socialenginetv instead of https://www.youtube.com/user/socialenginetv)

  • gs
    • 857 posts
    May 23, 2018 1:41 PM EDT
    My thoughts for text fields:
    1. max length
    2. optional format (999-99-9999, XXX99X999, whatever). Positions for alpha, numeric, symbols, and literal (so ADMIN text may be forced into field where desired).
    3. allowed/disallowed characters (so for example, you could allow or disallow digits or symbols)
    4. logic field for validation with various rules

    If URLs and emails can't br worked into the above, then possibly create URL and Email types, where URL could have rule for http or https, etc.

    This post was edited by gs at May 23, 2018 1:42 PM EDT
    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 1:45 PM EDT

    Was adding the full URL, cause there was nothing indicating  how it should be added.

     

    If I remember correctly , it doesnt give an error if the format is incorrect.

    It saved the full URL , but proved an issue cause the link didnt work on  the landing page.

    an example of the URL style I added :  

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtinbF-Q-fVthA0qrFQTgXQ

     

    I guess, the user would have to be alerted as to :-

    a)-copy/paste the full channel or user link

    b)- then copy only the part after "http://youtube.com/user/"

    c)  then paste  "/watch?v=TPmzwa5rA_o" it into the box.

     

    Wasn't very intuitive,

    an example in grey text under the box

    or

    a hover over box > to reveal tool-tip 

     

    might have helped.

     

    In fact, I think all the profile questions should have detailed tool tips.

     

    Another issue was "Choices"

    I added a bunch and after that started getting the dreaded

    "We're sorry!
    We are currently experiencing some technical issues. " error

     

    It took us a few days  to figure out maximum choices allowed is 64.

    its something to do with linux  or apache SET rules .

     

    These kind of things should be in tool tips and alerts.

     


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 1:55 PM EDT
  • gs
    • 857 posts
    May 23, 2018 1:45 PM EDT
    '...You just add the handle...'
    My thinking is that fields like this should include the simple logic to verify format, and automatically add or remove whatever is needed.

    This is similar in processing generic links to use logic in determining if it's an internal link using a relative path, or an absolute link using http/https. The point is the software should do the work - not expect Users to do so.
    This post was edited by gs at May 23, 2018 1:49 PM EDT
    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 1:52 PM EDT

    i tested with the handle and full url just now and both methods worked on the user profile. I am not sure what you mean by it doesn't work on the landing page as they aren't supposed to be there.

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:02 PM EDT

     tested with the handle and full url just now and both methods worked on the user profile. I am not sure what you mean by it doesn't work on the landing page as they aren't supposed to be there.

     

    Donna,

    What we do on our site is:-

    after the user enters his youtube or soundcloud link in his profile.

     

    We display  that link  on

    -our main landing page (Layout Editor > AJAX based Members Carousel  Widget )

    -Members Browse Page ( Layout Editor > Browse Members Widget)

     

     

    example below

     

     In fact we creatively use the profile questions to display or billboard what the user wants to display.

    Thats the strength we feel of profile type questions and choices.

    Its by design , a great tool and feature of social engine.


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 2:17 PM EDT
    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:05 PM EDT

    Agreed gs,

    all the validation should be done natively for all fields, so that the admin or user doesnt have to guess stuff

    - with appropriate alerts to the user

    if the validation requirements are not met.

     

     


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 2:09 PM EDT
    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:19 PM EDT

    That looks nice.Glad an expert got it customized for you. We'll improve things in a future release for this sort of stuff based on feedback. 

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:20 PM EDT

    Also ,

    The Email field at signup should be in the Questions List

    Just like the Location field (expressed above)

     

    this would help the member,

    if he wanted to publicly display his email (Like a work email) or location 

    or billboard it.


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 2:21 PM EDT
    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:23 PM EDT

    Thanks Donna,

    Love socialengine and cant wait to see the future enhancements.

    We are all learning along the way)

    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 23, 2018 2:54 PM EDT

    Glad you love it as much as we do.

     

    As we only take one request per feature request, please add the email request in another thread as there is a specific routine in the sign up process and changing it is not part of this sort of request as this is for text input box validation. Allowing the limit to be added to this request as well but normally that would be a different request.

    • 275 posts
    May 23, 2018 3:10 PM EDT

    Got it

    No worries, Will do it ....

     

    Will No 8) - Choices Issue:  be  a separate request?

    I updated it above to 8 points.


    This post was edited by playmusician at May 23, 2018 3:19 PM EDT
    • Moderator
    • 6923 posts
    May 24, 2018 6:17 AM EDT

    Anything other than the validation and character limit needs to be in separate requests as our feature request terms mention.We only allow one per request and generally don't consider any with more than one. I'm allowing this one only for the validation and character limit.