Retain values during myform_validate()

Question

In Drupal 6, I have a custom form validation function, where:

• I copy the value from field A to field B, if field B is empty.
• I call form_set_error() when the field B contains more than X characters.

Validation works fine, and the error is set. The problem is that the value in field B is not retained when the form is rebuilt: field B remains empty. I want to keep the value in field B after validation (when the error is set) to make it easy for users to edit it down to the right length.

My validation function looks like this:

function myform_validate($form, &$form_state) {
  if (empty($form_state['values']['field_b']['0']['value'])) {
        $form_state['values']['field_b']['0']['value'] = $form_state['values']['field_a']['0']['value']; 
      }
      if (strlen($form_state['values']['field_b']['0']['value']) > 260) {
        form_set_error('field_b', 'Text in field b is too long');
      }
    }
  }
}

Any suggestions on how to retain the value in field B when the form is rebuilt?

Answer 1

If you want to set a form value from within your validation callback you'll need to use something like form_set_value. Values that are assigned directly in the manner shown above will not be retained, but that function should do the trick! It's specifically intended for this purpose - setting a form value during the validation phase.

For example:

function myform_validate($form, &$form_state) {
  if (empty($form_state['values']['field_b'])) {
        // Note that the $form array - not $form_state - is used in the first parameter.
        // The second parameter is the value you are setting.
        // Third just pass the $form_state array itself, which will be altered by form_set_vaue().
        form_set_value($form['field_b'], $form_state['values']['field_a'], $form_state); 
      }
      if (strlen($form_state['values']['field_b']) > 260) {
        form_set_error('field_b', 'Text in field b is too long');
      }
    }
  }
}