How can I change the text of the message box that comes for the data validation?

DDV Message

Generic way to validate an integer or floating point data is to call DDV_MinMax<type> macro. This gives a generic message string in dialog box. This message says the minimum and maximum range of the variable to be entered by user. Here is a small demo. Suppose this is a game for teen age people. We are taking the age as input from user and we are passing this to DDV_MinMaxUInt().

class CMFCDataExchangeDlg : public CDialog
{
public:
  CMFCDataExchangeDlg(CWnd* pParent = NULL);
protected:
  virtual BOOL OnInitDialog();
  virtual void DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX);
public:
  UINT m_nAge;
};
CMFCDataExchangeDlg::CMFCDataExchangeDlg(CWnd* pParent /*=NULL*/)
  : CDialog(IDD_MFCDATAEXCHANGE_DIALOG, pParent)
{
}
void CMFCDataExchangeDlg::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
  CDialog::DoDataExchange(pDX);
  DDX_Text(pDX, IDC_AGE, m_nAge);
  DDV_MinMaxUInt(pDX, m_nAge, 13, 19); 
}
BOOL CMFCDataExchangeDlg::OnInitDialog()
{
  CDialog::OnInitDialog();
  return TRUE;
}

mfc dodataexchange dialog data validation

mfc dodataexchange dialog data validation message

Custom DDV function and Message

We are trying to give a message to user that this application is only for the teen age people. So the above message is not very meanningful. Application programmers often need their own message strings and their own actions. Here we have constructed our own validation function which is named as DDV_IsTeenAge(). This gives an appropiate message and quits the dialog.

void CMFCDataExchangeDlg::DDV_IsTeenAge(CDataExchange* pDX, UINT nAge, UINT nMin, UINT nMax)
{
  if (pDX && pDX->m_bSaveAndValidate)
  {
    if (nAge > nMax || nAge < nMin)
    {
      AfxMessageBox(L"This game is only for teen age people.", MB_OK);
      CDialog::OnCancel();
    }
  }
}
void CMFCDataExchangeDlg::DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX)
{
  CDialogEx::DoDataExchange(pDX);
  DDX_Text(pDX, IDC_AGE, m_nAge);
  DDV_IsTeenAge(pDX, m_nAge, 13, 19);
}

mfc dodataexchange dialog data validation

custom dodataexchange dialog data validation message

This is however an example of checking integer range. There are many such validation possible for different situation. Like for example
  1. Checking even odd value
  2. Length of the strings
  3. String is only alpha numeric
  4. String has no space
  5. String in upper case or lower case
  6. String contans special character
  7. Strong password validation
  8. Date and time validation
  9. Pincode validation
  10. Location or Country validation
All such cases user can write their own validation logic and add the custom message to show.

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Further readings

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