jQuery validate - group inputs with similar rules - jquery-validate

Question

I am using jquery validate, to validate a submitted form. The form has three input fields which have same rule i.e., only number and required - true. Can i write a single rule for all the three inputs say -
rules: {
"depository.startDate":{
required:true,
digits:true
},
"depository.endDate":{
required:true,
digits:true
},
"depository.port":{
required:true,
digits:true
}
},
to
rules: {
"depository.startDate, depository.port, depository.endDate ":{
required:true,
digits:true
}
},
I tried but its not working, any other way i can get this validation work.
--
Thanks

Answer 1

Use the built-in rules() method to add rules. See documentation.
Note: You must call this method after you call .validate(), and it must be combined with an .each().
jsFiddle DEMO
HTML:
<input type="text" name="depository.startDate" />
<input type="text" name="depository.endDate" />
<input type="text" name="depository.port" />
jQuery:
$('#form').validate({
// your other options
});
// the following method must come AFTER .validate()
$("input[name*='depository']").each(function() {
$(this).rules('add', {
required: true,
digits: true
});
});
This method can also be very useful when you are dynamically adding fields to your form.
The following to combine with custom messages:. Note that the format is slightly different than when adding rules as options within .validate()...
$("input[name*='depository']").each(function() {
$(this).rules('add', {
required: true,
digits: true,
messages: {
required: "Required input",
digits: "Only digits please"
}
});
});
Alternatively, you can use a class instead, but for it to work properly, you must also combine it with an .each()...
jsFiddle DEMO
HTML:
<input type="text" class="myclass" name="depository.startDate" />
<input type="text" class="myclass" name="depository.endDate" />
<input type="text" class="myclass" name="depository.port" />
jQuery:
$('form').validate({
// your other options
});
// the following method must come AFTER .validate()
$('form').find('.myclass').each(function() {
$(this).rules('add', {
required: true,
digits: true
});
});