DataAnnotations “NotRequired” attribute

Question

I\'ve a model kind of complicated.

I have my UserViewModel which has several properties and two of them are HomePhone and WorkPhone

Answer 1

I wouldn't go with the modelBinder; I'd use a custom ValidationAttribute:

public class UserViewModel
{
    [Required]
    public string Name { get; set; }

    public HomePhoneViewModel HomePhone { get; set; }

    public WorkPhoneViewModel WorkPhone { get; set; }
}

public class HomePhoneViewModel : PhoneViewModel 
{
}

public class WorkPhoneViewModel : PhoneViewModel 
{
}

public class PhoneViewModel 
{
    public string CountryCode { get; set; }

    public string AreaCode { get; set; }

    [CustomRequiredPhone]
    public string Number { get; set; }
}

And then:

[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property]
public class CustomRequiredPhone : ValidationAttribute
{
    protected override ValidationResult IsValid(object value, ValidationContext validationContext)
    {
        ValidationResult validationResult = null;

        // Check if Model is WorkphoneViewModel, if so, activate validation
        if (validationContext.ObjectInstance.GetType() == typeof(WorkPhoneViewModel)
         && string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace((string)value) == true)
        {
            this.ErrorMessage = "Phone is required";
            validationResult = new ValidationResult(this.ErrorMessage);
        }
        else
        {
            validationResult = ValidationResult.Success;
        }

        return validationResult;
    }
}

If it is not clear, I'll provide an explanation but I think it's pretty self-explanatory.