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# Validation Annotation

This annotation has been deprecated since Struts 2.1 as its previous purpose, to define classes that support annotation validations, is no longer necessary.

## Usage

Validation annotation must be applied at Type level.

## Parameters

- `validations` - list of validations to apply

## Examples

### An Annotated Interface

- Mark the interface with `@Validation()`
- Apply standard or custom annotations at method level

     @Validation()
     public interface AnnotationDataAware {

         void setBarObj(Bar b);

         Bar getBarObj();

         @RequiredFieldValidator(message = "You must enter a value for data.")
         @RequiredStringValidator(message = "You must enter a value for data.")
         void setData(String data);

         String getData();
     }

### An Annotated Class

     @Validation()
     public class SimpleAnnotationAction extends ActionSupport {

         @RequiredFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.FIELD, message = "You must enter a value for bar.")
         @IntRangeFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.FIELD, min = "6", max = "10", message = "bar must be between ${min} and ${max}, current value is ${bar}.")
         public void setBar(int bar) {
             this.bar = bar;
         }

         public int getBar() {
             return bar;
         }

         @Validations(
                 requiredFields =
                         {@RequiredFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "customfield", message = "You must enter a value for field.")},
                 requiredStrings =
                         {@RequiredStringValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "stringisrequired", message = "You must enter a value for string.")},
                 emails =
                         { @EmailValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "emailaddress", message = "You must enter a value for email.")},
                 urls =
                         { @UrlValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "hreflocation", message = "You must enter a value for email.")},
                 stringLengthFields =
                         {@StringLengthFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, trim = true, minLength="10" , maxLength = "12", fieldName = "needstringlength", message = "You must enter a stringlength.")},
                 intRangeFields =
                         { @IntRangeFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "intfield", min = "6", max = "10", message = "bar must be between ${min} and ${max}, current value is ${bar}.")},
                 dateRangeFields =
                         {@DateRangeFieldValidator(type = ValidatorType.SIMPLE, fieldName = "datefield", min = "-1", max = "99", message = "bar must be between ${min} and ${max}, current value is ${bar}.")},
                 expressions = {
                     @ExpressionValidator(expression = "foo > 1", message = "Foo must be greater than Bar 1. Foo = ${foo}, Bar = ${bar}."),
                     @ExpressionValidator(expression = "foo > 2", message = "Foo must be greater than Bar 2. Foo = ${foo}, Bar = ${bar}."),
                     @ExpressionValidator(expression = "foo > 3", message = "Foo must be greater than Bar 3. Foo = ${foo}, Bar = ${bar}."),
                     @ExpressionValidator(expression = "foo > 4", message = "Foo must be greater than Bar 4. Foo = ${foo}, Bar = ${bar}."),
                     @ExpressionValidator(expression = "foo > 5", message = "Foo must be greater than Bar 5. Foo = ${foo}, Bar = ${bar}.")
         }
         )
         public String execute() throws Exception {
             return SUCCESS;
         }
     }

When multiple methods are used to map different actions on the same class, and one of them is annotated with `@Validations`, those validators will be triggered for all the actions, unless they are annotated with `@SkipValidation` or `validateAnnotatedMethodOnly` is set to `true` in the `validation` interceptor, like:

    <interceptor-ref name="validation">
        <param name="validateAnnotatedMethodOnly">true</param>
        <param name="excludeMethods">input,back,cancel,browse</param>
    </interceptor-ref>