How can validate multidates in element with regexp PHP Zend Framework

Question

I have field input with multidatepicker select, multidatepicker enter dates in field like: 2016-10-02, 2016-10-13, 2016-10-25. How can validate all dates or one, maybe I can with array regexp validator if exist?

$element_edit->addValidator ('regex', false, array(
    'pattern'=>'/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/',//for only one
    'messages'=>array(
        'regexNotMatch'=>'Validate error')
    )
);
$form->addElement($element_edit);

Answer 1

I believe you are looking for a way to validate a chunk of comma-separated (with or without whitespace in-between) dates in a specific format.

You may use

'pattern'=>'/^(\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})(?:,\s*(?1))*$/'

See the regex demo

Details:

• ^ - start of string
• (\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}) - your single date string pattern: 4 digits, -, 2 digits, - and 2 digits
• (?:,\s*(?1))* - zero or more sequences of
  • , - comma
  • \s* - 0+ whitespaces
  • (?1) - the same pattern as in Group 1 (your specific date pattern)
• $ - end of string (may be replaced with \z to disallow newline symbol at the end)

Answer 2

That's easy enough. We use Zend at work, so I deal with it a lot.

$this->addElement('text', 'firstname', array(
       'label'      => 'Your first name:',
       'required'   => true,
       'validators' => array(
         array('regex', false, array(
      'pattern'   => '{The pattern}',
      'messages'  =>  'Your firvalidation message'))
    )
));