jQuery Validation plugin errorPlacement with wildcard selector

Question

I am using the jQuery Validation plugin and trying to use the errorPlacement callback function with a wildcard selector. I have tried countless permutations of the wildcard syntax with and without the .attr method (and have tried several other methods) and and can't get it to work right.

I have read several dozen threads about wildcards, as well as api documentation but none address their use in a function like this where the use of 'element' is required. can't seem to get my head around it...

/*** This will work but only for the specified string ****/
if  (element.attr("name") == "cdlradio1" )

I want to select all input elements beginning with 'cdlradio'

var $validator = $("#myform").validate({
    errorPlacement: function(error, element) {
if (element.attr("[name^='cdlradio']"))
    error.insertAfter(element.closest(".bootradlab"));
else
    error.insertAfter(element);
}

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

This is not in the proper format...

if (element.attr("[name^='cdlradio']")) ...

Because, the .attr() method is looking for an attribute as its only argument. Clearly, [name^='cdlradio'] is a selector, not an attribute. You don't need a selector since your target element is already selected by the element argument.

You have to get the field name and check to see if it contains your string...

if (element.attr('name').indexOf('cdlradio') >= 0) ...

"Wildcard" DEMO: http://jsfiddle.net/aBrL2/2/

BTW - ^= is the "starts with" selector, not a wild-card. However, my solution above is a true wild-card as it doesn't care about position as long as the string occurs someplace. My answer can easily be converted to a "starts with" by changing the >= operator into a == operator.

"Starts With" DEMO: http://jsfiddle.net/aBrL2/3/