How to Validate FormArray length in angular2

Question

I have a data driven form in angular2 like below

this.formBuilder.group({
  'name': ['',Validators.required],
  'description': ['', Validators.required],
  'places': this.formBuilder.array([], Validators.minlength(1)) 
})

I want to add validations to the place formArray, so i am adding minlength validation, but minlength validation is not working on formArray.

What are the other validations for formArray, so that form must be valid only when places array contain atleast one place.

Answer 1

because you using wrong validator function name: minlength -> minLength

demo code:

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
import { FormBuilder, FormGroup, FormArray, Validators } from '@angular/forms';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-root',
  template: `
    <form novalidate [formGroup]="tpForm" (ngSubmit)="onSubmit()">
      <div><input type="text" formControlName="name"></div>
      <div><textarea formControlName="description"></textarea></div>
      <div formArrayName="places">
        <button type="button" (click)="addPlace()">+</button>
        <div *ngFor="let place of places.controls; let i = index">
          <div>
              <span>Places {{i + 1}}</span>
              <button type="button" *ngIf="places.controls.length > 0" 
                  (click)="removePlace(i)">
                  x
              </button>
          </div>
          <input type="text" [formControlName]="i">
        </div>
      </div>
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>

    <p>Status: {{ tpForm.valid }}</p>
  `,
  styles: [
    `


    `
  ]
})
export class AppComponent implements OnInit {
  tpForm: FormGroup;

  constructor(private fb: FormBuilder) {}

  ngOnInit() {
    this.tpForm = this.fb.group({
      'name': ['',Validators.required],
      'description': ['', Validators.required],
      'places': this.fb.array([
        this.fb.control('')
      ], Validators.minLength(1))
    })
  }

  get places(): FormArray {
    return this.tpForm.get('places') as FormArray;
  }

  onSubmit() {

  }

  addPlace() {
    this.places.push(this.fb.control(''));
  }

  removePlace(index) {
    this.places.removeAt(index);
  }

}

Plunker: https://plnkr.co/edit/cfi7nN?p=preview

Answer 2

Add this custom validator to your validation service:

minLengthArray(min: number) {
    return (c: AbstractControl): {[key: string]: any} => {
        if (c.value.length >= min)
            return null;

        return { 'minLengthArray': {valid: false }};
    }
}

And then when creating the form do the following:

this.formBuilder.group({
  'name': ['',Validators.required],
  'description': ['', Validators.required],
  'places': this.formBuilder.array([], this.validationService.minLengthArray(1)) 
});

And you can check errors against the FormArray by checking FormArray.hasError('minLengthArray')

Answer 3

if you are trying to add validation to formarray try this may help you,

this.formBuilder.group({
  'name': ['',Validators.required],
  'description': ['', Validators.required],
  'places': this.formBuilder.array(this.initPlaces()) 
})

initPlaces() {       
        return this._fb.group({
            places: ['',[Validators.minLength(1)]]           
        });
  }

this initPlaces will simply return formGroup with validation as per requirement.

Answer 4

Good and clear way to do this is :

Create a Array.validator.ts and put all the custom validations over there , like minLength , maxLength etc

import { ValidatorFn, AbstractControl, FormArray } from '@angular/forms';

// Array Validators
export class ArrayValidators {

    // max length
    public static maxLength(max: number): ValidatorFn | any {
        return (control: AbstractControl[]) => {
            if (!(control instanceof FormArray)) return;
            return control.length > max ? { maxLength: true } : null;
        }
    }

    // min length
    public static minLength(min: number): ValidatorFn | any {
        return (control: AbstractControl[]) => {
            if (!(control instanceof FormArray)) return;
            return control.length < min ? { minLength: true } : null;
        }
    }
}

And Then just import that file and use validation wherever you want to :

import { ArrayValidators } from './array.validator'; // Import it

'hobbies':new FormArray([],ArrayValidators.minLength(2)) // Use it

WORKING DEMO

---

Note :

You can directly use this package also ng-validator ( Reference is taken from this package ) , But If you need just required array validations you can do it like above.

Answer 5

Validators.required does the magic for you:

this.formGroup = this.formBuilder.group({
    taskTreeId: [Common.UID()],
    executionProgrammedTime: ["", [Validators.required]],
    description: [""],
    tasks: this.formBuilder.array([], Validators.required)
});

<button type="button" class="btn btn-success btn-rounded" 
    [disabled]="!formGroup.valid">SAVE</button>