Entity Framework - Validation (server + clientside, jquery) with data annotations, WITHOUT MVC?

Question

Hi,

there are several tutorials that explain how to use EF data annotation for forms validation using the MVC framework. And to use jquery for the client side.

See e.g.: http://dotnetaddict.dotnetdevelopersjournal.com/clientvalidation_mvc2.htm

I would like to achieve the same, but without using MVC/MVC2.

I want to build a classic asp.net site, create the Entities Model, create my partial classes that include the validation (required, regex etc.).

I created the entities model and the partial classes including the data annotations. I can add new records to the DB.

What I miss is the validation. Now I can add records to the DB even if the fields are not valid, I would like to get the errors, and if possible I would like to use jquery for the client validation (in MVC you just add <% Html.EnableClientValidation(); %> to the view...).

Can you help me? Or point me to some good online resources that explain this?

Thanks a lot.

EDIT: I found something here:

How can I tell the Data Annotations validator to also validate complex child properties?

I have an Entity called "User" and I created a partial class as follows:

using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;

namespace MySite.Models
{
    [MetadataType(typeof(UserMetaData))]
    public partial class User
    {
    }

    public class UserMetaData
    {
        [Required(ErrorMessage = "Username Required")]
        [DisplayName("Username")]
        public string Username{ get; set; }

        [DisplayName("Password")]
        [Required(ErrorMessage = "Password Required")]
        [RegularExpression(@"^[^;>;&;<;%?*!~'`;:,."";+=|]{6,10}$", ErrorMessage = "The password must be between 6-10 characters and contain 2 digits")]
        public string Password{ get; set; }
    }
}

In the code behind of my page I've put a similar "isValid" check as in the above mentioned link:

var validationContext = new ValidationContext(person, null, null);
var validationResults = new List<ValidationResult>();

var isValid = Validator.TryValidateObject(userToAdd, validationContext, validationResults);

if (isValid)
{
savetoDB();
}

But when I debug... "isValid" is always "true", even if I leave the fields null. Help :-S

EDIT2:

It was always "true" because I was filling the "user" properties, as follows:

User userToAdd = new User();
userToAdd.Username = txtUsername.Text;
userToAdd.Password = txtPassword.Text;

I changed the object: from "User" to "UserMetaData" (User userToAdd = new UserMetaData();) then the validation works ("false" in case the regex is not respected) ... but still, quite weird... then I should create another "User" object and fill it again... not very clean...