AngularJS Validation on <select> with a prompt option

Question

I have the following code for a select drop down input that is styled in Bootstrap.

<select class="form-control" name="businessprocess" ng-model="businessprocess" required>
    <option value="">-- Select Business Process --</option>
    <option value="C">Process C</option>
    <option value="Q">Process Q</option>
</select>

Before the user is able to submit this form, he or she must select a business process.

So I have put the required directive on the select statement, however because the first option tag has -- Select Business Process -- that still counts as a selected option, and thus the required flag is met, and therefore the form validates even though no actual Business Process is selected.

How can I overcome this issue?

Thank You.

Answer 1

This approach could/should solve your issue:

1) declare the options inside of your scope:

$scope.processes = [
    { code: "C", name: "Process C" },
    { code: "Q", name: "Process Q" }
];

And 2) use this declaration:

<select class="form-control" name="businessprocess" ng-model="businessprocess" required
    ng-options="c.code as c.name for c in processes" >
    <option value="">-- Select Business Process --</option>
</select>

The trick here is in fact, that during the angular cycles, will firstly fix the issue that the the current value is not among the processes options. So, the default would be set to:

<option value="">-- Select Business Process --</option>

and required will be working as expected (more details)

Answer 2

you can initial the value of selector in controller:

<select class="form-control" name="businessprocess" ng-model="businessprocess">
    <option value="A">-- Select Business Process --</option>
    <option value="C">Process C</option>
    <option value="Q">Process Q</option>
</select>

in Controller:

$scope.businessprocess = "A" ;

or "C","Q",whatever you want, so the select will always have value. i think you don't need "required" here in select.

If you don't want an init a value. also do some extra effect when user don't select it.

<select class="form-control" name="businessprocess" ng-model="businessprocess" myRequired>
    <option value="">-- Select Business Process --</option>
    <option value="C">Process C</option>
    <option value="Q">Process Q</option>
</select>

then write the directive:

model.directive("myRequired", function() {
    return {
        restrict: 'AE',
        scope: {},
        require: 'ngModel',
        link: function(scope, iElement, iAttrs) {
                if(iElement.val() == ""){
                    //do something
                    return;
                } else {
                    //do other things
                }
            });
        }
    };
});