---
title: "Configuring a Validation Rule"
slug: "configuring-a-validation-rule"
updated: 2025-09-14T20:23:39Z
published: 2025-09-14T20:23:39Z
canonical: "documentation.encodify.com/configuring-a-validation-rule"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.encodify.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuring a Validation Rule

## Overview

---

A **Validation Rule** ensures that the values entered into a field meet specific criteria before an item can be saved, helping to maintain data integrity. When a rule’s conditions are not met, a **validation message** is displayed, preventing the user from saving invalid or inconsistent data.

Examples of Validation Rules:

- The **Start Date** cannot be later than the **End Date** of a campaign.
- The **Name** field must not be empty.

By applying validation rules, you can enforce consistent business logic, reduce errors, and ensure that records adhere to required standards.

## How to Create a Validation Rule

---

To configure a Validation rule, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to **Automation Rules** (see [Automation Rules Overview](/v1/docs/automation-rules-overview) for more details)
2. Click the **Add Rule** button
3. Complete the **Basic Info** section:
  1. Enter a **Name** and, optionally, a **Description**.
  2. From the **Type** dropdown, select **Validation**.
4. In the **Conditions** section, select a **Module.** If needed, specify **Filter Criteria** to configure the conditions that will trigger the rule.
5. Configure **Actions**:
  1. Select **“Match”** or **“Do NOT Match”** to determine how the rule is evaluated.
  2. Enter a **Message** that will be displayed when the validation is triggered.
  3. Specify the **Target Fields** where the validation message should appear. If no fields are specified, the message will be applied to the fields defined in the conditions.
6. Click **Add an Action** to create additional validation messages. For each action, complete the required fields, including **Match/Do NOT Match**, **Validation Message**, and **Target Field(s)**. You can repeat this process to configure multiple validation messages within the same rule.
7. Click **Save** to confirm your settings and create a rule.

![Validation rule.png](https://cdn.document360.io/3a63e0a8-1221-4570-aaa1-d43f9b95a612/Images/Documentation/15109209692189.png)

An image highlighting an example validation rule

**Please note:**

- You cannot add multiple actions with conflicting options (**“Match”** and **“Do NOT Match”**) within the same validation rule.
- The same **Target Field(s)** cannot be specified in more than one action.
- If you add multiple actions, the **Target Field(s)** become a required field for each action.

## Triggered Validation Rule

---

If you attempt to save a new item that triggers the validation rule, an error message will be displayed, preventing the record from being saved.

> [!WARNING]
> **Note:** The validation message for a field will appear only after you interact with that field.

![Screenshot_2022-03-08_124514.png](https://cdn.document360.io/3a63e0a8-1221-4570-aaa1-d43f9b95a612/Images/Documentation/4495623396381.png)

![Applied validation message.png](https://cdn.document360.io/3a63e0a8-1221-4570-aaa1-d43f9b95a612/Images/Documentation/15109209697693.png)