Answers.Body: <p>Thanks to Brad Bell, I was able to troubleshoot using <code>var_dump</code>. The code above works correctly, but I'm unaware of how to do a simple validation of the code within the controller, w/o creating a new model, &amp; send back a response.</p>
  
  <p>Instead (for simplicity on my end), when the validation fails, I redirected to an error specific page, referencing the code entered &amp; team name.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-04-08T14:19:20.877Z
Answers.Text: Another option to consider is to call your controller via ajax and send back a response — you can then set the error via javascript, and maintain the data that the user has already been entered.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Douglas McDonald
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-04-07T18:49:38.533Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-04-07T18:49:38.533Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chase Giunta
Body: <p>Whoo, that title is a mouthful...</p>
  
  <p>I'm trying to check against a unique school "code" that an athlete has to input to register with a team. The code is different based on what team they are trying to join (referenced in a segment of registration page URL). I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to PHP or plugins but I hope I'm on the right track. I have no idea how to test what values my variables have.</p>
  
  <p>I've essentially copied the <code>user/SaveUser</code> controller into my own plugin (I have to place user in Athlete user group &amp; related the specific team entry to user, hence custom plugin) and placed snippet below right before the <code>if (craft()-&gt;users-&gt;saveUser($user))</code> line.</p>
  
  <pre><code>$teamName = craft()-&gt;request-&gt;getPost('fields.teamName');
  //Get team name, set in hidden input in form, which was grabbed from segment
  
  
  $criteria = craft()-&gt;elements-&gt;getCriteria(ElementType::Entry);
  $criteria-&gt;section = 'teams';
  $criteria-&gt;title   = $teamName;
  $criteria-&gt;limit   = 1;
  $entry = $criteria-&gt;first();
  //Find the Team entry in my 'teams' section
  
  $schoolCode = $entry-&gt;schoolCode;
  //Place value of schoolCode field in variable
  
  $codeInput = craft()-&gt;request-&gt;getPost('fields.schoolCode');
  //Grab user's input
  
  if ($schoolCode == $codeInput)
  { 
      craft()-&gt;users-&gt;saveUser($user)
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This is, of course, not working. I'm not getting any errors either.</p>
  
  <p>Am I anywhere close to doing this right?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-04-07T02:19:17.820Z
Comments.Text: I'd start by `var_dump`ing some variables to see if they have the values you're expecting. `$teamName`, `$schoolCode` and `$codeInput` as a starting point.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Brad Bell
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-04-07T18:51:43.320Z
Comments.Text: Ah, `var_dump` - I knew there had to be a simple way... That helped. I figured I would have botched the plugin code.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Chase Giunta
Tags: <plugin-development><registration><entries-field>
Title: Compare custom-field value of entry to registration-form field value before saving user
ThreadText: # Compare custom-field value of entry to registration-form field value before saving user
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-06)
  
  Whoo, that title is a mouthful...
  
  I'm trying to check against a unique school "code" that an athlete has to input to register with a team. The code is different based on what team they are trying to join (referenced in a segment of registration page URL). I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to PHP or plugins but I hope I'm on the right track. I have no idea how to test what values my variables have.
  
  I've essentially copied the `user/SaveUser` controller into my own plugin (I have to place user in Athlete user group & related the specific team entry to user, hence custom plugin) and placed snippet below right before the `if (craft()->users->saveUser($user))` line.
  
  ```
  $teamName = craft()->request->getPost('fields.teamName');
  //Get team name, set in hidden input in form, which was grabbed from segment
  
  $criteria = craft()->elements->getCriteria(ElementType::Entry);
  $criteria->section = 'teams';
  $criteria->title   = $teamName;
  $criteria->limit   = 1;
  $entry = $criteria->first();
  //Find the Team entry in my 'teams' section
  
  $schoolCode = $entry->schoolCode;
  //Place value of schoolCode field in variable
  
  $codeInput = craft()->request->getPost('fields.schoolCode');
  //Grab user's input
  
  if ($schoolCode == $codeInput)
  { 
      craft()->users->saveUser($user)
  }
  
  ```
  
  This is, of course, not working. I'm not getting any errors either.
  
  Am I anywhere close to doing this right?
  
  **Tags:** plugin-development, registration, entries-field
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I'd start by `var_dump`ing some variables to see if they have the values you're expecting. `$teamName`, `$schoolCode` and `$codeInput` as a starting point.  
  > **username_0**: Ah, `var_dump` - I knew there had to be a simple way... That helped. I figured I would have botched the plugin code.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2015-04-07. Score: 1 | Accepted answer
  
  Thanks to username_1 username_1, I was able to troubleshoot using `var_dump`. The code above works correctly, but I'm unaware of how to do a simple validation of the code within the controller, w/o creating a new model, & send back a response.
  
  Instead (for simplicity on my end), when the validation fails, I redirected to an error specific page, referencing the code entered & team name.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Another option to consider is to call your controller via ajax and send back a response — you can then set the error via javascript, and maintain the data that the user has already been entered.  
  
  ---
  
  