>Hi Paul ----
>
>When dealing with situations where there are stringent or interrelated business rules, I try to take a collaborative approach between the application and the user. For example, I try hard to avoid messageboxes with "Cannot save...you messed up" with an OK button and no way out.

Here too. This particular modification didn't keep them from saving, just marking the job as "Closed". Nothing more annoying than not being able to save something and come back later when you have the time to finish.

>
>See? If there are violations to biz rules (or data rules for that matter) then the user sees an enabled Alert button and can see what they are to take corrective action. If not, the Alert button is disabled and the user can assume that an OK or Save is cool. Either way, you are collaborating with the user to minimize the "You messed up" errors that users can dislike.

I understand where you're going with that, but what's the difference between a button they have to click and an automatic message? Is it just the way the "message is worded"? One is just less obnoxious than the other?