what am i missing?

[eluser]Michael Wales[/eluser]
Without spending to much of my time on it, I would probably make the upload field have a rule calling a callback function. Within the callback function I would handle all of the Upload class errors if they exist, bringing them back into the Validation class via the set_message() method.

Or - you can also call these error methods from your view. Sure, it's a small break in the MVC pattern but would you rather stick to the pattern or punch your wife in your sleep?