form validation help PLEASE

[eluser]dadamssg[/eluser]
hmm good to know thanks. Now i wonder why im not getting error messages for my rules...dangit. Im getting my custom flashdata message but not the other others. Like if i just submit a blank form i SHOULD get an error message saying that the fields are required.

login_view

Code:

<?php echo validation_errors(); ?>

<?php if($this->session->flashdata('message')) : ?>
    <p>&lt;?=$this->session->flashdata('message')?&gt;</p>
    
&lt;?php endif;
echo form_open('login');
?&gt;
<p>&lt;input type='text' name='username' /&gt;&lt;/p>
<p>&lt;input type='password' name='password' /&gt;&lt;/p>
<p>&lt;?=form_submit('login', 'Login')?&gt;</p>
&lt;/form&gt;