Protype ajax validation problem

[eluser]Michael;[/eluser]
[quote author="mdowns" date="1218489673"]I don't think empty can check the return value of functions. You should use a variable instead.

Code:

$text = trim($this->input->post('value'));
if(empty($text))
{
    echo 'This field is required.';
}

Also how is this function being used? It's not returning anything.[/quote]

It's being used as an ajax call... " onblur="ValidateField(this, 'first_name', 'required')" ", so onblur it calls the javascript function ValidateField, which then makes a call to my ajax controller, which then accesses the validation library which is where this function is (" required "). Then the "print" is captured as AjaxResult.responsetext.

Evrything else works, I can validate numbers, email, even run things through the db ... ONLY empty fields is giving me issues.