puzzling error msg in form validation controller

[eluser]oldnews[/eluser]
Thanks for clarifying, Fuzz. I see what you're doing. What I'm doing is somewhat different: strangers submitting contest entries which include an uploaded picture for a sponsor who requires data harvesting of several key fields. Late last night, I set up a work-around html email form with a background, non-CI, PHP companion handler that has worked fine on less complex contest sites. I wish you would try uploading a sample jpg on the CI-managed landing page. Then attempt to fill in that CI-managed form (controller code shown in my last publication several replies back on the first page), and when it fails, go to my work-around non-CI PHP email form that DOES execute. You may get a better sense for what needs to be accomplished WITH CI form validation. The site is not actually live, yet: we're still testing to try to get the handlers to do everything seemlessly. And, BTW, I know I can pass the variable (that's displayed in a text field) as hidden, but for testing purposes, I'm putting it out there in plain view for now. Thanks. All advice is welcome and appreciated.

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