Bug: "Registration failed" error message does not provide actionable information

[thetanmancan]

Description

On the Registration page, also known as the Create a New Account page, if the user enters a number or special character in the First Name or Last Name fields and then enters valid data in all other fields and then clicks the Create Account button, an error message appears that reads "Registration failed."

The message does not tell the user why their registration failed or what they can do to make their registration succeed. It should so that the user can successfully register.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Navigate to the TDM Login page.
2. Click the "Create an account" link.
3. In the First Name or Last Name field, enter a number or special character.
4. Enter valid data in all other fields on the page.
5. Click the Create Account button.

Expected Result

An error message should appear that tells the user that numbers and special characters cannot be entered into the First Name or Last Name fields.

Actual Result

The error message says "Registration failed", which does not tell the user why their registration failed or what they can do to make their registration succeed.

Registration failed

Device Configuration

• Device: Desktop
• OS version: Windows 11
• Browser: Firefox
• Browser version: 134.0.2

Action Items

• Fix bug.
• Review with product, development, design, and development. Update if needed based on feedback.
• Once finalized, add before and after images to the staging deck.
• Get Stakeholder sign-off via the stakeholder meeting slide deck.

[ExperimentsInHonesty]

@thetanmancan specific what error messages you think we should have. We also should probably create a new style guide issue to add all form error messages to in order to create unifomity.

[entrotech]

@thetanmancan At the server, the allowable characters for firstname and last name are alphabetic, plus single quote (apostrophe), space, hyphen and period. However, this validation is not enforced at the front end. The best solution is to add field level validation to the First and Last name fields on the registration form, to give user interactive feedback on allowable characters, rather than letting the form be submitted and failing without explanation. I don't think we really need any more input from design to resolve this issue.

[thetanmancan]

Hi @entrotech. I like your proposed solution. If you want the design team to come up with language for the error messages, let me know. Otherwise I'll leave it to your judgement.