ASP.Net Validators Fired After Postback when using usercontrols

Question

I have a strange problem occurs when i am using: - a user control (contains a set of text boxes with regular asp.net validators) with validationgroup="vg_save" - and a button with validationgroup "vg_save" outside this usercontrol and both are inside a updatepanel in an asp.net page.

when i click on the button it do a post back to server then fire the validators.

why this postback to the server occurs

Here are My .ASPX File

Update Panel Contains the User control and the the button that validates the user control's textboxes

<asp:UpdatePanel ID="UpdatePanel1" runat="server">
        <ContentTemplate>
            <h4>Add Sponsorship </h4>
            <asp:HiddenField runat="server" ID="hfSponsorshipId" />
            <div id="wizard" style="min-height: 300px">
                <h1>Sponsor Details </h1>
                <div id="dvNewDonor" runat="server" visible="False">
                    <uc1:UC_Donor ID="UC_Donor" runat="server" />
                </div>
                <h1>Payment Details</h1>
                <div>
                    <table>

                        <tr runat="server">
                            <td style="width: 250px">Payment Type
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblPaymentTypeMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListPaymentTypes">
                                </asp:DropDownList>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator21" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListPaymentTypes" InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr runat="server">
                            <td>Amount
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblAmountMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtPaymentAmount">
                                </asp:TextBox>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator22" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtPaymentAmount" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr id="Tr4" runat="server">
                            <td>Account Number
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblAccountNumberMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtAccountNumber">
                                </asp:TextBox>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtAccountNumber" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr id="Tr1" runat="server">
                            <td>Sort Code
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblSortCodeMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtSortCode">
                                </asp:TextBox>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator23" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtSortCode" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr id="Tr2" runat="server">
                            <td>Payment Start Date  
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblPaymentStartDateMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtPaymentStartDate" TextMode="Date">
                                </asp:TextBox>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator24" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtPaymentStartDate" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr id="Tr3" runat="server">
                            <td>Payment Expiration Date  
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblPaymentExpirationDateMark"></asp:Label>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtPaymentExpirationDate" TextMode="Date">
                                </asp:TextBox>
                            </td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator25" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtPaymentExpirationDate" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
                            </td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td></td>
                            <td></td>
                            <td>
                                <asp:Button ID="btnAddSponsorship" runat="server" Text="Save" ValidationGroup="vgSave" Width="99px" OnClientClick=" return ss();" OnClick="btnAddSponsorship_Click" />
                            </td>
                        </tr>

                        <tr>
                            <td></td>
                            <td></td>
                            <td colspan="2">
                                <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblMsg" Style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; padding: 5px"></asp:Label>

                            </td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </div>
            </div>
        </ContentTemplate>
    </asp:UpdatePanel>

**Here is My .ASCX File

Some Text Boxes With asp.net validation**

<table>
    <tr>
        <td style="width: 250px">
            Main Donor Type
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblMainDonorTypeMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" AutoPostBack="True" ID="listDonorIs" OnSelectedIndexChanged="listDonorIs_SelectedIndexChanged">
                <asp:ListItem Value="1">Individual</asp:ListItem>
                <asp:ListItem Value="2">Organisation</asp:ListItem>
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trTitles">
        <td>
            Title
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblTitleMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListTitles">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator15" EnableClientScript="False"
                runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListTitles" InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True"
                ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trFirstName">
        <td>
            First Name
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblFirstNameMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtFirstName">
            </asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator16" EnableClientScript="False"
                runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtFirstName" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True"
                ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trLastName">
        <td>
            Last Name
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblLastNameMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtLastName">
            </asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator17" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtLastName"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr id="trOrgName" runat="server" visible="False">
        <td>
            Organisation Name
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblDonorMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtDonorName"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator1" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtDonorName"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trJob">
        <td>
            Job
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblJobMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListJobs">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator2" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListJobs"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trJobPosition">
        <td>
            Job Position
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblJobPositionMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListJobPositions">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator3" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListJobPositions"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trGender">
        <td>
            Gender
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblGenderMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListGender">
                <asp:ListItem Value="1">Male</asp:ListItem>
                <asp:ListItem Value="2">Female</asp:ListItem>
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Donor Type
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblDonorTypeMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListDonorType">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator4" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListDonorType"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trBirthDate">
        <td>
            Birth Date
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblBirthDateMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtBirthDate" TextMode="Date"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator5" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtBirthDate"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trNationality">
        <td>
            Nationality
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblNationalityMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListNationality">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator6" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListNationality"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trOrgType" visible="False">
        <td>
            Organisation Type
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblOrgTypeMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListOrganizationType">
            </asp:DropDownList>
            <td>
                <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator7" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListOrganizationType"
                    InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
            </td>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trIndustry" visible="False">
        <td>
            Industry
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblIndustryMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListIndustries">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator8" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListIndustries"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trCoOperationField" visible="False">
        <td>
            Co-Operation Field
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblCooperationFieldMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListCooperationFields">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator9" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListCooperationFields"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr runat="server" id="trCommunicationRepresentative" visible="False">
        <td>
            Communication Representative
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblRepMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListCommunicationRepresentative">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator10" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListCommunicationRepresentative"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Email Address
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtEmail" TextMode="Email"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator12" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtEmail"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgEmail"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnAddEmail" ValidationGroup="vgEmail" Text="+" Width="30px"
                OnClick="btnAddEmail_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:ListBox runat="server" ID="listMails" Height="75px"></asp:ListBox>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnRemoveMail" Text="-" Width="30px" OnClick="btnRemoveMail_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Telephone Numbers
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="color: blue">
            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Home
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtHomePhone"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="color: blue">
            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Business
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtBusinessPhone"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="color: blue">
            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mobile
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtMobilePhone"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Address
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" TextMode="MultiLine" ID="txtAddress"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator14" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtAddress"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgAddress"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnAddAddress" ValidationGroup="vgAddress" Text="+"
                Width="30px" OnClick="btnAddAddress_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:ListBox runat="server" ID="listAddresses" Height="75px"></asp:ListBox>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnRemoveAddress" Text="-" Width="30px" OnClick="btnRemoveAddress_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Prefered Contact Method
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblPreferedMethodMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListContactMethods">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator11" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListContactMethods"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgContactMthod"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnAddContactMethod" ValidationGroup="vgContactMthod"
                Text="+" Width="30px" OnClick="btnAddContactMethod_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:ListBox runat="server" ID="lstSelectedContactMethods" Height="75px"></asp:ListBox>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator13" runat="server" ControlToValidate="lstSelectedContactMethods"
                Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button runat="server" ID="btnRemoveContactMethod" Text="-" Width="30px" OnClick="btnRemoveContactMethod_Click" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Tax Payer
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblTaxPayerMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListTaxPayer" AutoPostBack="True" OnSelectedIndexChanged="drpListTaxPayer_SelectedIndexChanged">
                <asp:ListItem Value="2">No</asp:ListItem>
                <asp:ListItem Value="1">Yes</asp:ListItem>
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr id="trGiftAidStartDate" runat="server" visible="False">
        <td>
            Gift Aid Start date
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblGiftAidStartDateMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox runat="server" ID="txtGiftAidStartDate" TextMode="Date"></asp:TextBox>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr id="trGiftAidDeclarationType" runat="server" visible="False">
        <td>
            Gift Aid Declaration Type
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblGiftAidDeclarationTypeMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListGiftAidDeclarationType" />
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Donor Status
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblDonorStatusMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListDonorStatus">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator18" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListClassifications"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Donor Classifcation
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblClassTypeMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListClassifications">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator19" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListClassifications"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
            Donation confirmation Method
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblConfirmationMethodsMark"></asp:Label>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="drpListConfirmationMethods">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator20" runat="server" ControlToValidate="drpListClassifications"
                InitialValue="-1" Text="*" SetFocusOnError="True" ForeColor="red" ValidationGroup="vgSave"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td>
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
            <asp:Label runat="server" ID="lblMsg" Style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt;
                padding: 5px"></asp:Label>
        </td>
    </tr>
</table>

Answer 1

When the OnClientClick expression evaluates to true the page gets submitted.

Call Page_ClientValidate in your function so that you check the validation of the page before you return true

Answer 2

You need to enable client side validation on the validator

You can use the EnableClientScript property of the validator

You can find information on this property here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.ui.webcontrols.basevalidator.enableclientscript(v=vs.110).aspx