server/AyaNova/DataList/AyaDataList.cs

@@ -77,6 +77,44 @@ namespace AyaNova.DataList
 
             return sb.ToString();
         }
+
+        //make sure the template parses and all the fields specified are really existant
+        //this is more for dev errors or api users becuase the client shouldn't generate bad templates
+        public bool ValidateTemplate(string template)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                //parse the template
+                var jtemplate = JObject.Parse(template);
+                var fullFields = ((JArray)jtemplate["full"]).ToObject<string[]>();
+                var miniFields = ((JArray)jtemplate["mini"]).ToObject<string[]>();
+
+                foreach (string s in fullFields)
+                {
+                    AyaDataListFieldDefinition o = FieldDefinitions.FirstOrDefault(x => x.FieldKey == s);                   
+                    if (o == null)
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                foreach (string s in miniFields)
+                {
+                    AyaDataListFieldDefinition o = FieldDefinitions.FirstOrDefault(x => x.FieldKey == s);                   
+                    if (o == null)
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return true;
+        }
+
     }//eoc
 
 }//eons