ASP.Net - Reducing repetitive code for validation - VB - asp.net

Question

I have a form with many drop down list boxes on. Each of which I am showing or hiding a row of a table based on its value then adding a requiredfieldvalidator to the text box contained in that row. I am doing this on the selectedindexchanged event of each drop down list, the code for which can be seen below:
Protected Sub cbOffCover_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles cbOffCover.SelectedIndexChanged
If cbOffCover.SelectedValue = "N" Then
OffCoverRow.Visible = True
Dim rfOffcover As RequiredFieldValidator = New RequiredFieldValidator
With rfOffcover
.ControlToValidate = txtOffCover.ID
.SetFocusOnError = True
.ErrorMessage = "*"
.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red
End With
OffCoverCell.Controls.Add(rfOffcover)
Else
OffCoverRow.Visible = False
Dim c As Control
For Each c In OffCoverCell.Controls
If c.ID = "rfOffCover" Then
OffCoverCell.Controls.Remove(c)
End If
Next c
End If
End Sub
I then reuse this code for each drop down list to show/hide a differently named row and apply validation to a different text box.
My question being is there a better way of doing this? I don't know exactly how but I can't help but think I don't have to write this much code (or copy/paste) over and over again for each drop down list. Is it possible to write a function/class that will do the work and I can just call that instead? Might seem basic but i'm new to asp/vb. Many thanks

Answer 1

You can put it in a function that returns a boolean. When you call the function, pass it the combobox itself and whatever values you want to validate against. If it matches, return true. Try something like this:
Public Function ValidateComboBox(someComboBox as ComboBox, expectedValue as String)
Dim result as Boolean = False
If someComboBox.SelectedValue = expectedValue Then
result = True
OffCoverRow.Visible = True
Dim rfOffcover As RequiredFieldValidator = New RequiredFieldValidator
With rfOffcover
.ControlToValidate = txtOffCover.ID
.SetFocusOnError = True
.ErrorMessage = "*"
.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red
End With
OffCoverCell.Controls.Add(rfOffcover)
Else
OffCoverRow.Visible = False
Dim c As Control
For Each c In OffCoverCell.Controls
If c.ID = "rfOffCover" Then
OffCoverCell.Controls.Remove(c)
End If
Next c
End If
Return result
End Function
Of course, modify it to fit your needs. Maybe you only return the value, and do the other stuff inside the control's SelectedIndexChanged method.