Call validator validate method in button click action handler
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="absolute"> <mx:Script> private function runValidator(event:MouseEvent):void { validator.validate( ); } </mx:Script> <mx:Form> <mx:FormItem label="Name"> <mx:TextInput id="username"/> </mx:FormItem> <mx:FormItem> <mx:Button id="button" label="Submit" click="runValidator(event)" /> </mx:FormItem> </mx:Form> <mx:Validator id="validator" source="{username}" property="text" trigger="{null}" /> </mx:Application>