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<html>
<body>
<form runat="server">
<asp:Label runat="server" Text="Enter a username: " />
<asp:TextBox id="txt1" runat="server" />
<asp:Button Text="Submit" runat="server"/>
<asp:Label id="mess" runat="server"/>
<asp:CustomValidator
ControlToValidate="txt1"
OnServerValidate="user"
Text="A username must be between 8 and 16 characters!"
runat="server"/>
</form>
</body>
</html>