PHP validation error reporting in step by step registration

I am using a step by step registration. On the last step, when the person enters a username which is already in use, an error message is placed in the system output area, and the steps go back to the first step.

The error message is "The username '<username>' is already in use."

This is a problem, because people are reporting that they think the data they have entered has been lost. Some click the browser back button, which leads to more problems.

So my question is two parts:

1) Is there a way to improve this, so that the previously viewed tab is opened when there is a PHP validation error.
2) If not, where do I change the text string for the error message, so that I can try to guide users to do the right thing? I have looked in the following places but can't find it:

• /components/com_comprofiler/plugin/language/cbpaidsubscriptions-en-gb
• /components/com_comprofiler/plugin/language/en-gb/language.php
• The Joomla language override in the Joomla admin (Extensions->Language Manager->Overrides->New)

Thanks very much for any help

1) Is there a way to improve this, so that the previously viewed tab is opened when there is a PHP validation error.

The step by step registration display doesn't currently keep track of the step they were previously on. It's possible though and have added a feature ticket to enable it, but will need to thoroughly test to ensure it won't display a disabled tab when doing this.

forge.joomlapolis.com/issues/5245

2) If not, where do I change the text string for the error message, so that I can try to guide users to do the right thing? I have looked in the following places but can't find it:

I recommend just enabling ajax checking for the username then the validation will be browser side in addition to PHP side and they'll be informed their username is already in use before they even submit the registration form. You can enable this by setting "Ajax Username Checker" to "Yes" within CB > Configuration > Registration.

OK, thank you