I have a Visualforce page that contains an [apex:inputText](http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/pages/Content/pages_compref_inputText.htm) with `required="true"`. It is nested within several component levels, such as a `apex:pageBlockSectionItem`, `apex:pageBlockSection`, `apex:pageBlock` and `apex:form`.

If I submit the form without entering a value I get the following output in the apex:pageMessages:

![apex:pageMessages with entire component tree path for required inputText](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T9nCu.png)

> 
> **Error:** mediaPage:mediaPageBlock:mediaForm:dropBlock:requiredElementsSection:goalsSectionItem:goals: Validation Error: Value is required.
> 
> 
> 

The component tree path is meaningless to the users. 

**Is there anyway to reformat this message or do I need to drop the required attribute on the inputText and validate the input myself in the controller?**