diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index a513254..9c60370 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Validate configuration before starting the app
 from functions.validate_config import validate_config
-from config import item_attributes, sql_conf
+from config import item_attributes, sql_conf, app_secret_key
 
 config_status = validate_config(item_attributes)
 if config_status != "Ok":
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from routes.upload import upload_bp
 from routes.confirm_save import confirm_save_bp
 
 app = Flask(__name__)
-app.secret_key = 'your_secret_key'  # Required for flashing messages and session
+app.secret_key = app_secret_key  # Required for flashing messages and session
 app.config['SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI'] = f'mysql://{sql_conf.SQL_USER}:{sql_conf.SQL_PASSWORD}@{sql_conf.SQL_HOST}/{sql_conf.SQL_DB}'
 app.config['SQLALCHEMY_TRACK_MODIFICATIONS'] = False
 db.init_app(app)
@@ -35,8 +35,14 @@ app.register_blueprint(delete_bp)
 app.register_blueprint(upload_bp)
 app.register_blueprint(confirm_save_bp)
 
+# Create database table if it doesn't exist
 with app.app_context():
-    db.create_all()
+    try:
+        db.create_all()
+    except exc.SQLAlchemyError as e:
+        # Log the error and exit gracefully
+        print(f"Database Error: Failed to create tables. {str(e)}")
+        raise SystemExit("Database connection failed. Please check your configuration.")
 
 @app.route('/')
 def index():
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 69fa98d..77ca50a 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from definitions.attribute import textAttribute, intAttribute, dateAttribute, selectAttribute
 
+app_secret_key = "test_phase_secret_key"
+
 # MySQL information
 class sql_conf:
     SQL_USER = "assetadmin"
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ item_attributes = [
         display_name="Host Name",
         required=True,
         unique=True,
-        regex=r"^[a-z0-9._-]+$"  # Lowercase letters, numbers, dots, underscores, hyphens
+        allowed_chars="abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789.-_",    # Lowercase letters, numbers, dots, underscores, hyphens
     ),
     dateAttribute(
         attrib_name="warrantyfrom",
diff --git a/definitions/attribute.py b/definitions/attribute.py
index 2ef308a..2886896 100644
--- a/definitions/attribute.py
+++ b/definitions/attribute.py
@@ -46,11 +46,15 @@ class textAttribute(Attribute):
         attrib_name: str,
         display_name: str,
         regex: Optional[str] = None,
-        max_length: int = 50,
+        min_length: Optional[int] = None,
+        max_length: Optional[int] = 50,
+        allowed_chars: Optional[str] = None,
         **kwargs
     ):
         super().__init__(attrib_name, display_name, html_input_type="text", **kwargs)
         self.regex = regex
+        self.allowed_chars = allowed_chars
+        self.min_length = min_length
         self.max_length = max_length
 
     def validate(self) -> Optional[str]:
@@ -61,6 +65,10 @@ class textAttribute(Attribute):
         if self.default_val is not None and self.regex is not None:
             if not re.match(self.regex, str(self.default_val)):
                 return f"Invalid default value for '{self.attrib_name}'. It must match the pattern: {self.regex}"
+        if self.allowed_chars is not None and self.default_val is not None:
+            for char in self.default_val:
+                if char not in self.allowed_chars:
+                    return f"Invalid character '{char}' in default value for '{self.attrib_name}'. Allowed characters are: {self.allowed_chars}"
         return None
 
 
diff --git a/templates/create.html b/templates/create.html
index babcb76..fc9d364 100644
--- a/templates/create.html
+++ b/templates/create.html
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@
                         {% if attrib.min_val is not none %} min="{{ attrib.min_val }}" {% endif %}
                         {% if attrib.max_val is not none %} max="{{ attrib.max_val }}" {% endif %}
                     {% endif %}
+                    {% if attrib.html_input_type == "text" %}
+                        {% if attrib.max_length is not none %} maxlength="{{ attrib.max_length }}" {% endif %}
+                        {% if attrib.min_length is not none %} minlength="{{ attrib.min_length }}" {% endif %}
+                        {% if attrib.regex is not none %} pattern="{{ attrib.regex }}" {% endif %}
+                    {% endif %}
                     {% if attrib.default_val is not none %} value="{{ attrib.default_val }}" {% endif %}
                 />
             {% endif %}