diff --git a/functions/validate_values.py b/functions/validate_values.py
index 5f2411e..9d8e7a4 100644
--- a/functions/validate_values.py
+++ b/functions/validate_values.py
@@ -1,83 +1,103 @@
-import re
 from datetime import datetime
-from typing import Dict, Optional
+import re
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional
+from definitions.attribute import *
 from config import item_attributes
-from definitions.attribute import textAttribute, intAttribute, floatAttribute, dateAttribute, selectAttribute
 
-def _is_int(value: str) -> bool:
-    """Check if a value is a valid integer."""
-    try:
-        int(value)
+def _is_int(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """Check if a value is a valid integer (including string representations)."""
+    if isinstance(value, int):
         return True
-    except (ValueError, TypeError):
-        return False
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        try:
+            int(value)
+            return True
+        except ValueError:
+            return False
+    return False
 
-def _is_float(value: str) -> bool:
-    """Check if a value is a valid float."""
-    try:
-        float(value)
+def _is_float(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """Check if a value is a valid float (including string representations)."""
+    if isinstance(value, (int, float)):
         return True
-    except (ValueError, TypeError):
-        return False
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        try:
+            float(value)
+            return True
+        except ValueError:
+            return False
+    return False
 
-def _is_date(value: str) -> bool:
+def _is_date(value: Any) -> bool:
     """Check if a value is a valid date in YYYY-MM-DD format."""
+    if not isinstance(value, str):
+        return False
     try:
         datetime.strptime(value, "%Y-%m-%d")
         return True
-    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+    except ValueError:
         return False
 
-def validate_values(form_data: Dict[str, str]) -> Optional[str]:
+def validate_values(form_data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[str]:
     """
-    Validate the submitted form values against the item_attributes configuration.
+    Validate form data against the configuration in item_attributes.
     Returns an error message if invalid, otherwise None.
     """
+    # Check if all required fields are present
     for attrib in item_attributes:
-        value = form_data.get(attrib.attrib_name)
+        if attrib.required and attrib.attrib_name not in form_data:
+            return f"Missing required field: {attrib.display_name}."
 
-        # Check required fields
-        if attrib.required and not value:
-            return f"{attrib.display_name} is required."
+    # Check for unexpected fields
+    submitted_fields = set(form_data.keys())
+    expected_fields = {attrib.attrib_name for attrib in item_attributes}
+    if unexpected_fields := submitted_fields - expected_fields:
+        return f"Unexpected fields submitted: {', '.join(unexpected_fields)}."
 
-        # Skip validation for empty optional fields
-        if not value:
-            continue
+    # Validate each field
+    for attrib in item_attributes:
+        if attrib.attrib_name not in form_data:
+            continue  # Skip optional fields that are not submitted
+
+        value = form_data[attrib.attrib_name]
 
         # Validate based on attribute type
         if isinstance(attrib, textAttribute):
-            if attrib.regex and not re.match(attrib.regex, value):
-                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must match the pattern: {attrib.regex}."
+            if attrib.regex is not None and not re.match(attrib.regex, str(value)):
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must match pattern: {attrib.regex}."
 
         elif isinstance(attrib, intAttribute):
             if not _is_int(value):
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be an integer."
-            value_int = int(value)
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be an integer."
+            value_int = int(value)  # Convert to integer for range checks
             if attrib.min_val is not None and value_int < attrib.min_val:
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be greater than or equal to {attrib.min_val}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be at least {attrib.min_val}."
             if attrib.max_val is not None and value_int > attrib.max_val:
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be less than or equal to {attrib.max_val}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be at most {attrib.max_val}."
 
         elif isinstance(attrib, floatAttribute):
             if not _is_float(value):
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be a number."
-            value_float = float(value)
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be a number."
+            value_float = float(value)  # Convert to float for range checks
             if attrib.min_val is not None and value_float < attrib.min_val:
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be greater than or equal to {attrib.min_val}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be at least {attrib.min_val}."
             if attrib.max_val is not None and value_float > attrib.max_val:
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be less than or equal to {attrib.max_val}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be at most {attrib.max_val}."
 
         elif isinstance(attrib, dateAttribute):
             if not _is_date(value):
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be a valid date in YYYY-MM-DD format."
-            value_date = datetime.strptime(value, "%Y-%m-%d").date()
-            if attrib.min_val and value_date < datetime.strptime(attrib.min_val, "%Y-%m-%d").date():
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} cannot be earlier than {attrib.min_val}."
-            if attrib.max_val and value_date > datetime.strptime(attrib.max_val, "%Y-%m-%d").date():
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} cannot be later than {attrib.max_val}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be a valid date (YYYY-MM-DD)."
+            if attrib.min_val is not None:
+                min_date = datetime.strptime(attrib.min_val, "%Y-%m-%d")
+                if datetime.strptime(value, "%Y-%m-%d") < min_date:
+                    return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be on or after {attrib.min_val}."
+            if attrib.max_val is not None:
+                max_date = datetime.strptime(attrib.max_val, "%Y-%m-%d")
+                if datetime.strptime(value, "%Y-%m-%d") > max_date:
+                    return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be on or before {attrib.max_val}."
 
         elif isinstance(attrib, selectAttribute):
             if value not in attrib.options:
-                return f"{attrib.display_name} must be one of: {', '.join(attrib.options)}."
+                return f"Invalid value for {attrib.display_name}. Must be one of: {', '.join(attrib.options)}."
 
     return None  # No errors
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/create.py b/routes/create.py
index 7c115c4..0975cf3 100644
--- a/routes/create.py
+++ b/routes/create.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-from flask import Blueprint, request, render_template, redirect
+from flask import Blueprint, request, render_template, redirect, flash
 from definitions.models import Asset, db
 from config import item_attributes
 from sqlalchemy import exc  # Import exc for database exceptions
-from definitions.attribute import selectAttribute, intAttribute  # Import attribute classes
+from functions.validate_values import validate_values  # Form validation
 
 addasset_bp = Blueprint('addasset', __name__)
 
@@ -10,33 +10,17 @@ addasset_bp = Blueprint('addasset', __name__)
 def create():
     if request.method == 'GET':
         # Render the "add item" form
-        return render_template(
-            'create.html',
-            item_attributes=item_attributes,
-            isinstance=isinstance,  # Pass isinstance to the template
-            hasattr=hasattr,  # Pass hasattr to the template
-            selectAttribute=selectAttribute,  # Pass selectAttribute to the template
-            intAttribute=intAttribute  # Pass intAttribute to the template
-        )
+        return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes)
 
     # Process submitted form
     if request.method == 'POST':
         # Get data from form
-        form_data = {attrib.attrib_name: request.form[attrib.attrib_name] for attrib in item_attributes}
+        form_data = {attrib.attrib_name: request.form.get(attrib.attrib_name) for attrib in item_attributes}
 
-        # Validate status (if it's an option field)
-        status_attrib = next((attrib for attrib in item_attributes if attrib.attrib_name == 'status'), None)
-        if status_attrib and isinstance(status_attrib, selectAttribute):
-            if form_data['status'] not in status_attrib.options:
-                return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, exc='status')
-
-        # Convert staffnum to int (if it's a number field)
-        staffnum_attrib = next((attrib for attrib in item_attributes if attrib.attrib_name == 'staffnum'), None)
-        if staffnum_attrib and isinstance(staffnum_attrib, intAttribute):
-            try:
-                form_data['staffnum'] = int(form_data['staffnum'])
-            except ValueError:
-                return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, exc='staffnum')
+        # Form validation
+        error = validate_values(form_data)
+        if error:
+            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, error=error)
 
         # Create the Asset object
         item = Asset(**form_data)
@@ -44,9 +28,22 @@ def create():
         try:
             db.session.add(item)
             db.session.commit()
-        except exc.IntegrityError:
-            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, exc='integrity')
-        except exc.StatementError:
-            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, exc='status')
+        except exc.IntegrityError as e:
+            # Handle duplicate primary key or unique constraint errors
+            primary_attrib = next((attrib for attrib in item_attributes if attrib.primary), None)
+            if primary_attrib:
+                error = f"An entry with {primary_attrib.display_name} '{form_data[primary_attrib.attrib_name]}' already exists."
+            else:
+                error = "An entry with the same primary key already exists."
+            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, error=error)
+        except exc.StatementError as e:
+            # Handle other database errors
+            error = f"Database error: {str(e)}"
+            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, error=error)
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Handle unexpected errors
+            error = f"An unexpected error occurred: {str(e)}"
+            return render_template('create.html', item_attributes=item_attributes, error=error)
 
+        # Redirect to /viewall on success
         return redirect('/viewall')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/create.html b/templates/create.html
index 764e725..20ad0e9 100644
--- a/templates/create.html
+++ b/templates/create.html
@@ -7,46 +7,44 @@
 <body>
     <h2 align="center">Add new Item</h2>
 
+    <!-- Display error message if any -->
+    {% if error %}
+        <p>{{ error }}</p>
+    {% endif %}
+
+    <!-- Form for adding a new item -->
     <form method="POST">
         {% for attrib in item_attributes -%}
         <p>
             <label for="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}">{{ attrib.display_name }}:</label>
-            {%- if isinstance(attrib, selectAttribute) %}
-            <select
-                id="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
-                name="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
-                {%- if attrib.required %} required {% endif -%}
-            >
-                {% for option in attrib.options -%}
-                <option value="{{ option }}">{{ option }}</option>
-                {% endfor -%}
-            </select>
+            {% if attrib.html_input_type == "select" %}
+                <!-- Render a dropdown for select attributes -->
+                <select
+                    id="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
+                    name="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
+                    {% if attrib.required %} required {% endif %}
+                >
+                    {% for option in attrib.options -%}
+                        <option value="{{ option }}">{{ option }}</option>
+                    {% endfor %}
+                </select>
             {% else %}
+                <!-- Render an input field for other attributes -->
                 <input
                     id="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
                     type="{{ attrib.html_input_type }}"
                     name="{{ attrib.attrib_name }}"
-                    {%- if attrib.required %} required {% endif -%}
-                    {%- if hasattr(attrib, 'min_val') and attrib.min_val is not none %} min="{{ attrib.min_val }}" {% endif -%}
-                    {%- if hasattr(attrib, 'max_val') and attrib.max_val is not none %} max="{{ attrib.max_val }}" {% endif -%}
-                    {%- if attrib.default_val is not none %} value="{{ attrib.default_val }}" {% endif -%}
+                    {% if attrib.required %} required {% endif %}
+                    {% if attrib.html_input_type == "number" %}
+                        {% 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.default_val is not none %} value="{{ attrib.default_val }}" {% endif %}
                 />
-            {% endif -%}
+            {% endif %}
         </p>
         {% endfor %}
         <p><input type="submit" value="Submit" /></p>
     </form>
-
-    <p align="center">
-        {%- if exc == 'integrity' -%}
-            Item with the same assettag already exists
-        {%- endif -%}
-        {%- if exc == 'status' -%}
-            Data input error. Invalid status value
-        {%- endif -%}
-        {%- if exc == 'staffnum' -%}
-            Data input error. Staff number must be an integer
-        {%- endif -%}
-    </p>
 </body>
 </html>
\ No newline at end of file