quantities are now option and can also be fractions

src/main/java/com/example/demo/controller/RecipeUploadController.java

@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ public class RecipeUploadController {
 				}
 
 				String quantityString = getListValue(form.getIngredientQuantity(), i);
-				BigDecimal quantity = null;
+				String quantity = null;
 				if (quantityString != null && !quantityString.isBlank()) {
-					quantity = new BigDecimal(quantityString.trim());
+					quantity = new String(quantityString.trim());
 				}
 
 				String unit = getListValue(form.getIngredientUnit(), i);
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public class RecipeUploadController {
 
 				ingredientDtos.add(new RecipeIngredientDto(
 						ingredientName.trim(),
-						quantity,
+						quantity != null ? quantity.trim() : "",
 						unit != null ? unit.trim() : "",
 						notes != null ? notes.trim() : ""));
 			}

src/main/java/com/example/demo/dto/RecipeIngredientDto.java

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import java.math.BigDecimal;
 
 public class RecipeIngredientDto {
 	private String ingredientName;
-	private BigDecimal quantity;
+	private String quantity;
 	private String unit;
 	private String notes;
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ public class RecipeIngredientDto {
 		super();
 	}
 
-	public RecipeIngredientDto(String ingredientName, BigDecimal quantity, String unit, String notes) {
+	public RecipeIngredientDto(String ingredientName, String quantity, String unit, String notes) {
 		super();
 		this.ingredientName = ingredientName;
 		this.quantity = quantity;
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ public class RecipeIngredientDto {
 		this.ingredientName = ingredientName;
 	}
 
-	public BigDecimal getQuantity() {
+	public String getQuantity() {
 		return quantity;
 	}
 
-	public void setQuantity(BigDecimal quantity) {
+	public void setQuantity(String quantity) {
 		this.quantity = quantity;
 	}
 

src/main/java/com/example/demo/entity/RecipeIngredient.java

@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ public class RecipeIngredient {
 	@EqualsAndHashCode.Include
 	private Ingredient ingredient;
 	
-	@NotNull(message = "Please Provide a Quantity") 
-	@Positive(message = "Quantity cannot be negative")
-	private BigDecimal quantity;
+	//@NotNull(message = "Please Provide a Quantity") 
+	//@Positive(message = "Quantity cannot be negative")
+	private String quantity;
 	
 	@Column(columnDefinition = "TEXT")
 	@Size(max = 32, message = "Unit cannot be longer than 32 characters")
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public class RecipeIngredient {
 	public RecipeIngredient() {
 	}
 
-	public RecipeIngredient(Recipe recipe, Ingredient ingredient, BigDecimal quantity, String unit, String notes) {
+	public RecipeIngredient(Recipe recipe, Ingredient ingredient, String quantity, String unit, String notes) {
 		this.recipe = recipe;
 		this.ingredient = ingredient;
 		this.quantity = quantity;
@@ -80,11 +80,11 @@ public class RecipeIngredient {
 		this.ingredient = ingredient;
 	}
 
-	public BigDecimal getQuantity() {
+	public String getQuantity() {
 		return quantity;
 	}
 
-	public void setQuantity(BigDecimal quantity) {
+	public void setQuantity(String quantity) {
 		this.quantity = quantity;
 	}
 

src/main/resources/templates/create-recipe.html

@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="field">
-      <label for="prep">Preparation Time: <span class="required">*</span></label>
+      <label for="prep">Preparation Time in Minutes: <span class="required">*</span></label>
       <input type="text" id="prep" placeholder="0">
     </div>
 
     <div class="field">
-      <label for="cooking">Cooking Time: <span class="required">*</span></label>
+      <label for="cooking">Cooking Time in Minutes: <span class="required">*</span></label>
       <input type="text" id="cooking" placeholder="0">
     </div>
 
@@ -379,10 +379,22 @@ function validateForm() {
       valid = false;
     }
 
-    if (!qtyInput.value.trim() || isNaN(Number(qtyInput.value)) || Number(qtyInput.value) <= 0) {
-      showError(qtyInput, 'Enter a valid quantity');
+    const qtyVal = qtyInput.value.trim();
+    if (!isValidQuantity(qtyVal)) {
+      showError(qtyInput, 'Enter a valid quantity (e.g. 2, 1.5, 1/2, 1 1/2) or leave blank');
       valid = false;
     }
+    
+    
+    
+    
+    function isValidQuantity(val) {
+    	  if (val === '') return true;
+    	  if (!isNaN(Number(val))) return true;
+    	  if (/^\d+\/\d+$/.test(val)) return true;
+    	  if (/^\d+\s+\d+\/\d+$/.test(val)) return true;
+    	  return false;
+    	}
   });
 
   const stepAreas = [...document.querySelectorAll('#steps-container textarea')];