The attribute values of a record are validated when the values are entered into the system. This typically occurs when a record is imported into the database or when a record is saved in the Detail Editor after it has been created or modified. Users can also manually start record validation jobs that produce correction files that indicate the validation status of attributes.
During validation, attribute values are checked against constraints placed by the data type, editor control settings, and explicit validation rules. These constraints are always applied. They are independent of validation levels.
Different syndication targets may have different requirements for data content, such as which attribute values are required and whether or not they accept attribute values flagged with warnings.
The use of validation levels gives an organization the ability to determine if particular validation errors and warnings are severe enough to prohibit the syndication of a record to a particular target. They allow a record to be deemed good enough for syndication to one target but not another.
Validation levels are associated with the quality of the record's attribute values. Validation rules are assigned to validation levels; for a record to reach a level of validation, it must pass the validation checks for that level and all the validation levels beneath it.
EnterWorks supports up to five levels of validation and they are often labeled "A" through "E", such that in order for a record to be deemed valid at level A, it must satisfy all the requirement levels for E, D, C, and B as well.
Records are eligible for promotion to Production once they pass the validation rules for their Validation Level. Once promoted, they will only be available for syndication to those targets which they are ready for (have achieved a validation level high enough for). Note that since validation levels are cumulative, records that are available for syndication to one target will also be available for syndication to all targets that have the same or lesser validation level requirements.
A record's validation status indicates whether it achieves its assigned validation level. The possible status values are:
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Green: Promotable.
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Yellow: Has warnings – May be promotable according to system configuration and user entry.
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Red: Has severe errors – Unpromotable.
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Black: Record not yet validated.
During system configuration, it is determined which validation rules map to which validation levels and whether the promotion of records allows for errors or warnings.
Record Validation Example
The following diagram illustrates how validation rules assigned to validation levels affect the validation status of records for those levels:
In the above example, if the first record (with Master Item Id = 1234) has a required validation level of D or E, the record will be deemed valid. But if it must reach level A, B, or C to be promotable, it would be deemed not promotable and flagged with at least one severe error.
The second record is valid if its required validation level is set to any level but A.
The third record is deemed valid regardless of what its required validation level because all validation rules have been satisfied.