Validation sets

A validation set is a collection of validation rules. You associate a validation set with a service point channel by associating a validation set with a validation slot in the configuration program or through advanced configuration.

A typical validation set includes 3 to 12 rules. IEE runs all validation rules in the set against that service point channel's data. Although validation rules are grouped together into sets, each rule is independent of other rules, and the rules in a set do not run in any particular order.

A maximum of three validation sets can be assigned to each service point channel. However, only the validation set associated with the primary validation slot can be applied to the following data:

  • Data imported using AMI reading import

  • Data imported by standard import tasks with a defined data collection window (DCW)

    The primary validation slot is ValidationSlot1(Billing). For more information, see "Validation Slots" in the IEE MDM Help.

    Typically, about a dozen validation sets are created during initial IEE configuration. During initial configuration, validation sets are typically assigned to service point channels through the program-based configuration XML API. IEE also allows you to assign validation sets to service point channels from the Application Data section of the Meter Data Management workbench. Validation set assignments are typically determined by the meter type, revenue class, or other characteristics common to large numbers of channels.

    A single validation set includes one or more validation rules for interval and register channels. When IEE processes a validation set on a register channel, IEE ignores the rules that apply to interval data. Similarly, when validating an interval data channel, IEE ignores the validation rules that pertain to register data.

Note: You must have security permissions to use this feature. For more information, see User role permissions: Descriptions.

Use the following procedure to create or edit a validation set:

  1. Go to Meter Data Management > Tools > Validation > Validation Sets.

  2. To create a validation set, click the down arrow of the Add icon, and then select Add Validation Set.

    To edit a validation set, enter the Validation Set ID and click Build Tree. If you do not know the validation set ID, click Search to open a list of validation sets. Select the validation set and click OK.

  3. In the validation set tree, click the validation set ID at the top of the tree. If you are creating a new set, the default ID is Set - New Validation Set.

  4. Configure the following parameters:

    • Validation Set ID. Defines a unique name for the validation set. The validation set's purpose can be more fully explained in the description box.

    • Description. Defines the purpose of the validation set. Include information that identifies the purpose or contents of the validation set.

  5. From the Run dropdown menu, define whether this validation set is available to run automatically only (On Cycle), manually only (Manual or Inline), or both.

    • Manual or Inline. Allows users to run the validation set manually. For example, operators can use a Manual or Inline validation set to preview validation when editing data or to revalidate an item in the reading validation queue. Excludes the validation set from automated validation processes during data import.

    • On Cycle. Includes the validation set when validation is triggered by a cycle or task schedule. On Cycle validation sets are also available when revalidating validation queue items that resulted from an automatic validation process during data import.

    • Both. Select to include the validation set in automated and manual validation processes.

  6. If you selected On Cycle or Both, select a Schedule Type to define the type of cycle that triggers the validation. The valid values are as follows: Billing, Continuous, Notification, or System.

  7. Click Save.

  8. Right-click anywhere in the Tree pane and select Add Rule.

  9. Click a Validation Rule Type to select it. To select multiple items, use Ctrl-Click and Shift-Click. Scroll down to view all interval and register channel validation rules. For more information about each rule, see Reading Validation Rules .

  10. Click OK to add the selected rules to the validation set. IEE adds the new rules in the appropriate branches of the tree. A red X next to a rule indicates that the rule configuration is not saved.

  11. Click a rule in the tree to select it.

  12. (Optional) In the edit pane, enter a unique Rule ID that other IEE users understand. The Rule ID appears in the Reading Validation Queue and the Validation Log.

    Note: IEE automatically creates an initial unique Rule ID by appending a sequence number to the default rule name. Rule IDs must be unique among existing validation rules.

  13. (Optional) Enter a detailed Rule Description. The first 30 characters of this text appear in the Validation Log. For more information, see Validation Log.

  14. Configure the following parameters:

    • Route to Queue. Determines whether to route exceptions immediately to the readings validation queue or to send exceptions through automatic estimation and secondary validation. Route to Queue (Do Not Auto-Estimate) overrides automatic estimation for an individual rule. Select the Route To Queue (Do Not Auto-Estimate) checkbox to send validation exceptions to the queue immediately. Clear the checkbox to send exceptions through estimation and secondary validation. If automatic estimation is disabled in IEE, exceptions route to the queue even when Route to Queue is enabled.

    • Ignore. Determines whether the validation rule excludes a check. For example, to create a rule that either passes or fails the data but does not pass the data with a WARNING status, set the Warn threshold to Ignore. Only one threshold can be ignored for the same check within the validation rule. If you set the Warn threshold to Ignore, you must define a threshold for Fail.

    • Warn Threshold. Defines the threshold over which data that passes validation also receives a WARNING status.

    • Fail Threshold. Defines the threshold over which data is considered invalid.

      Note: Some validation rules have additional parameters. For more information about configuring rule- specific parameters, see Interval Validation Rules and Register Validation Rules.

  15. Click Save.

Reading Validation Rules

Validation rules define thresholds, limits, and other parameters for how IEE validates interval and register data. Each validation rule defines whether to route exceptions immediately to the reading validation queue or to send exceptions through automatic estimation and secondary validation.

IEE includes the following types of validation rules:

  • Parameter-based. Parameter-based validation rules use logic built into IEE. You define parameters for the rule but do not need to create any formulas. For example, the high limit check requires you to define the thresholds above which data will Warn or Fail validation. IEE includes parameter-based validation rules for interval channels and register channels. For more information, see "Interval Validation Rules" and "Register Validation Rules" in the IEE MDM Help.

  • User-defined. User-defined validation rules allow you to create formulas for customized validation checks. For more information, see "User-Defined Validation Rules" in the IEE MDM Help.