Control Task Validation
Control task validation enforces data quality at the point of task submission by automatically validating controls when users attempt to complete tasks or activities. This process ensures data quality issues are identified and resolved before work progresses to the next stage, helping users avoid oversight.
Setting Up Control Validation
Control validation begins by assigning Control Snippets to tasks. Open the details side panel of a Sheet, Snippet, or Board. Locate the section labelled Controls Assignment. Use the desired layout (similar to Multi-Axis assignment) to select and configure the required Control Snippets. This setup allows users to visually track control statuses directly from the page or task, streamlining validation and monitoring.
Once assigned, users will see a clear, icon-based summary of control statuses next to the page title, enabling fast, visual validation feedback.
Working with Control Snippets
Sheets containing control metrics automatically display a default Control Snippet. The system detects control metrics and generates a pre-configured grid with dimensions as rows, control metrics as columns, and color-coded status values as data. This allows users to instantly visualize control health without any manual setup.
Users can also create personalized Snippets of type "Controls" to suit their layout and analysis preferences. Control metrics are defined with validation rules that flag issues as either Blocking or Warning, using comparer logic (such as Equal to, Greater than) with custom messages. The system generates Control Amount, Control Status, and Control Message automatically.
Completing Tasks with Control Validation
When a user attempts to complete a task that includes an internal link to a Sheet, Snippet, or Board with Control Snippets assigned, the system automatically performs control validation. This occurs in both the add-in and web versions.
Validation Execution - The system evaluates all assigned control metrics against their defined validation rules. Control metrics with Blocking status must pass before the task can be completed.
Visual Feedback - Color-coded status values provide immediate indication of control health. Users can see which controls are passing or failing directly in the Control Snippet.
Task Blocking - If controls fail validation with Blocking status, the system prevents task completion until the issues are resolved. Users must address the data quality issues identified by the controls before proceeding.
Warning Status - Controls set to Warning status alert users to potential issues but do not prevent task completion, allowing users to acknowledge issues and proceed if appropriate.
Resolving Validation Failures
When control validation fails, users follow this process to resolve issues:
Review Control Messages - Examine the Control Message column to understand what validation rule failed and why. Custom messages defined during control setup provide specific guidance.
Identify Source Data - The Control Snippet shows which dimension combinations are failing validation, allowing users to locate the problematic data.
Correct Data Issues - Navigate to the source sheet or metric and correct the data that caused the validation failure.
Retry Task Completion - Once data is corrected, attempt to complete the task again. The system will re-validate controls automatically.
Workflow Integration
Control task validation integrates into the broader workflow process. As users progress through assigned tasks during period close or other workflows, control validation acts as a checkpoint. Data quality is enforced before tasks move from Open to Submit status. This ensures that only validated, quality data advances through approval stages, maintaining integrity throughout the financial reporting and consolidation process.
Note: Control validation runs automatically at task completion. Users do not need to manually trigger validation checks.