Validation Checkpoints
Validation checkpoints ensure that data entered into a system or process meets specific criteria, such as completeness or accuracy. Validations help improve data quality, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency. The system enforces validation at key points in the workflow to ensure all necessary validations are met before tasks and activities progress.
Validation checkpoints improve data quality by catching errors at the point of entry, reduce errors through automated validation at critical workflow stages, and ensure completeness before data moves to the next workflow stage. They prevent submission of incomplete or inaccurate data, provide clear feedback to users about what needs correction, and maintain audit compliance through enforced validation rules.
When Validation Occurs
Validation checkpoints are triggered at critical points in the workflow:
Task Completion - Whenever a user updates the activity status, the system automatically marks all existing tasks in the flow as complete. If any task is configured with a validation check, the system will perform the check and prevent the submission of the instance if any validation fails.
Activity Submission - When changing the activity status from Open to Submit, validation checks run to ensure data quality before allowing the submission to proceed.
Control Validation - When users attempt to complete tasks or activities linked to Sheets, Snippets, or Boards with assigned Controls, the system automatically performs control validation at the point of task submission.
Configuring Validation Checkpoints
Validation can be configured for the task in Process. Under the Enable Validation option in the Process Task, Model/Metric selection is available.
Model Data Validation - Configure validation checks based on Model data to ensure proper data completion.
Metric Data Validation - Users can apply validation on Metric data. This allows validation of specific metric values and combinations.
Validation Message - Users can define the validation message in the textbox under Message. This message will be displayed whenever the user attempts to complete the task or submit the instance if validation fails.
Scoping - Set the scoping for validation by selecting members for the respective fields. If any data exists within the same scope, the validation message will be displayed.
Control Snippet Validation
Automatic control validation ensures data quality is enforced at the point of task submission, helping users avoid oversight. Whenever a task includes an internal link to a Sheet, Snippet, or Board with Control Snippets assigned, the system will automatically perform control validation when the user attempts to complete the task.
Automatic Validation - Control validation runs automatically when tasks are completed, requiring no manual intervention.
Visual Feedback - Sheets containing control metrics automatically display a default Control Snippet with color-coded status values, allowing users to instantly visualize control health.
Icon-Based Summary - Users will see a clear, icon-based summary of control statuses next to the page title, enabling fast, visual validation feedback.
Validation Failure Handling
When validation fails at a checkpoint, the system prevents progression:
Prevented Submission - The system will prevent the submission of the instance if any validation fails. Users cannot proceed until validation issues are resolved.
Validation Messages - Users will see warning messages when actions conflict with validation rules, helping them correct the entries. The validation message defined during configuration is displayed to guide users.
Task Blocking - All necessary validations must be met before the task flow can be submitted. This ensures data quality at each stage of the workflow.
Data Integrity Through Validation
Validation checkpoints are part of the broader data integrity framework:
Data Validation Rules - To ensure data accuracy, consistency, and completeness. This is achieved by implementing data validation rules, data cleansing procedures, and data governance policies.
Business Rule Validations - Validations for Business rules display Incorrect or Incomplete Information. Business rule definition cannot be saved with Incorrect Information, and tasks cannot be executed with Incomplete details.
Consolidation Sheet Validations - Validation in consolidation sheets prevents unintended changes. Restrictions on deleting essential rules, adding duplicate fields, and configuring currency conversions ensure that data integrity remains intact.
Validation in the Workflow Process
Validation checkpoints integrate into the activity flow:
During Data Entry - Validation rules check data as users complete input tasks, identifying issues early in the process.
Before Task Completion - When users mark tasks as complete, validation runs to ensure all required data is present and correct.
At Activity Submission - Before allowing activity status to change to Submit, the system validates all configured checkpoints across all tasks in the flow.
Before Approval - Validation ensures data quality is maintained before reviewers approve submitted activities.
Note: Validation improvements help users in entering mandatory details correctly while preventing errors, across all fields and sheets.
Benefits of Validation Checkpoints
- Improve data quality by catching errors at the point of entry
- Reduce errors through automated validation at critical workflow stages
- Ensure completeness before data moves to the next workflow stage
- Prevent submission of incomplete or inaccurate data
- Provide clear feedback to users about what needs correction
- Maintain audit compliance through enforced validation rules