[6d]

FreeCEN Post-Validation

What's involved:

Software Download [7e]	Notes & Comments [7a]	.	Help & Support [7f]
.	Completed Work [7g]	.	"Back to Index"

Post-Validation is the final operation of inspection and tidying of a FreeCEN datafile before it is ready to Upload for the Internet database.
Any file which might have been worked using VALDREV versions earlier than v1.2.4 must be tested using CENSDUPL [9e] before continuing with the Post-Validation work. If in doubt, test with CENSDUPL!
Post-Validation involves the use of FCTOOLS/TOOLBOX [9c] Utility routines so that the physical structure of the file may be confirmed.

using the VALCONV Utility (if necessary) to produce an Upload-compliant file.
using the DAT2CSV Utility so that the file may be examined as a spreadsheet:-

to examine the "Error Report" and ensure that no Errors are reported, and whether any Warnings are either safe to accept or need correction.
to examine all "Notes" present in the spreadsheet and to ensure that such Notes are relevant and appropriate for inclusion on the database. Notes may be edited (or removed) as necessary.
to examine the Validator's Notes and to take such corrective action as may be required. This may involve insertion of records missed by the Checker and which the Validator was unable to insert.
working from the bottom of the file to remove from the spreadsheet all records marked for "Deletion".
Realise that every insert or deletion will affect the "record number" for all subsequent records - this is why these operations should be worked from the bottom of the file so that earlier record numbering remains unaffected..
to make a quick examination of queried ("x" flagged) names. If the flag has been set because of an unresolved surname query then, logically, the same doubts will exist for other household members having the same surname. All family members should be flagged as "x", but take care the flag was not set for just a forename.
Hint: highlight the whole name-query Column L and use [Edit] [Find Next] "x" for quick location of relevant queries.

using the CSV2DAT Utility (with appropriate "d" option) to rebuild the VALD datafile.

to examine the Error Report produced and take such remedial action as may be necessary before repeating the CSV2DAT operation as often as may be necessary.

to reconstruct the final output ZIPfile - the ZIPIT Utility is provided.

Completed Work [7g], together with the loan media, should be returned to the County Co-Ordinator in accordance with specific team arrangements.
"Upload to Database" may be performed by the person conducting Post-Validation and is essentially simply a file-transfer operation.
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02Sep2003