A central environment for defining validation tasks and methods.

The following illustration shows the validation interface when defining a method.

In a check hierarchy, you can create expressions (for example, Total Assets = Total Liabilities).

Under the nodes for a true expression and/or false expression you can create:

• Further expressions, or...
• Messages

The system tests an expression at lower levels of the hierarchy only if the next-higher (true or false) expression is valid. In other words, the expression at a higher level serves as a prerequisite for the expressions of the expressions at the lower levels.

You can copy methods and check expressions. Afterwards, you can change the names of the copies.

You can move the elements of the check hierarchy (expressions, messages, etc.) using Drag&Drop.

In this section you select the characteristics used for the expression. For each characteristic, you then specify the characteristic values (for the selection condition).

You can copy selection conditions by choosing Copy in the toolbar for the selection condition.

You can delete selection conditions by choosing Delete in the toolbar for the selection condition.

You can find out which other expressions use a certain selection condition. To do this, mark the selection condition and choose Where-Used List in the toolbar for the selection condition.

This section contains frequently used operators (for example, +, -, =), functions, and also buttons for the manual input of character strings, numbers, constants, and comments.

Plus, the New button lets you create new selection conditions.

You can choose List to tell the system which selections to use in the formula editor.

This section has more functions.

The function Constant (see button with same wording), for example, lets you compare item values with a constant in local currency.

The function uses the following syntax: CONST( value, currency key, exchange rate indicator )

*VAL_*

There are also consolidation-specific functions, including the following:

• VAL_YTD to select cumulative values
• VAL_YTD to select periodic values

To select values from prior years, use the functions that start with P_VAL_* (for example, P_VAL_YTD). These functions use the following syntax (using the periodic function): P_VAL_PER( selection, period, fiscal year )

If you use generic functions, such as VAL_YTD, VAL_PER, or P_VAL_YTD, the system uses you customizing settings for the currencies in the task to select values in either the local or group currency. That is, if necessary the system translates the values it finds into group currency.

In the formula editor you assemble the formulas for the check expressions from the available selections, operators, and functions.