The Test Bed launches a new CSV validation service and supporting setup guide. A generic validator is also now available for the validation of CSV content against user-provided CSV specifications.

Organisations developing content specifications typically complement them with the validation artefacts needed to facilitate and enable conformance testing. The Test Bed supports this effort by simplifying the creation of standalone validators, services that can be used as-is by a community’s users or as building blocks in complete conformance test scenarios. For specifications based on commonly used content types, notably XML, RDF and JSON, the Test Bed has been offering extended support through a configuration-based approach to quickly setup new validator instances (see the XML validation guide, RDF validation guide and JSON validation guide for further details). This support is now extended to include data specifications for CSV content (Comma Separated Values – see RFC4180).

The new CSV validation service enables a streamlined approach for the creation of new validators that can benefit from the Test Bed’s infrastructure for hosting and automatic service updates. Validation is driven by means of Table Schema, a popular specification for tabular data, allowing a flexible configuration for the validation of CSV content. The resulting validators offer the following key features:

• Validation by means of web user interface and SOAP API.
• Configurable validation types, each with its own set of validation artefacts.
• Support for predefined schemas, local or remotely loaded, as well as user-provided ones.
• Flexible theming to customise the validator’s interface for its target users.
• Use as standalone services or as validation steps in conformance tests (GITB TDL test cases) running on the Test Bed.

CSV validation guide

To support the new CSV validation service, the Test Bed has made available a new step-by-step guide as part of its online guides.

This guide explains the options to consider, the available solutions and offers step-by-step instructions to configure your validator. It serves both as a practical tutorial but also as a user guide and detailed reference of all available configuration options.

The new guide is available at https://www.itb.ec.europa.eu/docs/guides/latest/validatingCSV/.

Generic CSV validator

A first validator has already been launched by the Test Bed for the validation of arbitrary CSV content against a user-provided schema. This service is available via web user interface and SOAP API.

When using the validator, the user is prompted to provide the content to validate as a file upload, URI reference or by using the provided editor. To proceed with the validation, a Table Schema instance needs to be provided with the option also of defining syntax options such delimiter and quote characters.

The validation results in an overview of validation failures that can also be inspected within the provided content. The report is also made available in XML format for post-processing and PDF.

This validator provides a useful tool in itself for but also a flexible building block for scenario-based conformance tests running in the Test Bed that call for the validation of CSV content.

Further information

For further information on the new validation service be sure to check out the new validation guide. Additional information and resources on the Test Bed itself can be found on its Joinup space with its value proposition being a good starting point for newcomers. Finally, to remain updated of all the latest Test Bed news:

• Join the Test Bed’s community and subscribe to its news feed using your favourite RSS reader.
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