← VCE Software Development U3O1

Types of validation check

A test that an entry is sensible. Types include presence, data type, range, length, format and list. Each one tests a different property of the entry.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 116, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 46, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 16, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 9 Databases — Module 13, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 68, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 66, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 18, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 106, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 79, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 76, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Control Structures and Data Types — Module 89

Understanding Types of validation check in VCE Software Development U3O1

What it does: LEN counts the characters in the entry, so this tests its length. ISNUMBER tests the data type of the entry, which is a type check. A presence check makes sure something has been entered. It does not test what the entry says, only that it is not blank. A range check tests that a number falls between a lowest and highest allowed value.

Common mistakes: This presence check is reversed. It marks the entry invalid when a name IS entered. It should be IF name = "" THEN, so only a blank entry is rejected. A range check needs AND so the age is both at least 0 and at most 99. With OR, every number passes, so the check never rejects anything.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 114–124) and word search (Modules 114–141).

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Learning

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A form will not let you submit if the Surname box is empty. Which validation check is this?

Range checkPresence check

Matches

Range check on Age: allow only the whole numbers 0 and 120

↓

A range check allows every value between a lowest and a highest limit, not just the two end values. Age should be allowed from 0 to 120 inclusive.

Applying

Meanings

Term

validation check

Meaning

A test that an entry is sensible. Types include presence, data type, range, length, format and list. Each one tests a different property of the entry.

Practice

=NOT(ISBLANK(A2))

Testing

Gaps

=NOT((A2))

Check Answer

Spots

2valid ← TRUE

3IF name <> "" THEN

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Quick Questions

1. A form will not let you submit if the Surname box is empty. Which validation check is this?

A. Presence check ✓

B. Range check

A presence check makes sure something has been entered. It does not test what the entry says, only that it is not blank.

2. A school canteen app only accepts a quantity between 1 and 20. Which check is this?

A. Range check ✓

B. Presence check

A range check tests that a number falls between a lowest and highest allowed value.

3. Which entry would fail a type check on an Age field that must be a whole number?

A. fifteen ✓

B. 15

A type check tests the kind of data entered. The word 'fifteen' is text, not a number, so it fails. 15 is a whole number and passes.

4. A Year Level field must be a number from 7 to 12. A student types 14. Which check rejects it?

A. Type check

B. Range check ✓

14 is a number, so it passes the type check. It is outside 7 to 12, so the range check rejects it.

5. An Australian postcode must be exactly 4 digits. Which entry fails a length check?

A. 3051

B. 305 ✓

A length check counts the characters. 305 has only 3 digits, so it fails. 3051 has 4 digits, so it passes.

Match the Pairs

=IF(ISBLANK(A2),"Missing","OK") → A presence check: tests that the cell is not left empty

=IF(AND(B2>=0,B2<=100),"OK","Error") → A range check: tests that a number is between 0 and 100

A length check tests that text has the right number of characters, such as a 4-digit postcode → =IF(LEN(C2)=4,"OK","Error")

A type check tests that an entry is the right kind of data, such as a number rather than text → =IF(ISNUMBER(D2),"OK","Error")

Range check on Age: allow only the whole numbers 0 and 120 → A range check allows every value between a lowest and a highest limit, not just the two end values. Age should be allowed from 0 to 120 inclusive.

List check on Year level: use a presence check to accept only 9 or 10 → A presence check only tests that something was entered. To accept only 9 or 10, you need a list check.

Key Term

validation check

A test that an entry is sensible. Types include presence, data type, range, length, format and list. Each one tests a different property of the entry.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =NOT(ISBLANK(A2))

Hint: Type the function that tests whether a cell is empty. This is a presence check.

2. =AND(B2>=0,B2<=100)

Hint: Type the comparison operator that keeps a mark at or below the upper limit. This is a range check.

3. =ISNUMBER(C2)

Hint: Type the function that tests whether the entry is a number. This is a data type check.

4. =AND(LEN(D2)=10,LEFT(D2,2)="04")

Hint: Type the function that takes the first characters of the entry so its format can be checked. The LEN part is the length check.

5. =COUNTIF(G2:G5,E2)>0

Hint: Type the function that counts how many times the entry appears in the approved list. This is a list check.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A INPUT name

B valid ← TRUE

C IF name <> "" THEN

D valid ← FALSE

E ENDIF

Line C — This presence check is reversed. It marks the entry invalid when a name IS entered. It should be IF name = "" THEN, so only a blank entry is rejected.

Question 2

A INPUT age

B IF age >= 0 OR age <= 99 THEN

C OUTPUT "Accepted"

D ELSE

E OUTPUT "Out of range"

F ENDIF

Line B — A range check needs AND so the age is both at least 0 and at most 99. With OR, every number passes, so the check never rejects anything.

Question 3

A INPUT quantity

B IF ISTEXT(quantity) THEN

C OUTPUT "Valid number"

D ELSE

E OUTPUT "Numbers only"

Line B — A quantity must be a number, so the type check should use ISNUMBER(quantity). ISTEXT would accept words and reject real quantities.

Question 4

A INPUT postcode

B size ← LENGTH(postcode)

C IF size > 4 THEN

D OUTPUT "Length OK"

E ELSE

F OUTPUT "Must be 4 digits"

Line C — An Australian postcode must be exactly 4 characters long. The length check should be IF size = 4 THEN. Testing size > 4 would accept only longer entries and reject valid postcodes.

Question 5

A INPUT team

B teams ← ["Red","Blue","Gold"]

C valid ← FALSE

D IF team = teams THEN

E valid ← TRUE

F ENDIF

Line D — A list check must test whether the entry is a member of the list, using IN. Comparing team = teams compares one value with the whole list, so it is never true.

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