---
title: "Creating and Configuring Validation Rules"
description: "Validation rules help ensure data accuracy and consistency during data collection. Two types of validation rules are available, determined by the rule scope: regular and intercompany. Regular rules refer to general validations applied to the data collected by a single reporting entity. Intercompany rules refer to validations for balances between related reporting entities, such as subsidiaries or group companies."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/data-collection/basic-configuration-dc/create-configure-validation-rules
language: en
last_updated: 2026-05-28
---
# Creating and Configuring Validation Rules

## Overview

Validation rules help ensure data accuracy and consistency during data collection. Two types of validation rules are available, determined by the rule scope:

- **Regular** – General validations applied to the data collected by a single reporting entity. Regular rules can validate relationships:

 - **Within a single form template (intra-form)** – Validate relationships between elements in the same form, such as ensuring that assets = liabilities + equity in a balance sheet
 - **Between multiple form templates (inter-form)** – Validate relationships across different forms, such as ensuring consistency between the balance sheet and P&L statement
- **Intercompany** – Validations for balances between related reporting entities, such as subsidiaries or group companies. Intercompany rules compare aggregated values across entity pairs using group or transaction currency.

Validation rules are applied at the individual reporting entity level during data collection.

## Creating Validation Rules

To create a validation rule:

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Navigate to **Data Collection** | **Validation rules**.
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Click **Create validation rule** in the top right. The **Create Validation Rule** dialog is displayed.

'Create Validation Rule' dialog
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Enter a unique **Name** for your validation rule.
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Click **Create**. You can now configure the newly created validation rule (see the following section).
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## Configuring Validation Rules

After creating a validation rule as described in the previous section, the validation rule detail view opens. The first step is to select a rule scope: **Regular** or **Intercompany**. The options available for configuration depend on the selected scope and are described below.

{% warning-box %}
Changing the rule scope after you have already configured fields permanently removes all configurations for the current scope. This action cannot be undone.
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### Regular Rule Scope Options

Regular validation rules apply to the data collected by a single reporting entity. The following options are available:

Detail view of a regular validation rule

#### Configuration

Text area for building the validation rule by combining elements and operators. The system provides autocomplete with available elements grouped by form template. Elements are referenced using their business names (e.g., BalanceSheet.Assets.EndingBalance).

Supported operators include:

- Comparison operators (=, !=, >, <, >=, <=)
- Arithmetic operators (+, -, \*, /)

#### Validation type

Defines the behavior when the validation fails. The following options are available:

- **Blocking:** Data collectors cannot submit their data if the validation fails.
- **Warning:** Shows a warning but allows data collectors to continue and submit their data.

#### Description

Optional text field to explain the purpose of the validation rule. Helps other administrators understand the business logic behind the rule.

### Intercompany Rule Scope Options

Intercompany validation rules compare values between related reporting entities, such as subsidiaries or group companies. The following options are available:

Detail view of an intercompany validation rule

## Select items/accounts

Multi-select drop-down list for choosing one or more items and/or accounts to be reconciled. Items or accounts are organized in a hierarchical tree by form template and table.

## Select column

Single-select drop-down list for specifying the column to use for reconciliation. This field appears only if one or more items and/or accounts are selected and the form template configuration requires a column to be specified.

## Reconciliation configuration

Currency mode used for reconciliation:

- **Reconcile aggregated values in group currency** – Reconciles values after converting them to group currency
- **Reconcile aggregated values in transaction currency** – Reconciles values in their original transaction currency without conversion

## Exchange rate type

Exchange rate type used when converting values to group currency. Options include:

- Average exchange rate
- Closing exchange rate
- Year-to-Date exchange rate

## Validation type

Pre-configured as **Warning** for intercompany validation rules. Shows a warning when a discrepancy is detected but allows data collectors to continue.

## Description

Optional text field to explain the purpose of the validation rule. Helps other administrators understand the business logic behind the rule.

{% info-box %}
Once you have finished configuring the validation rule, it must be **Published** before it can be applied to data collection processes. For more information, see [Publishing a Validation Rule](#publishing-rule).
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## Managing Validation Rules

The validation rules list displays all configured rules with the following information:

Validation rules list

#### Validation rule name

Name of the validation rule

#### State

Current state of the validation rule:

- **Draft**
- **Published**

#### Rule scope

Scope of the rule:

- **Regular**
- **Intercompany**

#### Created on

Creation date

#### Last modified on

Date of the most recent modification

### Editing a Validation Rule

To edit an existing validation rule, click the three-dot menu at the end of the row and select **Edit**.

### Publishing a Validation Rule

When first created, a validation rule is automatically in **Draft** state. While in this state, it can undergo any number of modifications. Once its configuration is finalized, the validation rule must be **Published** before it can be applied to ongoing or future data collection processes.

To publish a validation rule, click **Publish** in the top right of the validation rule detail view.

A published validation rule can only be edited if it is not actively being executed against ongoing data collection processes. Editing a published validation rule automatically brings it back to **Draft** state.

### Deleting a Validation Rule

To delete a validation rule, click the three-dot menu at the end of the row and select **Delete**. In the confirmation dialog, click **Yes, delete**.

{% warning-box %}
Validation rules that apply to forms linked to ongoing data collection processes cannot be deleted.
{% /warning-box %}