INPUT

CONTROLS
(CONT.)

CAASI, KIERYL ANN E.

Hash Totals
The term hash total refers to a simple control
technique that uses nonfinancial data to keep
track of the records in a batch.
Any key field, such as a customers account
number, a purchase order number, or an
inventory item number, may be used to
calculate a hash total.

Validation Controls
Input validation controls are intended to
detect errors in transaction data before the
data are processed.
Validation procedures are most effective when
they are performed as close to the source of
the transaction as possible.

There are
three levels
of input
validation
controls:

Field interrogation
Record interrogation
File interrogation

Field Interrogation
It involves
programmed
procedures
that examine
the
characteristic
s of the data
in the field.

Missing data checks are used to examine the contents

of a field for the presence of blank spaces.
Numeric-alphabetic data checks determine whether
the correct form of data is in a field.
Zero-value checks are used to verify that certain fields
are filled with zeros.
Limit checks determine if the value in the field exceeds
an authorized limit.
Range checks assign upper and lower limits to
acceptable data values.
Validity checks compare actual values in a field against
known acceptable values.
Check digit controls identify keystroke errors in key
fields by testing the internal validity of the code

Record Interrogation
procedures
validate the
entire record
by
examining
the
interrelations
hip of its field
values.

Reasonableness checks determine if a value in one

field, which has already passed a limit check and a range
check, is reasonable when considered along with other
data field in the record.
Sign checks are tests to see if the sign of a field is
correct for the type of record being processed.
Sequence checks are used to determine if a record is
out of order.

File Interrogation
The purpose
of file
interrogatio
n is to
ensure that
the correct
file is being
processed
by the
system.

Internal label checks verify that the file processed is the

one the program is actually calling for.
Version checks are used to verify that the version of the
file being processed is correct.
An expiration date check prevents a file from being
deleted before it expires.