Element Input Validation Formula Type

You can use an element input validation formula to validate one or more element entry values. You can also use this formula type to provide a default value for an element entry value.

Additionally, you can calculate entry values based onthe user's entries in other entry values.

You select the formula on the Element Summary page in these fields:

Page Section	Field	Purpose	When Does the Formula Run?
Element Details or Element Eligibility	Validation Formula	Validates one or more entry values for the element based on entries in other entry values.	When you save the element entry.
Element Details or Element Eligibility	Calculation Formula	Provides values for one or more entry values using a calculation formula that takes input from these entry values or other entry values.	When you save the element entry.
Element Details or Element Eligibility	Defaulting Formula	Provides default values for one or more entry values.	When you create the element entry.
Input Value	Validation Formula	Validates one entry value independent of others.	When you enter a value.

Note: A formula at the element eligibility level always overrides an equivalent formula at the element level.

Here are the contexts that are available to all formulas of this type:

LEGISLATIVE_DATA_GROUP_ID
DATE_EARNED
EFFECTIVE_DATE

These contexts are available to formulas only at element or element eligibility level; they aren’t available to validation formulas at the input value level:

PERSON_ID
PAYROLL_RELATIONSHIP_ID
PAYROLL_TERM_ID
PAYROLL_ASSIGNMENT_ID
HR_RELATIONSHIP_ID
HR_TERM_ID
HR_ASSIGNMENT_ID

Here are the input variables that are available to formulas of this type.

Formula Usage	Input Variables	Comments
Validation formula at input value level	`entry_value`	Passes the value to be validated. You must declare the input variable as the appropriate type for the element input value.
Validation formula at element or element eligibility level	Any element input value name that corresponds to an entry value.	Replace spaces in the input value name with underscores in the input variable name. It doesn't matter whether you use uppercase or lowercase for the name.
Defaulting formula	None	Use database items or other logic instead.
Calculation formula	Any element input value name of an entry value.	Replace spaces with underscores. You need not provide all of the available entry values.

Here are the return values that are available to formulas of this type.

Formula Usage	Return Values	Comments
Validation formula at any level.	`formula_status`	Must be either 'S' (success) or 'E' (error). Required.
Validation formula at any level.	`formula_message`	The text of the message is passed to the user if the validation fails. Optional.
Defaulting formula	Any element input value name of an entry value.	A return value overrides any default value that’s provided on the input value in the element or element eligibility record.
Calculation formula	Any element input value name of an entry value.	You don't need to return all of the available entry values. You can return the entry values that were passed as input variables or other entry values.

Here are a few sample formula that you can use:

Validation formula at input value level
Validation formula at element or element eligibility level
Calculation formula at element or element eligibility level
Defaulting formula at element or element eligibility level

Validation formula at input value level:

inputs are entry_value(date)
if(entry_value = '01-APR-2008' (date)) then
(
formula_message = 'Valid date'
formula_status = 'S'
)
else(formula_message = 'Invalid date'
formula_status = 'E'
)
return formula_message, formula_status

Validation formula at element or element eligibility level:

inputs are hours_worked, rate, earning_date(date), comment(text)
if(hours_worked > 80) then
(
formula_message = 'You are within the working limit.
'formula_status = 'S'
)
else
(
formula_message = 'You have worked too many hours.
'formula_status = 'E'
)
return formula_message, formula_status

Calculation formula at element or element eligibility level:

inputs are hours_worked, rate, comment(text)
if(hours_worked > 80) then
(
rate = rate * 1.2 
comment = 'Your rate has been increased'
)
return rate, comment

Defaulting formula at element or element eligibility level:

if(CATEGORY = 'S') then
(
rate = 20
)
else
(
rate = 30
)
rate_code = 'B'
return rate, rate_code