Garbage in - garbage out has become a computer cliché. It refers to collected data that becomes worthless if there is no coordination of how data is entered into the database. To combat this problem, Student Manager uses data validation tools to ensure information conforms with rules set up for specific data elements. Some of these rules are built into Student Manager:
- You can not enter an invalid date such as April 31st.
- Each name record must have a unique ID number.
- Each course record must have a unique Course Code.
- A course must exist in the database before you can register anyone in the course.
- A registration must exist in the database before you can make a payment to the registration.
- Codes for validated fields must be defined (added to the field's Code list) before they can be used in records.
Field Validation
Many of the fields in Student Manager are automatically validated. Most
of the validated fields have drop down menus from which you select the
appropriate code (access menu with the Down Arrow 
button
to the right of the appropriate field).
Other validated fields have pink hash marks to the right of the field (these are usually fields which have too many codes to display in a drop down menu).
In these fields, you type in the code then tab out of the field. The system brings up the search list of records that may match. You can press the ESC key if none match and the system will ask if you want to create a new record:
Some fields offer optional validation (e.g. Department field on Course, Salutation on Names). Validation will only occur in these fields if the Validate option is enabled. Enable data validation in these fields on the module's Preferences Tab.
