Whatever the cause,prior to performing any substantive tests on a new file, it is important to validate its contents.
Invalid data will distort the test results and may cause a system failure. ACL’s
Verify command analyzes the data fields in the selected file to ensure that their contents
are consistent with the field type in the file definition. Any validity errors detected by
ACL need to be traced to their source and resolved. The auditor may also find batch
control totals to be an effective means of verifying data integrity. For purposes of discussion,
we will assume that the files used in all tests described hereafter have been properly
defined and verified.