We have enhanced the COUNTER Release 5 Validation Tool, adding checks that were previously missing. We would encourage all content providers to test their reports again, because the improved tool can now identify additional issues.
The upgraded Validation Tool now detects if metrics are missing or if the counts don’t make sense. For example, the Validation Tool will detect when there are less Total_Item_Requests than Unique_Item_Requests for a title (which would be a critical error). Please note that it is only possible to fully check if Unique_Title metrics are missing when the Data_Type is known, i.e. only for Master Reports with Data_Type included, TR_B1 and TR_B3.
This update includes:
The COUNTER Release 5 Validation Tool tests compliance of COUNTER reports delivered in tabular format or delivered in XML via SUSHI. Users upload COUNTER reports to the Validation Tool for testing. The Validation Tool highlights errors and provides a report to the tester.
The Validation Tool is freely available for all to use. Users are asked to self-registration, so that we can track usage and to improve error reporting.
Publishers and vendors implementing Release 5 can catch and correct errors before release. The result is more efficient deployment.
COUNTER auditors also use the Validation Tool in the audit process.