Define exactly how the data must be validated before it is accepted upon entry into a table. There are likely to be multiple levels of validation. There will be a minimum level, which defines the minimum set of information required before a new record is accepted.

Subsequent levels of validation may exist for particular subsets of data, which, in turn, are tied to specific optional uses of the table. For example, in the base NAV system, if the manufacturing functionality is not being used, the manufacturing-related fields in the Item Master table do not need to be filled in. However, if they are filled in, they must satisfy certain validation criteria.

As mentioned earlier, the sum total of all the validations that are applied to data when it is entered into a table may not be sufficient to completely validate the data. Depending on the use of the data, there may be additional validations performed during processing, reporting, or inquiries.