VALIDATION UTILITY TOOL (for MDS 3.0 ASSESSMENTS) (Updated 08/12/2022) The file SetupVUT.zip allows users to install Validation Utility Tool. For assistance with this download, please contact the QTSO Help Desk using the following information: E-Mail: iqies@cms.hhs.gov Phone: (800)339-9313 Fax: (888)477-7871 The Validation Utility Tool (VUT) is a software utility that can be used to validate MDS 3.0 submission files in XML format. The VUT attempts to enforce the edits that are mapped to the MDS 3 items, as published in the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications. The initial VUT release incorporates the V1.00.3 Specifications plus the errata identified as of 6/7/2010. The second release added ICD-9 lookup, support for state-defined quarterly items, bug fixes from the issues document, and errata updates as of 7/31/2010. The third release consists of bug fixes from the issues document. The fourth release turns off Section S for AK, comprehensive questions for quarterlies performed by CT, and enhances the Command-Line mode. The fifth release, Version 1.1, incorporates Version 1.1 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications and a couple of bug fixes. The sixth release fixes a bug with edit -3810. The seventh release contains a revised Section S XML file with MA Section S dropped and one item dropped for MS. The eighth release drops one item for Nebraska Section S and fixes three bugs. The ninth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.10. The tenth release resolves a bug discovered during testing for the jRAVEN 1.1.4 release. The eleventh release addresses a flaw discovered in the specifications for item Q0600. The twelfth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.11. The thirteenth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.12. The fourteenth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.13.2. The fifteenth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.14. The sixteenth release corrects a bug in enforcing the lengths of the S8510 and S8512 items. It also removes edits -3855 and -3856, per CMS instructions. The seventeenth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 1.15. In addition, a new command-line parameter, NOSETUP, was added to allow users of listener mode to bypass the VUT UI screen (using the parameters established in VUT.XML). The eighteenth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 2.00. The nineteenth release corrects the available Section S items for FL, as well as removing Section F items for SD that were previously included on partial quarterlies. The twentieth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 2.01. In addition, the ICD-9 and ICD-10 lookup functionality has been discontinued, per direction from CMS. The VUT will continue to validate the format of ICD codes, but will not compare assessment ICDs to the official list. The twenty-first release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 2.02. The twenty-second release fixed a bug in edit -3884. The twenty-third release removes edit -3907, and updates edit -3897, per errata Version 2.02.4. The twenty-fourth release contains the changes for the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications Version 3.00. The twenty-fifth release contains a bug fix for entering the item S2040 for the state of VA, as well as revisions to edits -3963, -3884 and -3890 per the errata for the final specs. The twenty-sixth release contains the removal of edit -3941 and the addition of edit -3965 (per the updated errata for the final specs), as well as a bug fix for processing inactivations where X0600F has the values 11 or 12. The twenty-seventh release adds support for the new ICD-10 code U07.1 as a valid code beginning 04/01/2020. The twenty-eighth release incorporates revisions for issues 06 through 16 from errata 3.00.5. The twenty-ninth release incorporates revisions for issue 17 from errata 3.00.6, as well as new ICD codes defined beginning 01/01/2021. The thirtieth release turns off validation of Section S items for VT, beginning 10/01/2021; it also includes the valid FY2022 ICD codes for I0020B. The thirty-first release includes the valid FY2023 ICD codes for I0020B, as well as the remapping of GG discharge items to a different warning edit for use of the dash (the two most recent issues in the errata 3.00.8). INSTALLATION AND SETUP To install the software, run SetupVUT.exe. By default, the VUT will be installed to C:\Program Files\Validation Utility Tool. A Validation Utility Group program group will be created under Start Menu->Programs, and a shortcut will be created for the Windows Desktop. The VUT can be run in two different modes: Listener and Command-Line. LISTENER MODE If no parameters are supplied to the VUT executable, the VUT operates in Listener mode. In this mode, the VUT monitors the files available in a user-specified directory, detects if there are XML files to be validated, then processes them and writes the results to a user-specified output directory. After starting the VUT, a single screen is presented to the user, allowing the input and output directories to be specified. In addition, the user can specify how long the VUT should sleep (i.e., wait) before checking the input directory for additional XML files to process. This feature can enhance the performance of the host PC, so that the VUT is not constantly processing. Note that, by default, the input directory is a subdirectory "Assessments" under the VUT installation directory, and the output directory is a subdirectory "Results" under the VUT installation directory. If these are the desired directories, then the user will need read/write permissions to these directories. Also note that the results filename is the same name as the input filename, but with "_results" appended to the filename. For example, if the VUT processes "test.xml", then the validation results are written to "test_results.xml" After specifying the directories and the sleep time, press the Go! button to begin assessment processing. Initially, the VUT needs to load the MDS 3.0 specifications into memory for use in checking the assessments - this will take a few seconds, and a message indicating that the specifications are loading appears in the VUT screen status bar. Then the VUT will search the input directory for XML files that do not already have a corresponding results XML file in the output directory. For example, if "test.xml" and "test2.xml" are present in the input directory, and "test_results.xml" is already present in the output directory, the VUT will process only "test2.xml" and produce a "test2_results.xml". After processing the files in the input directory, the VUT will sleep in accordance with the amount of time specified on the VUT screen. The user can see when the VUT will make its next check by seeing the scheduled time displayed in the VUT status bar. The VUT can be stopped from further processing by clicking the Cancel button. The VUT can be unloaded from memory by clicking the X button in the top right-hand corner. NEW!!! A new parameter, NOSETUP, was added to bypass the VUT screen for listener mode. Launch the VUT using "VUT NOSETUP" and the VUT will use the parameters in VUT.XML. COMMAND-LINE MODE The VUT can also be used to process a single assessment XML file without remaining in memory. Two parameters must be specified: the path/filename of the input file and the path where the output file should be written. For example, if a command line window is opened to the VUT installation directory, then executing the command VUT C:\test.xml C:\temp will write the results file "C:\temp\test_results.xml" Note that in command-line mode, since the VUT does not stay in memory, it must load the MDS 3 specifications into memory each time it is executed. Therefore, it will be slower to generate the results file in comparison to listener mode. NOTE: The VUT no longer supports ICD-9 and ICD-10 lookup checking, per CMS direction. For backward compatibility, the VUT will not report an error if the old ICD9 parameter is included in the command line. However, the ICD lookup will not be performed. 09/01/2010 RELEASE NOTES The VUT also has a list of the Section S items to be included for each state, and will enforce edit -3808. Note that -3808 messages are warning messages. There are a few edits that the VUT cannot support, because they are edits against existing ASAP system data. Since the VUT does not interface with ASAP, it cannot confirm those edits. The flu season date checks have been suspended by CMS and are therefore disabled in the VUT. For states that have defined additional items added to their quarterly assessments, the VUT now checks to ensure these additional items are active and valid. The VUT does not currently interface with the RUGS III and IV DLLs – therefore, it does not recalculate and confirm that RUG values are correct. 11/04/2010 RELEASE NOTES When using the VUT in Command-Line mode, the VUT now fully qualifies the output path (if it isn't already). For example, if the command line has "C:\TEMP" for the output path, the VUT will attempt to write the results file to C:\TEMP\. The Alaska Section S items have been removed from the section_s.xml used by the VUT. The VUT was previously configured to validate comprehensive questions (minus G0900 and Section V) for NQ and NP assessments in Connecticut. The state_optional.xml has been changed to remove the extra comprehensive questions, as Connecticut is performing standard NQ and NP assessments. 03/03/2011 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports both version 1.0 and 1.01 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications. The itm_mstr, itm_val and rltn_itm_txt.xml files have been updated accordingly. The Section S and State Optional XML files have been updated to contain the items that will be active as of 04/01/2011. Edit -3702 now recognizes actual blank values as well as ^ when enforcing required text fields (e.g., A0500C). The age calculation used in edit -3778 did not calculate the number of years correctly in rare instances. This bug has been fixed. 03/11/2011 RELEASE NOTES There was a bug in the implementation of one of the conditions of edit -3810. The bug has been fixed. 03/29/2011 RELEASE NOTES The Section S XML file contained items for MA and MS that were dropped. The XML file has been updated. 04/05/2011 RELEASE NOTES Section S item S0183 was removed for Nebraska. In a few situations, SPEC_VRSN_CD was reporting an invalid value warning. This bug has been fixed, The versioning of item values was incorrect for Section S items (e.g., the VUT was reporting an error for item S0102 if the value 9 was used in an assessment with target date earlier than 04/01). This bug has been fixed. The calculation for number of days between two dates was occasionally faulty. The cause was a rounding issue when using UTC time in milliseconds for the calculation. This bug has been fixed. 09/01/2011 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.02 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0 and 1.01 for older assessments. The 2011-2012 ICD-9 codes have been incorporated into the VUT. 02/08/2012 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.10 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01 and 1.02 for older assessments. 03/14/2012 RELEASE NOTES During testing for jRAVEN 1.1.4, a bug was discovered in the implementation of edit -3749, parts d and e. Those checks were set for 14 days instead of 13. The bug has been corrected. 04/30/2012 RELEASE NOTES A flaw in the 1.1.0 MDS 3 specifications was discovered regarding item Q0600. Previously, this item was part of a skip pattern, so the caret (^) was a valid value. However, the skip pattern became inactive as of 04/01/2012. Q0600 is a mandatory item when active; therefore, the caret has been removed as a valid value. 09/18/2012 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.11 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02 and 1.10 for older assessments. In Listener Mode, the VUT now "remembers" the last directories specified for Assessments and Results, as well as the Sleep Time. Therefore, the user should not be required to re-specify these directories each time the VUT is executed. 01/29/2013 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.12 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10 and 1.11 for older assessments. A bug was discovered in the enforcement of edit -3820 for item Q0490, which affected assessments on or after 10/01/2012. The bug has been fixed in this release. 08/13/2013 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.13.2 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12 for older assessments. Fixed a bug that resulted in incorrect values for the tags in the VUT results file for an edit with I7900 concerning None of the Above. 10/01/2014 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.14 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12 and 1.13.2 for older assessments. 12/11/2014 RELEASE NOTES A bug in enforcing the lengths of the S8510 and S8512 items was corrected. Edits -3855 and -3856 have been removed, per the latest errata for the MDS 3 Data Specifications. 04/24/2015 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 1.15 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13.2 and 1.14 for older assessments. A new command-line parameter, NOSETUP, was added to allow users of listener mode to bypass the VUT UI screen (using the parameters established in VUT.XML). 06/24/2016 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 2.00 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13.2, 1.14 and 1.15 for older assessments. 09/07/2016 RELEASE NOTES This maintenance release addresses two issues. There were 4 items that had not been removed for Section S in Florida as of 10/01/2016: S1000, S1001, S6200 and S6210. Also, several Section F items were inadvertently left enabled for partial quarterlies in South Dakota as of 10/01/2016. These issues have been fixed. 10/01/2017 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 2.01 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13.2, 1.14, 1.15 and 2.00 for older assessments. The ICD-9 and ICD-10 lookup functionality has been discontinued, per direction from CMS. ICDs will continue to be checked for format errors. 10/01/2018 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 2.02 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13.2, 1.14, 1.15, 2.00 and 2.01 for older assessments. After the initial production release, a maintenance release corrected a bug in edit -3884. A second maintenance release removed edit -3907 and updated edit -3897. 10/01/2019 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports version 3.00 of the MDS 3 Data Specifications, while continuing to support versions 1.0, 1.01, 1.02, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13.2, 1.14, 1.15, 2.00, 2.01 and 2.02 for older assessments. A bug fix was made after the initial release for entering the item S2040 for the state of VA, and there were revisions to edits -3963, -3884 and -3890 per the errata for the final specs. A second follow-up release contains the removal of edit -3941 and the addition of edit -3965 (per the updated errata for the final specs), as well as a bug fix for processing inactivations where X0600F has the values 11 or 12. 04/01/2020 RELEASE NOTES The VUT now supports the new ICD-10 code U07.1 as a valid code beginning 04/01/2020. 10/01/2020 RELEASE NOTES The VUT was revised to address issues 06 through 16 from errata 3.00.5. 01/07/2021 RELEASE NOTES The VUT was revised to address issue 17 from errata 3.00.6, as well as new ICD codes defined beginning 01/01/2021. 09/07/2021 RELEASE NOTES The VUT was revised to turn off validation of Section S items for VT, beginning 10/01/2021; it also includes the valid FY2022 ICD codes for I0020B. 09/07/2022 RELEASE NOTES The VUT was revised to include the valid FY2023 ICD codes for I0020B, as well as the remapping of GG discharge items to a different warning edit for use of the dash (the two most recent issues in the errata 3.00.8).