Feed validation tool

  • An open-source feed validator is available to provide specific, actionable feedback beyond basic XML validation.

  • The validator supports pre-election data, election results, and officeholder feed types, with tailored rule sets for each.

  • Validation checks encompass three levels: errors (must be fixed), warnings (should be addressed), and informational messages (optional improvements).

  • Utilizing the validator ensures your feed is optimized for Google's ingestion process and enhances the user experience.

We maintain an open-source feed validator designed to provide specific, actionable feedback beyond simple XML validation. The validator is available through the standard Python package management tool:

bash:~$ pip install civics_cdf_validator

The following example shows how to use it:

bash:~$ civics_cdf_validator validate your_feed.xml --xsd civics_cdf_specx.xsd --rule_set=RULE_SET

For a list of common commands, see README.

Supported feed types

The validator supports the following feed types:

  • Pre-election data
  • Election results
  • Officeholder

To make sure you don't miss some validation rules, specify your feed type with RULE_SET:

Feed type RULE_SET value
Officeholder OFFICEHOLDER
Pre-election data / Election results ELECTION

Levels of validation checks

The feed validation tool runs three classes of checks:

  • Error: If you see any errors, Google can't parse the file. Eliminate all error messages from your feeds before you send your data. If you need assistance to address your error messages, file a bug in your component.

  • Warning: Warnings flag scenarios that aren't supposed to happen, aren't great user experiences, or are likely errors that need to be fixed. For example, a warning is given if you provide candidate names in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Try to fix all of the warnings given, and expect for us to ask follow-up questions if the validator identifies warnings in a feed.

  • Info: Info messages indicate scenarios that don't affect the automated ingestion of a feed or the user experience but that help someone read and understand the layout of your data. Fixing info messages is optional.