PIES XML Validator Find the problem before your trading partner does. Record by record.
Auto Plus, by Rivers Edge, includes a PIES XML validator that checks every segment of your product data against the PIES schema, the Product Attribute Database (PAdb) and the PCdb, on import and again before export. It is also where the file is built: every segment, created and maintained in one place, then exported as PIES XML.
Spreadsheets cannot tell you a PIES file is wrong.
Most product data starts in a spreadsheet, and a spreadsheet accepts anything typed into it. It cannot check an attribute against the PAdb. It cannot tell you that a part type does not exist in the PCdb, or that a digital asset points at a file that is not there. Those problems surface later, when a trading partner rejects the file.
Validation belongs where the data is kept. In Auto Plus the check runs when data comes in and again before anything goes out, and each problem is shown on the record that has it.
Three levels of attribute checking.
Attributes are where most PIES files go wrong, because the right answer depends on the part type.
The part type
The Part Type ID declared on the item decides everything that follows. It has to be a real PCdb part type.
The attribute IDs it allows
Each part type has its own set of valid PAdb attribute IDs. An attribute that is right for a brake pad is not valid on a filter.
The valid values
Some attributes carry a defined list of valid values. The value has to be one of them, not a near match typed by hand.
Every segment, built in one place.
| Segment | What it carries |
|---|---|
| Item | The product record: part number, Brand ID and part type |
| Description | Multiple description codes, each with its own commercial purpose |
| Price and Price Sheet | Line-item pricing tied to structured price sheets |
| Extended information (EXPI) | Country of origin, HTS classification, warranty terms and more |
| Attribute | Technical specifications, validated against the PAdb |
| Package | Dimensions and quantity per package, with Hazmat and EPR |
| Interchange | Cross-references to OEM and other brands' part numbers |
| Kit | Component relationships for kits and bundles |
| Digital asset | Images, installation guides, documents and video references |
| Marketing copy | Brand-level marketing content |
From source data to an accepted file.
Bring the data in
Import PIES XML files, flat-file templates, or your own Excel, CSV and text files through the mapper. No XML is needed on your side to get started.
See what is wrong
Each file is validated on the way in. The data lands in your Auto Plus Microsoft SQL Server database, where it can be reviewed and edited.
Fill the gaps
Create and maintain the segments your source never had: descriptions, attributes, packages, interchange, kits and digital assets.
Validate and export
Every segment is checked again before export. What leaves is PIES XML in version 7.0 through 8.0, with header and trailer, ready for your trading partners to import. A normalized flat file is available too.
- On your own system. Auto Plus is installed on a Windows PC or server you already have. Your product data is not uploaded to a website to be checked.
- Your own subscription. Validation uses the Auto Care reference databases you subscribe to.
- Beyond the minimum. The standard asks for three fields on an item. Passing that check is not the same as giving a trading partner something to sell with.
PIES validation questions.
How do I create a PIES XML file?
Product data is entered or imported, organized into the PIES segments, validated, and exported as XML. In Auto Plus you can import existing PIES XML or flat files, create and maintain every segment, and export a validated PIES XML file with its header and trailer.
What does a PIES XML validator check?
That the file follows the PIES schema, that each part type exists in the PCdb, and that attributes are valid in the PAdb for the item's part type. Auto Plus checks every segment on import and again before export, and shows problems at the record level.
Which PIES version does Auto Plus support?
Rivers Edge is current on PIES 8.0, which adds the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) child segment under Package, alongside Hazmat.
Is this a free online PIES validator?
No. The validator is part of Auto Plus, which is installed on a Windows PC or server you already have. Your data is checked on your own system against your own Auto Care subscription. A demo with your own data shows what it finds.
Can I start from a spreadsheet instead of XML?
Yes. Auto Plus brings PIES data in from flat-file templates, and from your own Excel (.xls, .xlsx), CSV and pipe- or tab-delimited text files through its mapper, so no XML is needed on your side to get started.
Bring the PIES file you send today.
Schedule a demo and see what the validator finds in your own product data, and what a complete file looks like.