Providing More Detailed Error Messages

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 40 views

Introduction

In the context of data validation, ensuring that all required targets are present in a table is crucial. However, in certain situations, the check_tbl_values_required() function may not catch missing required targets. This article aims to investigate this issue and provide insights into the possible causes and solutions.

Background

The check_tbl_values_required() function is used to validate the presence of required targets in a table. It takes several parameters, including the table to be validated, the round ID, file path, hub path, and derived task IDs. In the provided example, the function is called with the following parameters:

hubValidations::check_tbl_values_required(tbl_chr, round_id = "2023-11-12", file_path = "2023-11-12-team4-modeld.parquet", hub_path = "../exp", derived_task_ids = NULL)

The Issue

The issue arises when the input table contains only quantile output for one optional target (cum hosp) and missing the required sample output for the required target (inc hosp). Despite this, the check_tbl_values_required() function does not return any errors.

Code Snippet

The code snippet provided demonstrates the issue:

df <- arrow::read_parquet("../exp/model-output/team4-modeld/2023-11-12-team4-modeld.parquet")
tbl_chr <- hubData::coerce_to_character(df)
table(df$target, df$output_type)
          
 #>           quantile
 #>  cum hosp     6900
hubValidations::check_tbl_values_required(tbl_chr, round_id = "2023-11-12", file_path = "2023-11-12-team4-modeld.parquet", hub_path = "../exp", derived_task_ids = NULL)
#> <message/check_success>
#> Message:
#> Required task ID/output type/output type ID combinations all present.

tasks.json File

The required part of the tasks.json file is also provided:

"model_tasks":[
				{
					"task_ids":
					{
						"origin_date":{
							"required":["2023-11-12"],
							"optional":null
						},
						"scenario_id":{
							"required":["A-2023-10-27","B-2023-10-27","C-2023-10-27","D-2023-10-27","E-2023-10-27"],
							"optional": null
						},
						"target":{
							"required":["inc hosp"],
							"optional":null
						},
						"horizon":{
							"required":[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10],
							"optional":null
						},"location":{
							"required":null,
							"optional":["US","06","08"]
						},"age_group":{
							"required":["65-130","0-130"],
							"optional":["5-17"]
						}
					},
					"output_type":{
						"sample":{
							"output_type_id_params": {
								"type": "integer",
							    "min_samples_per_task": 100,
							    "max_samples_per_task": 200,
							    "compound_taskid_set": ["origin_date", "scenario_id", "target", "location"]
							},
							"value":{
								"type":"double",
								"minimum":0
							},
							"is_required": true
						}
					},

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

Incorrect Parameters: The check_tbl_values_required() function may not be called with the correct parameters, leading to incorrect results.
Missing Required Targets: The input table may not contain the required sample output for the required target (inc hosp), causing the function to return no errors.
Incorrect Output Type: The output type of the required target may not be set to sample, which is required for the check_tbl_values_required() function to work correctly.

Solutions

To resolve this issue, the following solutions can be implemented:

Verify Parameters: Ensure that the check_tbl_values_required() function is called with the correct parameters, including the table to be validated, round ID, file path, hub path, and derived task IDs.
Check Required Targets: Verify that the input table contains the required sample output for the required target (inc hosp).
Set Correct Output Type: Ensure that the output type of the required target is set to sample.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the check_tbl_values_required() function may not catch missing required targets in certain situations. This issue can be caused by incorrect parameters, missing required targets, or incorrect output types. By verifying the parameters, checking required targets, and setting the correct output type, this issue can be resolved.

Future Work

Future work can include:

Improving the check_tbl_values_required() Function: Enhance the function to catch missing required targets in all situations.
Providing More Detailed Error Messages: Improve the error messages returned by the function to provide more detailed information about the issue.
Implementing Additional Validation Checks: Add additional validation checks to ensure that the input table meets all the required conditions.

References

check_tbl_values_required() function documentation
tasks.json file documentation
R programming language documentation
Q&A: Missing Required Target Not Caught by check_tbl_values_required() ====================================================================

Q: What is the purpose of the `check_tbl_values_required()` function?

A: The check_tbl_values_required() function is used to validate the presence of required targets in a table. It checks if all required task ID/output type/output type ID combinations are present in the table.

Q: What are the possible causes of the issue where the `check_tbl_values_required()` function does not catch missing required targets?

A: There are several possible causes for this issue:

Incorrect Parameters: The check_tbl_values_required() function may not be called with the correct parameters, leading to incorrect results.
Missing Required Targets: The input table may not contain the required sample output for the required target (inc hosp), causing the function to return no errors.
Incorrect Output Type: The output type of the required target may not be set to sample, which is required for the check_tbl_values_required() function to work correctly.

Q: How can I verify that the `check_tbl_values_required()` function is called with the correct parameters?

A: To verify that the check_tbl_values_required() function is called with the correct parameters, you can:

Check the function call in your code to ensure that all required parameters are included.
Verify that the table to be validated is correctly passed to the function.
Ensure that the round ID, file path, hub path, and derived task IDs are correctly specified.

Q: How can I check if the input table contains the required sample output for the required target (`inc hosp`)?

A: To check if the input table contains the required sample output for the required target (inc hosp), you can:

Use the table() function to display the output types present in the table.
Verify that the required target (inc hosp) has a sample output type.
Check if the sample output type is correctly set to sample.

Q: How can I ensure that the output type of the required target is set to `sample`?

A: To ensure that the output type of the required target is set to sample, you can:

Check the tasks.json file to verify that the output type is correctly set to sample.
Use the output_type parameter in the check_tbl_values_required() function to specify the output type.
Ensure that the output type is correctly set in the table.

Q: What are the benefits of using the `check_tbl_values_required()` function?

A: The benefits of using the check_tbl_values_required() function include:

Improved Data Quality: The function helps to ensure that the input table meets all the required conditions, improving data quality.
Reduced Errors: The function reduces the likelihood of errors caused by missing required targets or incorrect output types.
Increased Efficiency: The function saves time and effort by automating the validation process.

Q: Can I customize the `check_tbl_values_required()` function to meet my specific needs?

A: Yes, you can customize the check_tbl_values_required() function to meet your specific needs by:

Modifying the function code to include additional validation checks.
Specifying custom parameters to suit your requirements.
Using the function in conjunction with other validation functions to create a comprehensive validation process.

Q: Where can I find more information about the `check_tbl_values_required()` function?

A: You can find more information about the check_tbl_values_required() function in the following resources:

Function Documentation: The official documentation for the check_tbl_values_required() function provides detailed information about its usage and parameters.
Online Forums: Online forums and communities dedicated to R programming and data validation can provide valuable insights and solutions to common issues.
R Documentation: The official R documentation provides comprehensive information about the language, including functions, data types, and best practices.