Version History:

15 May 2026
AGS 3.1 Rules Checker - Version 2.0.0

Major Update - Cross Reference Validation & Reporting Enhancements
New in Version 2.0.0
- Added complete cross-reference validation for ABBR, CODE, DICT and UNIT groups
- Added validation for AGS standard and user-defined headings
- Added detection of unused ABBR, CODE, DICT and UNIT definitions
- Added export filtering by Error / Warning / Information levels
- Improved non-ASCII character reporting and validation messages
- Improved checking accuracy, performance and overall usability

15 June 2026
AGS 3.1 Rules Checker - Version 2.0.1

Maintenance Update: Improved Handling of Valid NA Codes
New in Version 2.0.1:
- Improved handling of NA when defined as a valid determinand code in the CODE group, for example "NA","Sodium".
- Prevented an incorrect Rule 15 warning that treated NA as a null placeholder when used in CNMT_TYPE or ICCT_TYPE.
- Prevented an incorrect information message stating that the referenced NA CODE definition was unused.
- Retained CODE validation: NA must still be defined in the CODE group before use.
- Existing AGS validation rules remain unchanged. This update only removes false warning and information messages for valid CODE definitions such as NA.

04 August 2026
AGS 3.1 Rules Checker - Version 2.0.2

- Fixed false-positive errors and warnings when checking valid user-defined AGS groups and headings.
- Improved validation of custom group keys, parent-group references, and `**DICT` definitions.
- Improved `?DICT_PGRP` validation: it is required on `GROUP` rows and must be blank on `HEADING` rows.
- Added Notepad++ line navigation. Double-click the `Line` cell in the findings list to open the AGS file directly at the reported line.
- Existing AGS validation rules remain unchanged.

Fix DICT_PGRP validation and update AGS generation template

- Treat Addendum-defined ?DICT_PGRP as the standard DICT parent-group field.
- Prevent false DICT errors when no self-definition row exists for ?DICT_PGRP.
- Require the parent group on DICT GROUP rows and leave it blank on HEADING rows.
- Update GTS_AGS.xls custom group definitions:
  - GROUP rows use the corresponding DICT_GRP group name as the parent group.
  - HEADING rows leave ?DICT_PGRP blank.
- Update version 2.0.2 release notes.
- Rebuild the version 2.0.2 installation package.

*Notepad++ must be installed for direct line navigation.*


14/08/2026
AGS Rules Checker - Version 2.1.0
Major Update - AGS 4 Support
Version 2.1.0 adds support for AGS 4 while retaining the existing AGS 3.1 checker.

What is new:
- Added validation for AGS 4.1.1 and AGS 4.2 using version-specific standard dictionaries.
- Added Automatic format detection and manual AGS 3.1, AGS 4.1.1 and AGS 4.2 selection.
- Added AGS 4 checking for groups, headings, required fields, keys, parent references, record links, units, abbreviations, data types, DICT definitions and associated files.
- Improved AGS 4.1.1 handling for standard groups including ELRG, FGHG and RCAG.
- Corrected DICT_PGRP validation for user-defined AGS 4 groups and headings.
- Reduced repeated UNIT and ABBR findings by reporting each missing definition once.
- Added information messages for TYPE definitions that are not used by the data groups.
- Added the detected AGS format to the results list, CSV exports and generated reports.

The existing AGS 3.1 validation engine remains unchanged.

Version 2.1.0 can be installed over the previous version. The installer will automatically remove the earlier installed version.