STAR Releases XML Instance Validation Site

MCLEAN, Va., January 28, 2008 -- Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR), a global information technology (IT) standards body for the retail automotive industry, has published an online XML instance validation site.

The STAR XML Instance Validation site was developed for the purposes of member testing. This site provides members with a simple way to verify that their XML instances are STAR compliant. Members are able to upload an XML instance and validate against published STAR schema. The site will then provide a validation report indicating a success or failure. If the instance fails validation detailed error report will be generated.

According to Troy Coombs, Senior Systems Analyst for Quorum, “When working with multiple integration partners, each using its own schema validation tools that may validate schema a little differently, it’s nice to have access to a common, shared validation tool such as the STAR BOD Validation site to eliminate validation issues due to the tools being used versus true schema issues in the xml, this saves time that would otherwise be spent trying to determine which tool is validating the schema correctly and which isn’t.”

Perry Sugerman of Navistar added, “The STAR Validation Instance site addresses one of the more difficult and bothersome barriers to system implementation. By automating XML validation, the STAR Validation Instance site ends needless discussions about the syntax of STAR business objects. We can now complete our work and move on to the next effort more quickly.”

The STAR XML Instance Validation site is located on the STAR website at www.starstandard.org and is freely available to the public.

About STAR (www.starstandard.org)

Source: STAR

The Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization is the Information Technology (IT) standards organization for the retail automotive industry. STAR is leading the effort to implement voluntary IT standards throughout the automotive industry. These standards are designed to support business information needs and provide secure and reliable means for dealers, manufacturers, and retail system providers to communicate. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, STAR is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and its members include Dealers, Manufacturers and Retail System Providers (RSPs). As members, they are interested in developing, promoting, and administering voluntary IT standards in the retail automotive industry and improving the effectiveness, timeliness and competitiveness of the IT solutions needed within the retail automotive industry.

STAR membership roster:

Dealer Groups:

NADA

Retail System Providers:

ADP, Advent Resources, Inc., AIAG, American Financial Services Association, Arkona, AutoDESA, Auto/Mate, Inc., CIECA, DealerTrack, Karmak, Motorcycle Industry Council, National Marine Manufacturer's Association, OAGI, Object Management Group (OMG), Oxlo Systems, PBS Financial Systems Inc., PROCEDE Software, Quorum Information Systems, Reynolds & Reynolds, RouteOne, T-Systems North America, Inc., Unipart Automotive Logistics, Wipro Technologies

Manufacturers:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. American Suzuki Motor Corp. BMW of North America, Inc. DaimlerChrysler Freightliner, LLC Ford Motor Company General Motors Corp. Navistar International Corporation Jaguar Cars Mazda North American Operations Nissan North America, Inc PACCAR, Inc Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Renault Toyota Motor Sales, USA