Validate an XML file before submission

Every Boarding File Upload XML file must be valid against Fexco’s XSD (XML Schema Definition) schema before you submit it to Fexco via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). If the file is not valid, the entire file is rejected and none of the merchants in it are processed. Validating locally catches structural and data errors before they reach Fexco, saving you a round trip.

Before you start

You need a completed Boarding File Upload XML file ready for validation. See Board merchants via XML for how to build one.

Structural errors versus data errors

The Boarding File Upload utility handles two categories of errors differently.

Error type	What happens	Example
Structural or syntactical error	The entire file is rejected. No merchants are processed.	A missing closing tag, an element in the wrong order, or a field that exceeds its maximum length.
Data error on an individual merchant	The file is accepted. The valid merchants are processed, and the invalid ones are reported in the response file.	An unknown file group ID or a duplicate merchant originator tag.

Validation against the XSD catches structural and syntactical errors before submission. Data errors (such as an unrecognized fileGroupId or rateMarginGroupName) are only detected during server-side processing and appear in the response file.

Reference the XSD in your XML file

Your XML file must reference the Boarding File Upload XSD in the root element. If the xsi:schemaLocation attribute is missing, the file is rejected.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<merchantBulkUpload
  xmlns="http://www.fexco.com"
  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
  xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.fexco.com
    https://reporting.fexcodcc.com/dais/schema/VanillaMBU_V26.1.xsd">

  <!-- merchant data here -->

</merchantBulkUpload>

Omitting the xsi:schemaLocation attribute causes the file to be rejected without any per-merchant error detail.

Validate with the online validator

Paste your XML or upload a file to check it against the Boarding File Upload XSD schema rules. Results appear instantly with no software installation required.

You can also validate your file using any XML validator that supports XSD schema validation. If you do not have the XSD file, contact your Fexco project manager or email FMSservicedesk@fexco.com.

Next steps

Board merchants via XML: return to the full XML boarding guide to submit your validated file.
Troubleshoot merchant boarding: resolve per-merchant data errors that appear in the response file after submission.
XML Boarding File Upload format: look up the full XSD schema source and field specifications.

Getting started

Merchant boarding

Rate service

Transaction import

Android app

Go live

Validate an XML file before submission

Before you start

Structural errors versus data errors

Reference the XSD in your XML file

Validate with the online validator

Next steps