For orienteering events you can validate BO membership as people enter your event.

Setup the Event >> Entry Settings >> Entry Form Settings

Under most circumstances you would select level 2 “strict”. Only memberships that are current for the year of the event are allowed to enter as affiliated.

Level 1 “lapsed” may be suitable for events early in the new year. Use it if you are happy for those who are still to renew their membership are allowed to enter as affiliated.

The validation is a three step process (see below) and relies on matching the details on the entry form with the BO membership database. These items are used for the validation (fieldname in brackets):

• First name (givenName)
• Surname (familyName)
• Year of birth (yearOfBirth or dob)
• Membership number (federationID)

For validation to work these four items  and the federationMember item must be “Included” and “Mandatory” on the form. The federationID must be “Non-member exempt”:

The validation takes place when the entry form is saved. If valid the entry is saved and the fee calculated. If not valid, the customer receives this feedback:

and will need to correct the details or enter as a non-member.

The Validation Process

If you are interested in what checks take place, read on.

Checks are made in order until a match is made:

• Check 1 – For this member number, is there a match for first name and year of birth?
• Check 2 – For this member number, is there a match for surname, first letter of first name and year of birth?
• Check 3 – For this member number, is there a match for surname?

Checks 1 and 2 are carried out on a copy of the membership database, updated weekly.

Check 3 is made on a live link to the membership data and will therefore correctly validate new and recently renewed members.

The check returns the membership year. If the membership year is greater than or equal to the year of the event the entry is valid. If level 1 validation is in place the membership year can be the year before the year of the event.