The objective in running the "Validate archive" quality check is to
ensure that the files necessary for reconstituting privatized data are accessible. These files are:
(a) each and every privacy protected archive file, (b) other reconstitution files if any
resulting from multiple pass cascading fragmentation, and (c) the applicable random
tables. Any user with a reconstitution file and password valid on the computer
currently in use may validate the corresponding archive.
Select the reconstitution file of the archive you want to validate: Each archive
is identified by its reconstitution file (or first reconstitution file if multiple cascades were used). Validating
an archive means making sure that all of its parts are available so that the data from the archive can be
retrieved. Click on the Browse button in order to select the directory and then the reconstitution file
for the archive that you want to validate.
Password: You can only validate an archive if you have rights to it. Input the
password.
There are three types of validation. The options are to check hard disk location
only, check for sufficiency of the archive, or check for completeness of the archive.
If you click the radio button to the left of Hard drive, the search is limited
to the working directory on the hard drive. This is quick. If all files are present on the hard drive,
reconstituting the files will be quick. If you are using Pryvit Personal, always leave the selection set
for Hard drive.
If you click the radio button to the left of Sufficient files on hand, then the
program requires that at least one copy of each file be found in any one of the expected locations. Search is
on hard disk first, then on the Internet at the locations indicated within the reconstitution file. Note that
the random tables that are needed must be present on the hard drive.
If you click the radio button to the left of All files present, then completeness
of an archive requires all files must be present on the hard drive AND that every Internet-dispersed file copy
is in place in the location prescribed in the reconstitution file.
Clicking the button Validate archive causes the program to undertake the search
for the files comprising the privacy protected archive. You will be told if any are missing. If your reconstitution
file has master or backup rights, you will be given full details of location and missing file names. If your
reconstitution file has only distribution rights, you will be given a full report about completeness of the
hard drive copy; beyond that, you will simply be told that Internet files are missing and that you should contact
the author to advise that files are not available.
In the case that random tables are missing, you will be given full information on their
names, and you will be reminded of the location on the Internet from which the missing tables may be downloaded.
If everything else is in place, download the required random tables to your hard drive into the same directory
with the other tables. Then run Validate archive again.
