SearchAGS Validator
Version 3 of the AGS Validator has been released (V3.2 on 08/06/2026).
It can be downloaded from here https://gitlab.com/ags-data-format-wg/ags4-validator-desktop-app/-/releases (select AGS4 Version 3.2 (Win64) see red box in the image below).
Direct download here
This release was built and tested in Windows 11.
Version 3 of the validator uses V1.2.0 of the AGS Python Library. The changelog for which can be found here: https://gitlab.com/ags-data-format-wg/ags-python-library/-/blob/main/changelog.txt
The library provides validation against the AGS 4.0.3, 4.0.4, 4.1.0, 4.1.1 and 4.2 formats.
Updates to the library mainly include small bug fixes and code improvements.
The Desktop Validator app has been updated to add support for AGS4 v4.2. It has also has a new feature to carry out predefined and user-defined data quality assessments. A predefined assessment for National Highways is included, which checks against the upload requirements for GDMS, making the process of uploading the data to GDMS more efficient.
The app also contains many new AGS4 file converters (see changelog below). These include spatial and non-spatial database formats, JSON formats and simple CSV formats. The CSV format strips out the UNIT and TYPE header info for each group, making the data easier to use. This option is now also available for output to spreadsheet, however it should not be used if the spreadsheet is due to be converted back to AGS4.
Note that the conversions are make data accessible to software such as spreadsheets and GIS. The AGS4 data is not converted to any other AGS versions.
The help guides have now been moved to an online web format for ease of maintenance.
The Destop app now includes the ability to use a custom AGS dictionary. This is intended to be used for international users, or developers. It should not be used unless the format of the dictionary file is completely understood.
The Desktop Validator app can be downloaded and used free of charge.
The term “validator” is used rather than “checker”, to clarify that the code only validates against the AGS data format, it does not “check” the accuracy of the data contained in the file.
V3.0 (2026-04-01)
Features
– Updated AGS Python library to v 1.2.0
– Added support for AGS4.2 file format
– New Data Quality functionality
– Includes automated data quality check for National Highways supply chain.
– New file converters:
– AGS4 to GeoPackage*
– AGS4 to SQLite
– AGS to SpatiaLite*
– AGS4 to CSV (zipped)
– AGS4 to JSON (row-wise)
– AGS4 to JSON (column-wise)
– Added the ability to strip UNIT and TYPE headers from AGS4 to Spreadsheet
– New ability to use a custom Dictionary definition (for use by non-UK users)
Docs
– Docs moved to web pages
* UK OSGB grids only (in this version)
Changelog V2
– updated AGS Python library to v 1.0.0
– Simplified UI – moved some options to menu items
– Added ability to check hash of files
– Added ability to transform Excel file to AGS
– Added ability to view summary information of AGS file
– Speed improvement of rendered results
– Updated underlying dict files to remove anomalies.
Version 1 can be downloaded from the GitLab repository here
Use the form below to submit questions, bugs, wish list items etc. Please note that we may request a copy of the AGS file that caused a problem, to try to replicate it.
Installation and running
This build of the software has been tested on Windows 10 and 11. It is a desktop-only application.
The zip file should be extracted to a suitable folder on the system and the .exe file double-clicked. Python runtime libraries are included in the installation folder, Python does not need to be installed on the client PC.
Known issues
- A warning may appear when the application is run for the first time. Please check with your IT dept/section before proceeding.
- The validator should not be extracted to a shared drive, e.g. OneDrive.
Contributing to the validator
The AGS validator is an open source project. Developers from 5 countries have contributed their time and knowledge for free to this project and you can join them if you want to geek out with AGS data.
Here are the details you need.
The Library
Repository: https://gitlab.com/ags-data-format-wg/ags-python-library
pip installer: https://pypi.org/project/python-ags4/
Conda Installer: https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/python-ags4
Coders Wiki page: https://gitlab.com/ags-data-format-wg/ags-python-library/-/wikis/home
Desktop Application
Repository: https://gitlab.com/ags-data-format-wg/ags4-validator-desktop-app
Web Applications