Merge "Improve validation, add hierarchical validation"

42 files changed, 2546 insertions, 122 deletions

diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupMapValidationResult.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupMapValidationResult.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09cdc1de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupMapValidationResult.java
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+
+/**
+ * This class holds the result of the validation of a map of parameter groups.
+ */
+public class GroupMapValidationResult implements ValidationResult {
+    // The name of the parameter group map
+    final String mapParameterName;
+    
+    // Validation status for the entire parameter class
+    private ValidationStatus status = ValidationStatus.CLEAN;
+    private String message = ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_GROUP_MAP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + status.toString();
+
+    // Validation results for each parameter in the group
+    private final Map<String, ValidationResult> validationResultMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor, create the group map validation result.
+     *
+     * @param field the map parameter field
+     * @param mapObject the value of the map parameter field
+     */
+    protected GroupMapValidationResult(final Field field, final Object mapObject) {
+        this.mapParameterName = field.getName();
+
+        // Cast the map object to a map of parameter groups keyed by string, we can't type check maps
+        // due to restrictions on generics so we have to check each entry key is a string and each entry
+        // value is a parameter group
+        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+        Map<String, ParameterGroup> parameterGroupMap = (Map<String, ParameterGroup>) mapObject;
+
+        // Add a validation result per map entry
+        for (Entry<String, ParameterGroup> parameterGroupMapEntry : parameterGroupMap.entrySet()) {
+            // Create a validation status entry for the map
+            validationResultMap.put(parameterGroupMapEntry.getKey(),
+                            new GroupValidationResult(parameterGroupMapEntry.getValue()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the name of the parameter being validated.
+     *
+     * @return the name
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return mapParameterName;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the status of validation.
+     *
+     * @return the status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ValidationStatus getStatus() {
+        return status;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on on a parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param status The validation status the field is receiving
+     * @param message The validation message explaining the validation status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void setResult(ValidationStatus status, String message) {
+        setResult(status);
+        this.message = message;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on on a parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param status The validation status the field is receiving
+     */
+    public void setResult(final ValidationStatus status) {
+        // We record the most serious validation status, assuming the status enum ordinals
+        // increase in order of severity
+        if (this.status.ordinal() < status.ordinal()) {
+            this.status = status;
+            this.message = ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_GROUP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + status.toString();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on a parameter map entry.
+     * 
+     * @param entryName The name of the parameter map entry
+     * @param mapEntryValidationResult The validation result for the entry
+     */
+    public void setResult(String entryName, ValidationResult mapEntryValidationResult) {
+        ValidationResult validationResult = validationResultMap.get(entryName);
+        if (validationResult == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("no entry with name \"" + entryName + "\" exists");
+        }
+
+        // Set the status of the parameter group and replace the field result
+        validationResultMap.put(entryName, mapEntryValidationResult);
+        this.setResult(status);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation result.
+     *
+     * @param initialIndentation the indentation to use on the main result output
+     * @param subIndentation the indentation to use on sub parts of the result output
+     * @param showClean output information on clean fields
+     * @return the result
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getResult(final String initialIndentation, final String subIndentation, final boolean showClean) {
+        if (status == ValidationStatus.CLEAN && !showClean) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        StringBuilder validationResultBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+
+        validationResultBuilder.append(initialIndentation);
+        validationResultBuilder.append("parameter group map \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(mapParameterName);
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(status);
+        validationResultBuilder.append(", ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(message);
+        validationResultBuilder.append('\n');
+
+        for (ValidationResult fieldResult : validationResultMap.values()) {
+            String fieldResultMessage = fieldResult.getResult(initialIndentation + subIndentation, subIndentation,
+                            showClean);
+            if (fieldResultMessage != null) {
+                validationResultBuilder.append(fieldResultMessage);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return validationResultBuilder.toString();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupValidationResult.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupValidationResult.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..91c3d145
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/GroupValidationResult.java
@@ -0,0 +1,324 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+
+/**
+ * This class holds the result of the validation of a parameter group.
+ */
+public class GroupValidationResult implements ValidationResult {
+    // The parameter group which the validation result applies
+    private final ParameterGroup parameterGroup;
+
+    // Validation status for the entire parameter class
+    private ValidationStatus status = ValidationStatus.CLEAN;
+    private String message = ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_GROUP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + status.toString();
+
+    // Validation results for each parameter in the group
+    private final Map<String, ValidationResult> validationResultMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor, create the field validation result with default arguments.
+     *
+     * @param parameterGroup the parameter group being validated
+     */
+    public GroupValidationResult(final ParameterGroup parameterGroup) {
+        this.parameterGroup = parameterGroup;
+
+        // Add a validation result per field
+        for (Field field : parameterGroup.getClass().getDeclaredFields()) {
+            // Exclude system fields
+            if (field.getName().startsWith("$") || field.getName().startsWith("_")) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Make the field accessible
+            boolean savedAccessibilityValue = field.isAccessible();
+            field.setAccessible(true);
+
+            try {
+                // Set the validation result
+                validationResultMap.put(field.getName(), getValidationResult(field, parameterGroup));
+            } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalAccessException e) {
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException("could not get value of parameter \"" + field.getName() + "\"", e);
+            } finally {
+                field.setAccessible(savedAccessibilityValue);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Construct a validation result for a field
+     * 
+     * @param field The parameter field
+     * @param ParameterGroup The parameter group containing the field
+     * @return the validation result
+     * @throws IllegalAccessException on accessing private fields
+     */
+    private ValidationResult getValidationResult(final Field field, final ParameterGroup parameterGroup)
+                    throws IllegalAccessException {
+        final String fieldName = field.getName();
+        final Class<?> fieldType = field.getType();
+        final Object fieldObject = field.get(parameterGroup);
+
+        // Nested parameter groups are allowed
+        if (ParameterGroup.class.isAssignableFrom(fieldType)) {
+            return new GroupValidationResult((ParameterGroup) field.get(parameterGroup));
+        }
+        
+        // Nested maps of parameter groups are allowed
+        if (Map.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType())) {
+            checkMapIsParameterGroupMap(fieldName, fieldObject);
+            return new GroupMapValidationResult(field, fieldObject);
+        }
+        
+        // Collections of parameter groups are not allowed
+        if (Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(field.getType())) {
+            checkCollection4ParameterGroups(fieldName, fieldObject);
+            return new ParameterValidationResult(field, fieldObject);
+        }
+
+        // It's a regular parameter
+        return new ParameterValidationResult(field, fieldObject);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Check if this field is a map of parameter groups indexed by string keys.
+     * 
+     * @param fieldName the name of the collection field.
+     * @param mapObject the map object to check
+     */
+    private void checkMapIsParameterGroupMap(String fieldName, Object mapObject) {
+        if (mapObject == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("map parameter \"" + fieldName + "\" is null");
+        }
+        
+        Map<?, ?> incomingMap = (Map<?, ?>) mapObject;
+
+        for (Entry<?, ?> mapEntry : incomingMap.entrySet()) {
+            // Check the key is a string
+            if (!String.class.isAssignableFrom(mapEntry.getKey().getClass())) {
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException("map entry is not a parameter group keyed by a string, key \""
+                                + mapEntry.getKey() + "\" in map \"" + fieldName + "\" is not a string");
+            }
+
+            // Check the value is a parameter group
+            if (!ParameterGroup.class.isAssignableFrom(mapEntry.getValue().getClass())) {
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException("map entry is not a parameter group keyed by a string, value \""
+                                + mapEntry.getValue() + "\" in map \"" + fieldName + "\" is not a parameter group");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Check if this field contains parameter groups.
+     * 
+     * @param fieldName the name of the collection field.
+     * @param collectionObject the collection object to check
+     */
+    private void checkCollection4ParameterGroups(final String fieldName, final Object collectionObject) {
+        if (collectionObject == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("collection parameter \"" + fieldName + "\" is null");
+        }
+
+        Collection<?> collection2Check = (Collection<?>) collectionObject;
+
+        for (Object collectionMember : collection2Check) {
+            if (ParameterGroup.class.isAssignableFrom(collectionMember.getClass())) {
+                throw new ParameterRuntimeException("collection parameter \"" + fieldName + "\" is illegal,"
+                                + " parameter groups are not allowed as collection members");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the parameter group for this validation result.
+     *
+     * @return the parameter class
+     */
+    public ParameterGroup getParameterGroup() {
+        return parameterGroup;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the name of the parameter group being validated.
+     *
+     * @return the name
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return parameterGroup.getName();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the status of validation.
+     *
+     * @return the status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ValidationStatus getStatus() {
+        return status;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on on a parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param status The validation status the parameter group is receiving
+     * @param message The validation message explaining the validation status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void setResult(ValidationStatus status, String message) {
+        setResult(status);
+        this.message = message;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on on a parameter group.
+     * 
+     * On a sequence of calls, the most serious validation status is recorded, assuming the status enum ordinal increase
+     * in order of severity
+     * 
+     * @param status The validation status the parameter group is receiving
+     */
+    public void setResult(final ValidationStatus status) {
+        //
+        if (this.status.ordinal() < status.ordinal()) {
+            this.status = status;
+            this.message = ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_GROUP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + status.toString();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on a parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param parameterGroupName The name of the parameter group
+     * @param status The validation status the field is receiving
+     * @param message The validation message explaining the validation status
+     */
+    public void setResult(final String parameterGroupName, final ValidationStatus status, final String message) {
+        ParameterValidationResult parameterValidationResult;
+        try {
+            parameterValidationResult = (ParameterValidationResult) validationResultMap.get(parameterGroupName);
+        } catch (ClassCastException e) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("parameter not a regular parameter: " + parameterGroupName, e);
+        }
+
+        if (parameterValidationResult == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(
+                            "no regular parameter field exists for parameter: " + parameterGroupName);
+        }
+
+        // Set the status of the parameter group and the field
+        parameterValidationResult.setResult(status, message);
+        this.setResult(status);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on a nested parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param parameterName The name of the parameter field
+     * @param nestedValidationResult The validation result from a nested field
+     */
+    public void setResult(String parameterName, ValidationResult nestedValidationResult) {
+        GroupValidationResult groupValidationResult;
+        try {
+            groupValidationResult = (GroupValidationResult) validationResultMap.get(parameterName);
+        } catch (ClassCastException e) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("parameter is not a nested group parameter: " + parameterName, e);
+        }
+
+        if (groupValidationResult == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("no nested parameter field exists for parameter: " + parameterName);
+        }
+
+        // Set the status of the parameter group and replace the field result
+        validationResultMap.put(parameterName, nestedValidationResult);
+        this.setResult(status);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on a nested parameter group map entry.
+     * 
+     * @param parameterName The name of the parameter field
+     * @param key The key of the map entry
+     * @param nestedMapValidationResult The validation result from a nested map entry
+     */
+    public void setResult(final String parameterName, final String key,
+                    final ValidationResult nestedMapValidationResult) {
+        GroupMapValidationResult groupMapValidationResult;
+        try {
+            groupMapValidationResult = (GroupMapValidationResult) validationResultMap.get(parameterName);
+        } catch (ClassCastException e) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("parameter is not a nested group map parameter: " + parameterName, e);
+        }
+
+        if (groupMapValidationResult == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("no group map parameter field exists for parameter: " + parameterName);
+        }
+
+        // Set the status of the parameter group and the field
+        groupMapValidationResult.setResult(key, nestedMapValidationResult);
+        this.setResult(status);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation result.
+     *
+     * @param initialIndentation the indentation to use on the main result output
+     * @param subIndentation the indentation to use on sub parts of the result output
+     * @param showClean output information on clean fields
+     * @return the result
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getResult(final String initialIndentation, final String subIndentation, final boolean showClean) {
+        if (status == ValidationStatus.CLEAN && !showClean) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        StringBuilder validationResultBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+
+        validationResultBuilder.append(initialIndentation);
+        validationResultBuilder.append("parameter group \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(parameterGroup.getName());
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" type \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(parameterGroup.getClass().getCanonicalName());
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(status);
+        validationResultBuilder.append(", ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(message);
+        validationResultBuilder.append('\n');
+
+        for (ValidationResult fieldResult : validationResultMap.values()) {
+            String fieldResultMessage = fieldResult.getResult(initialIndentation + subIndentation, subIndentation,
+                            showClean);
+            if (fieldResultMessage != null) {
+                validationResultBuilder.append(fieldResultMessage);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return validationResultBuilder.toString();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterConstants.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterConstants.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..240b1f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterConstants.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+/**
+ * This static class holds the values of constants for parameter handling.
+ */
+public final class ParameterConstants {
+    // Indentation is 0 on the left and 2 for each level of hierarchy
+    public static final String DEFAULT_INITIAL_RESULT_INDENTATION = "";
+    public static final String DEFAULT_RESULT_INDENTATION = "  ";
+    
+    // By default we do not show validation results for parameters that are validated as clean
+    public static final boolean DO_NOT_SHOW_CLEAN_RESULTS = false;
+    
+    // Messages for clean validations
+    public static final String PARAMETER_GROUP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE = "parameter group has status ";
+    public static final String PARAMETER_GROUP_MAP_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE = "parameter group map has status ";
+    public static final String PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE       = "parameter has status ";
+    
+    /**
+     * Private constructor to prevent subclassing.
+     */
+    private ParameterConstants() {
+        // Private constructor to prevent subclassing
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterException.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterException.java
index 129d5390..3a6e17e8 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterException.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterException.java
@@ -55,21 +55,21 @@ public class ParameterException extends Exception {
      * Instantiates a new parameter exception.
      *
      * @param message the message on the exception
-     * @param e the exception that caused this parameter exception
+     * @param exception the exception that caused this parameter exception
      */
-    public ParameterException(final String message, final Exception e) {
-        this(message, e, null);
+    public ParameterException(final String message, final Exception exception) {
+        this(message, exception, null);
     }
 
     /**
      * Instantiates a new parameter exception.
      *
      * @param message the message on the exception
-     * @param e the exception that caused this parameter exception
+     * @param exception the exception that caused this parameter exception
      * @param object the object that the exception was thrown on
      */
-    public ParameterException(final String message, final Exception e, final Object object) {
-        super(message, e);
+    public ParameterException(final String message, final Exception exception, final Object object) {
+        super(message, exception);
         this.object = object;
     }
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class ParameterException extends Exception {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Build a cascaded message from an exception and all its nested exceptions
+     * Build a cascaded message from an exception and all its nested exceptions.
      * 
      * @param throwable the top level exception
      * @return cascaded message string
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ public class ParameterException extends Exception {
     }
 
     /**
-     *
      * Get the object on which the exception was thrown.
      *
      * @return The object on which the exception was thrown
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/AbstractParameters.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterGroup.java
index 5430dfeb..48e8379f 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/AbstractParameters.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterGroup.java
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
-/*
+/*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
  * ================================================================================
@@ -19,29 +18,35 @@ package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
 
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
 /**
- * This class defines an abstract parameter interface that acts as a base interface for all parameters in the ONAP
- * Policy Framework. All parameter POJOs are subclass of the abstract parameter class and can be used with the
- * {@link ParameterService}.
+ * This interface acts as a base interface for all parameter groups in the ONAP Policy Framework. All parameter group
+ * POJOs are implementations of the parameter group interface and can be used with the {@link ParameterService}.
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
-public interface AbstractParameters {
+public interface ParameterGroup {
     /**
-     * Gets the parameter class.
-     *
-     * @return the parameter class
+     * Get the group name.
+     * 
+     * @return the group name
      */
-    default Class<? extends AbstractParameters> getParameterClass() {
-        return this.getClass();
-    }
+    public String getName();
+
+    /**
+     * Validate parameters.
+     * 
+     * @return the result of the parameter validation
+     */
+    GroupValidationResult validate();
 
     /**
-     * Gets the parameter class name.
-     *
-     * @return the parameter class name
+     * Check if the parameters are valid.
+     * 
+     * @return true if the parameters are valid
      */
-    default String getParameterClassName() {
-        return this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+    default boolean isValid() {
+        return validate().getStatus().isValid();
     }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterRuntimeException.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterRuntimeException.java
index 4b7d5874..071593a9 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterRuntimeException.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterRuntimeException.java
@@ -55,21 +55,21 @@ public class ParameterRuntimeException extends RuntimeException {
      * Instantiates a new parameter runtime exception.
      *
      * @param message the message on the exception
-     * @param e the exception that caused this parameter exception
+     * @param exception the exception that caused this parameter exception
      */
-    public ParameterRuntimeException(final String message, final Exception e) {
-        this(message, e, null);
+    public ParameterRuntimeException(final String message, final Exception exception) {
+        this(message, exception, null);
     }
 
     /**
      * Instantiates a new parameter runtime exception.
      *
      * @param message the message on the exception
-     * @param e the exception that caused this parameter exception
+     * @param exception the exception that caused this parameter exception
      * @param object the object that the exception was thrown on
      */
-    public ParameterRuntimeException(final String message, final Exception e, final Object object) {
-        super(message, e);
+    public ParameterRuntimeException(final String message, final Exception exception, final Object object) {
+        super(message, exception);
         this.object = object;
     }
 
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterService.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterService.java
index f411937d..db6995c5 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterService.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterService.java
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
-/*
+/*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
  * ================================================================================
@@ -19,25 +18,27 @@ package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
 
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 
 /**
- * The parameter service makes ONAP PF parameters available to all classes in a JVM.
- *
- * The reason for having a parameter service is to avoid having to pass parameters down long call chains in modules such
- * as PDPs and editors. The parameter service makes correct and verified parameters available statically.
- *
- * The parameter service must be used with care because changing a parameter set anywhere in a JVM will affect all users
- * of those parameters anywhere in the JVM.
+ * The parameter service makes ONAP PF parameter groups available to all classes in a JVM.
+ * 
+ * <p>The reason for having a parameter service is to avoid having to pass parameters down long call chains in modules
+ * such as PDPs and editors. The parameter service makes correct and verified parameters available statically.
+ * 
+ * <p>The parameter service must be used with care because changing a parameter set anywhere in a JVM will affect all
+ * users of those parameters anywhere in the JVM.
  *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
 public abstract class ParameterService {
     // The map holding the parameters
-    private static Map<Class<? extends AbstractParameters>, AbstractParameters> parameterMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    private static Map<String, ParameterGroup> parameterGroupMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
     /**
      * This class is an abstract static class that cannot be extended.
@@ -46,69 +47,71 @@ public abstract class ParameterService {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Register parameters with the parameter service.
+     * Register a parameter group with the parameter service.
      *
-     * @param <P> the generic type
-     * @param parametersClass the class of the parameter, used to index the parameter
-     * @param parameters the parameters
+     * @param parameterGroup the parameter group
      */
-    public static <P extends AbstractParameters> void registerParameters(final P parameters) {
-        parameterMap.put(parameters.getClass(), parameters);
+    public static void register(final ParameterGroup parameterGroup) {
+        if (!parameterGroupMap.containsKey(parameterGroup.getName())) {
+            parameterGroupMap.put(parameterGroup.getName(), parameterGroup);
+        } else {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(
+                            "\"" + parameterGroup.getName() + "\" already registered in parameter service");
+        }
     }
 
     /**
-     * Remove parameters from the parameter service.
+     * Remove a parameter group from the parameter service.
      *
-     * @param <P> the generic type
-     * @param parametersClass the class of the parameter, used to index the parameter
+     * @param parameterGroupName the name of the parameter group
      */
-    public static <P extends AbstractParameters> void deregisterParameters(final Class<P> parametersClass) {
-        parameterMap.remove(parametersClass);
+    public static void deregister(final String parameterGroupName) {
+        if (parameterGroupMap.containsKey(parameterGroupName)) {
+            parameterGroupMap.remove(parameterGroupName);
+        } else {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("\"" + parameterGroupName + "\" not registered in parameter service");
+        }
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get parameters from the parameter service.
+     * Get a parameter group from the parameter service.
      *
-     * @param <P> the generic type
-     * @param parametersClass the class of the parameter, used to index the parameter
-     * @return The parameter
+     * @param parameterGroupName the name of the parameter group
+     * @return The parameter group
      */
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    public static <P extends AbstractParameters> P getParameters(final Class<P> parametersClass) {
-        final P parameter = (P) parameterMap.get(parametersClass);
+    public static ParameterGroup get(final String parameterGroupName) {
+        final ParameterGroup parameterGroup = parameterGroupMap.get(parameterGroupName);
 
-        if (parameter == null) {
-            throw new ParameterRuntimeException(
-                            "Parameters for " + parametersClass.getCanonicalName() + " not found in parameter service");
+        if (parameterGroup == null) {
+            throw new ParameterRuntimeException("\"" + parameterGroupName + "\" not found in parameter service");
         }
 
-        return parameter;
+        return parameterGroup;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Check if parameters is defined on the parameter service.
+     * Check if a parameter group is defined on the parameter service.
      *
-     * @param <P> the generic type
-     * @param parametersClass the class of the parameter, used to index the parameter
+     * @param parameterGroupName the name of the parameter group
      * @return true if the parameter is defined
      */
-    public static <P extends AbstractParameters> boolean existsParameters(final Class<P> parametersClass) {
-        return parameterMap.get(parametersClass) != null;
+    public static boolean contains(final String parameterGroupName) {
+        return parameterGroupMap.containsKey(parameterGroupName) && parameterGroupMap.get(parameterGroupName) != null;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get all the entries in the parameters map.
+     * Get all parameter groups.
      *
      * @return The entries
      */
-    public static Set<Entry<Class<? extends AbstractParameters>, AbstractParameters>> getAll() {
-        return parameterMap.entrySet();
+    public static Set<Entry<String, ParameterGroup>> getAll() {
+        return parameterGroupMap.entrySet();
     }
 
     /**
-     * Clear all parameters in the parameter service.
+     * Clear all parameter groups in the parameter service.
      */
     public static void clear() {
-        parameterMap.clear();
+        parameterGroupMap.clear();
     }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterValidationResult.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterValidationResult.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c829f4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterValidationResult.java
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+
+/**
+ * This class holds the result of the validation of a parameter.
+ */
+public class ParameterValidationResult implements ValidationResult {
+    // The field and value of the parameter to which the validation result applies
+    private final Field field;
+    private final Object parameterValue;
+
+    // Validation status and message
+    private ValidationStatus status = ValidationStatus.CLEAN;
+    private String message = ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + status.toString();
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor, create validation result for a parameter with default arguments.
+     *
+     * @param field the parameter field
+     * @param parameterValue the value of the parameter field
+     */
+    protected ParameterValidationResult(final Field field, final Object parameterValue) {
+        this.field = field;
+        this.parameterValue = parameterValue;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the name of the parameter being validated.
+     *
+     * @return the name
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return field.getName();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation status.
+     *
+     * @return the validation status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ValidationStatus getStatus() {
+        return status;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the validation result on on a parameter field. 
+     * @param status The validation status the field is receiving
+     * @param message The validation message explaining the validation status
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void setResult(final ValidationStatus status, final String message) {
+        this.status = status;
+        this.message = message;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation result.
+     *
+     * @param initialIndentation the result indentation
+     * @param subIndentation the indentation to use on sub parts of the result output
+     * @param showClean output information on clean fields
+     * @return the result
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getResult(final String initialIndentation, final String subIndentation, final boolean showClean) {
+        if (status == ValidationStatus.CLEAN && !showClean) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        StringBuilder validationResultBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+
+        validationResultBuilder.append(initialIndentation);
+        validationResultBuilder.append("field \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(getName());
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" type \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(field.getType().getCanonicalName());
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" value \"");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(parameterValue);
+        validationResultBuilder.append("\" ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(getStatus());
+        validationResultBuilder.append(", ");
+        validationResultBuilder.append(message);
+        validationResultBuilder.append('\n');
+
+        return validationResultBuilder.toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ValidationResult.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ValidationResult.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b97ccda0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ValidationResult.java
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+/**
+ * This interface defines the result of a parameter validation.
+ */
+public interface ValidationResult {
+    /**
+     * Gets the name of the entity being validated.
+     *
+     * @return the name
+     */
+    public String getName();
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the status of validation.
+     *
+     * @return the status
+     */
+    public ValidationStatus getStatus();
+
+    /**
+     * Checks if the result is valid.
+     *
+     * @return true, if is valid
+     */
+    default boolean isValid() {
+        return getStatus().isValid(); 
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation result.
+     *
+     * @return the full validation result
+     */
+    default String getResult() {
+        return getResult(
+                        ParameterConstants.DEFAULT_INITIAL_RESULT_INDENTATION,
+                        ParameterConstants.DEFAULT_RESULT_INDENTATION,
+                        ParameterConstants.DO_NOT_SHOW_CLEAN_RESULTS);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the validation result.
+     *
+     * @param initialIndentation the indentation to use on the main result output
+     * @param subIndentation the indentation to use on sub parts of the result output
+     * @param showClean output information on clean fields
+     * @return the result
+     */
+    public String getResult(final String initialIndentation, final String subIndentation, final boolean showClean);
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a validation result. 
+     * @param status The validation status the field is receiving
+     * @param message The validation message explaining the validation status
+     */
+    public void setResult(final ValidationStatus status, final String message);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/LegalParameters.java b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ValidationStatus.java
index fb1bd478..ff453a1b 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/LegalParameters.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ValidationStatus.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*
+/*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
  * ================================================================================
@@ -20,12 +20,17 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
 
-import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.AbstractParameters;
-
-/**
- * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
- */
-public class LegalParameters implements AbstractParameters {
-    public LegalParameters() {
+public enum ValidationStatus {
+    CLEAN,
+    OBSERVATION,
+    WARNING,
+    INVALID;
+    
+    /**
+     * The result of a validation is valid unless the status is INVALID.
+     * @return true if the validation has passed
+     */
+    public boolean isValid() {
+        return !this.equals(INVALID);
     }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ExceptionTest.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ExceptionTest.java
index 510b6e36..b65db953 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ExceptionTest.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ExceptionTest.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*
+/*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
  * ================================================================================
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
+
 package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestAbstractParameters.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestAbstractParameters.java
index f8003cfe..b568d7fb 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestAbstractParameters.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestAbstractParameters.java
@@ -20,16 +20,16 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.EmptyParameterGroup;
 
 public class TestAbstractParameters {
 
     @Test
     public void testAbstractParameters() {
-        final LegalParameters parameters = new LegalParameters();
-        assertEquals(LegalParameters.class, parameters.getParameterClass());
-        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.common.parameters.LegalParameters", parameters.getParameterClassName());
+        final EmptyParameterGroup parameters = new EmptyParameterGroup("Empty Group");
+        assertTrue(parameters.isValid());
     }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestJsonInput.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestJsonInput.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d0aae5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestJsonInput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import java.io.FileReader;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00;
+
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
+
+public class TestJsonInput {
+
+    @Test
+    public void testJsonInput() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 testParameterGroup = null;
+
+        // Read the parameters
+        try {
+            // Read the parameters from JSON using Gson
+            final Gson gson = new GsonBuilder().create();
+            testParameterGroup = gson.fromJson(new FileReader("src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.json"), TestParametersL00.class);
+        } catch (final Exception e) {
+            fail("test should not throw an exception here: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = testParameterGroup.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals("l00NameFromFile", testParameterGroup.getName());
+        
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestJsonYamlValidationResult.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult("", "  ", true).replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestParameterService.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestParameterService.java
index efd3e304..0b7e46ca 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestParameterService.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestParameterService.java
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterRuntimeException;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterService;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.EmptyParameterGroup;
 
 public class TestParameterService {
 
@@ -34,47 +37,57 @@ public class TestParameterService {
     public void testParameterService() {
         ParameterService.clear();
 
-        assertFalse(ParameterService.existsParameters(LegalParameters.class));
+        assertFalse(ParameterService.contains("EmptyGroup"));
         try {
-            ParameterService.getParameters(LegalParameters.class);
+            ParameterService.get("EmptyGroup");
             fail("Test should throw an exception here");
         } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Parameters for org.onap.policy.common.parameters.LegalParameters not found in parameter service",
-                    e.getMessage());
+            assertEquals("\"EmptyGroup\" not found in parameter service", e.getMessage());
         }
 
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(new LegalParameters());
-        assertTrue(ParameterService.existsParameters(LegalParameters.class));
-        assertNotNull(ParameterService.getParameters(LegalParameters.class));
+        ParameterService.register(new EmptyParameterGroup("Empty Group"));
+        assertTrue(ParameterService.contains("Empty Group"));
+        assertNotNull(ParameterService.get("Empty Group"));
+        
+        try {
+            ParameterService.register(new EmptyParameterGroup("Empty Group"));
+            fail("this test should throw an exception");
+        }
+        catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("\"Empty Group\" already registered in parameter service", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        ParameterService.deregister("Empty Group");
+        assertFalse(ParameterService.contains("Empty Group"));
 
-        ParameterService.deregisterParameters(LegalParameters.class);
+        try {
+            ParameterService.deregister("Empty Group");
+            fail("this test should throw an exception");
+        }
+        catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("\"Empty Group\" not registered in parameter service", e.getMessage());
+        }
 
-        assertFalse(ParameterService.existsParameters(LegalParameters.class));
         try {
-            ParameterService.getParameters(LegalParameters.class);
+            ParameterService.get("Empty Group");
             fail("Test should throw an exception here");
         } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Parameters for org.onap.policy.common.parameters.LegalParameters not found in parameter service",
-                    e.getMessage());
+            assertEquals("\"Empty Group\" not found in parameter service", e.getMessage());
         }
 
-        ParameterService.registerParameters(new LegalParameters());
-        assertTrue(ParameterService.existsParameters(LegalParameters.class));
-        assertNotNull(ParameterService.getParameters(LegalParameters.class));
+        ParameterService.register(new EmptyParameterGroup("Empty Group"));
+        assertTrue(ParameterService.contains("Empty Group"));
+        assertNotNull(ParameterService.get("Empty Group"));
 
         assertEquals(1, ParameterService.getAll().size());
         ParameterService.clear();
         assertEquals(0, ParameterService.getAll().size());
-        assertFalse(ParameterService.existsParameters(LegalParameters.class));
+        assertFalse(ParameterService.contains("Empty Group"));
         try {
-            ParameterService.getParameters(LegalParameters.class);
+            ParameterService.get("Empty Group");
             fail("Test should throw an exception here");
         } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Parameters for org.onap.policy.common.parameters.LegalParameters not found in parameter service",
-                    e.getMessage());
+            assertEquals("\"Empty Group\" not found in parameter service", e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidation.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidation.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ca24a05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidation.java
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00;
+
+public class TestValidation {
+    @Test
+    public void testValidationOk() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 l0Parameters = new TestParametersL00("l0Parameters");
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertNull(validationResult.getResult());
+        assertEquals(l0Parameters, validationResult.getParameterGroup());
+        assertEquals(l0Parameters.getName(), validationResult.getName());
+
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_0_OK.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult("", "  ", true).replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    public void testValidationObservation() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 l0Parameters = new TestParametersL00("l0Parameters");
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, 3);
+
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Observation.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, 2);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Observation.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, 1);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Observation.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, 0);
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(null, validationResult.getResult());
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    public void testValidationWarning() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 l0Parameters = new TestParametersL00("l0Parameters");
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.WARNING, 3);
+
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Warning.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.WARNING, 2);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Warning.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.WARNING, 1);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Warning.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.WARNING, 0);
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(null, validationResult.getResult());
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    public void testValidationInvalid() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 l0Parameters = new TestParametersL00("l0Parameters");
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.INVALID, 3);
+
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Invalid.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertFalse(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.INVALID, 2);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Invalid.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertFalse(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.INVALID, 1);
+
+        expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Invalid.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertFalse(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult().replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+        
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.CLEAN, 3);
+        l0Parameters.triggerValidationStatus(ValidationStatus.INVALID, 0);
+
+        validationResult = l0Parameters.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals(null, validationResult.getResult());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationErrors.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationErrors.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b781472
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationErrors.java
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithArray;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithCollection;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithNullCollection;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection;
+
+public class TestValidationErrors {
+    @Test
+    public void testBadArrayValidation() {
+        ParameterGroupWithArray groupWithArray = new ParameterGroupWithArray("Illegal Array Group");
+        assertTrue(groupWithArray.isValid());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testCollectionValidation() {
+        ParameterGroupWithCollection legalCollection = new ParameterGroupWithCollection("Legal Collection");
+        assertTrue(legalCollection.isValid());
+
+        ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection illegalCollection = new ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection(
+                        "Illegal Collection");
+        try {
+            illegalCollection.isValid();
+            fail("test should throw an exception");
+        } catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("collection parameter \"parameterGroupArrayList\" is illegal,"
+                            + " parameter groups are not allowed as collection members", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testNullCollection() {
+        ParameterGroupWithNullCollection nullCollection = new ParameterGroupWithNullCollection("Null Collection");
+
+        try {
+            nullCollection.isValid();
+            fail("test should throw an exception");
+        } catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("collection parameter \"nullList\" is null", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testMapNullValueValidation() {
+        ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue nullMap = new ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue("Null Map value");
+        try {
+            nullMap.isValid();
+            fail("test should throw an exception");
+        } catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("map parameter \"nullMap\" is null", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testBadMapKeyValidation() {
+        ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey illegalMap = new ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey("Illegal Map");
+        try {
+            illegalMap.isValid();
+            fail("test should throw an exception");
+        } catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("map entry is not a parameter group keyed by a string, key \"1\" "
+                            + "in map \"badMap\" is not a string", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testBadMapValueValidation() {
+        ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue illegalMap = new ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue("Illegal Map");
+        try {
+            illegalMap.isValid();
+            fail("test should throw an exception");
+        } catch (ParameterRuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals("map entry is not a parameter group keyed by a string, value \"1\" in "
+                            + "map \"intMap\" is not a parameter group", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationResults.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationResults.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f22765b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestValidationResults.java
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric;
+
+public class TestValidationResults {
+    private Map<String, ParameterGroup> pgMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+    private ParameterGroup pg = new TestParametersL10("pg");
+
+    @Before
+    public void initMap() {
+        pgMap.put("entry0", new TestParametersLGeneric("entry0"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testGroupMapValidationResult() throws NoSuchFieldException, SecurityException {
+        GroupMapValidationResult result = new GroupMapValidationResult(this.getClass().getDeclaredField("pgMap"),
+                        pgMap);
+
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals("pgMap", result.getName());
+
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION);
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+
+        // Once the status is stepped, it can't be reset back because it is the status of map members
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.CLEAN);
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "Something was observed");
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+        assertEquals("parameter group map \"pgMap\" OBSERVATION, Something was observed", result.getResult().trim());
+
+        result.setResult("entry0", new GroupValidationResult(pgMap.get("entry0")));
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+        assertEquals("parameter group map \"pgMap\" OBSERVATION, Something was observed", result.getResult().trim());
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("nonExistantEntry", new GroupValidationResult(pgMap.get("entry0")));
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("no entry with name \"nonExistantEntry\" exists", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testGroupValidationResult() throws NoSuchFieldException, SecurityException {
+        GroupValidationResult result = new GroupValidationResult(pg);
+
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(pg, result.getParameterGroup());
+        assertEquals("pg", result.getName());
+
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION);
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+
+        // Once the status is stepped, it can't be reset back because it is the status of map members
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.CLEAN);
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+
+        result.setResult(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "Something was observed");
+        assertTrue(result.isValid());
+        assertEquals(ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, result.getStatus());
+        assertEquals("parameter group \"pg\" type \"org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10\""
+                        + " OBSERVATION, Something was observed", result.getResult().trim());
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("nonExistantParameter", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "Something was observed");
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("no regular parameter field exists for parameter: nonExistantParameter", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("l10LGenericNestedMap", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "Something was observed");
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("parameter not a regular parameter: l10LGenericNestedMap", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("nonExistantParameter", new GroupValidationResult(pg));
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("no nested parameter field exists for parameter: nonExistantParameter", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("l10IntField", new GroupValidationResult(pg));
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("parameter is not a nested group parameter: l10IntField", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        GroupMapValidationResult groupMapResult = new GroupMapValidationResult(
+                        this.getClass().getDeclaredField("pgMap"), pgMap);
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("nonExistantParameter", "entry0", groupMapResult);
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("no group map parameter field exists for parameter: nonExistantParameter", e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        try {
+            result.setResult("l10IntField", "entry0", groupMapResult);
+            fail("test shold throw an exception here");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            assertEquals("parameter is not a nested group map parameter: l10IntField", e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestYamlInput.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestYamlInput.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d803525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/TestYamlInput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import java.io.FileReader;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00;
+import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml;
+
+public class TestYamlInput {
+    @Test
+    public void testYamlInput() throws IOException {
+        TestParametersL00 testParameterGroup = null;
+
+        // Read the parameters
+        try {
+            // Read the parameters from JSON using Gson
+            final Yaml yaml = new Yaml();
+            testParameterGroup = yaml.loadAs(new FileReader("src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.yaml"), TestParametersL00.class);
+        } catch (final Exception e) {
+            fail("test should not throw an exception here: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = testParameterGroup.validate();
+        assertTrue(validationResult.isValid());
+        assertEquals("l00NameFromFile", testParameterGroup.getName());
+        
+        String expectedResult = new String(Files.readAllBytes(
+                        Paths.get("src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestJsonYamlValidationResult.txt")))
+                                        .replaceAll("\\s+", "");
+        assertEquals(expectedResult, validationResult.getResult("", "  ", true).replaceAll("\\s+", ""));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterValidator.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/EmptyParameterGroup.java
index 0d718267..f545ce65 100644
--- a/common-parameters/src/main/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/ParameterValidator.java
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/EmptyParameterGroup.java
@@ -18,19 +18,25 @@
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
 
-package org.onap.policy.common.parameters;
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
 
-/**
- * This interface is implemented by ONAP PF parameter classes so that they can be validated.
- *
- * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
- */
-public interface ParameterValidator {
-    /**
-     * Validate a parameter java bean, if the parameter bean is valid, an empty string is returned,
-     * otherwise the string gives details of the invalid parameters.
-     *
-     * @return the string with validation errors
-     */
-    String validate();
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class EmptyParameterGroup implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+
+    public EmptyParameterGroup(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithArray.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithArray.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdab1272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithArray.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithArray implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private int[] intArray = {1, 2, 3};
+
+    public ParameterGroupWithArray(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public int[] getIntArray() {
+        return intArray;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithCollection.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithCollection.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f993099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithCollection.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithCollection implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private List<Integer> intArrayList = new ArrayList<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithCollection(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+        
+        intArrayList.add(1);
+        intArrayList.add(2);
+        intArrayList.add(3);
+    }
+
+    public List<Integer> getIntArrayList() {
+        return intArrayList;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3de3270e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey.java
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private Map<Integer, ParameterGroup> badMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapKey(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+        
+        badMap.put(1, new TestParametersLGeneric("One"));
+        badMap.put(2, new TestParametersLGeneric("Two"));
+        badMap.put(3, new TestParametersLGeneric("Three"));
+    }
+
+    public Map<Integer, ParameterGroup> getBadMap() {
+        return badMap;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8eb697a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private Map<String, Integer> intMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithIllegalMapValue(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+        
+        intMap.put("One", 1);
+        intMap.put("Two", 2);
+        intMap.put("Three", 3);
+    }
+
+    public Map<String, Integer> getIntMap() {
+        return intMap;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullCollection.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullCollection.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..37399da3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullCollection.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithNullCollection implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private List<Integer> nullList = null;
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithNullCollection(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public List<Integer> getNullList() {
+        return nullList;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..80f55355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private Map<String, Integer> nullMap = null;
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithNullMapValue(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public Map<String, Integer> getNullMap() {
+        return nullMap;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7d1de75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+
+public class ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private List<ParameterGroup> parameterGroupArrayList = new ArrayList<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public ParameterGroupWithParameterGroupCollection(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+        
+        parameterGroupArrayList.add(new TestParametersLGeneric("Generic0"));
+        parameterGroupArrayList.add(new TestParametersLGeneric("Generic1"));
+        parameterGroupArrayList.add(new TestParametersLGeneric("Generic2"));
+    }
+
+    public List<ParameterGroup> getIntArrayList() {
+        return parameterGroupArrayList;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        return new GroupValidationResult(this);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL00.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL00.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b8460cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL00.java
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterConstants;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
+
+public class TestParametersL00 implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private int l00IntField = 0;
+    private String l00StringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+    private TestParametersL10 l00L10Nested = new TestParametersL10("l00L10Nested");
+    private TestParametersLGeneric l00LGenericNested = new TestParametersLGeneric("l00LGenericNested");
+    private Map<String, TestParametersLGeneric> l00LGenericNestedMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Default constructor
+     */
+    public TestParametersL00() {
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public TestParametersL00(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+
+        TestParametersLGeneric l00LGenericNestedMapVal0 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l00LGenericNestedMapVal0");
+        l00LGenericNestedMap.put(l00LGenericNestedMapVal0.getName(), l00LGenericNestedMapVal0);
+        TestParametersLGeneric l00LGenericNestedMapVal1 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l00LGenericNestedMapVal1");
+        l00LGenericNestedMap.put(l00LGenericNestedMapVal1.getName(), l00LGenericNestedMapVal1);
+    }
+
+    public void setName(String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public void setL00IntField(int l00IntField) {
+        this.l00IntField = l00IntField;
+    }
+
+    public void setL00StringField(String l00StringField) {
+        this.l00StringField = l00StringField;
+    }
+
+    public void setL00L10Nested(TestParametersL10 l00l10Nested) {
+        l00L10Nested = l00l10Nested;
+    }
+
+    public void setL00LGenericNested(TestParametersLGeneric l00lGenericNested) {
+        l00LGenericNested = l00lGenericNested;
+    }
+
+    public void setL00LGenericNestedMap(Map<String, TestParametersLGeneric> l00lGenericNestedMap) {
+        l00LGenericNestedMap = l00lGenericNestedMap;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Trigger a validation message.
+     * 
+     * @param triggerStatus Validation status to trigger
+     * @param level Number of levels to recurse before stopping
+     */
+    public void triggerValidationStatus(final ValidationStatus triggerStatus, int level) {
+        if (level == 0) {
+            return;
+        } else {
+            level--;
+        }
+
+        switch (triggerStatus) {
+            case CLEAN:
+                l00StringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+                l00IntField = 0;
+                break;
+            case OBSERVATION:
+                l00StringField = "aString";
+                l00IntField = 2;
+                break;
+            case WARNING:
+                l00StringField = "l00StringField";
+                l00IntField = 3;
+                break;
+            case INVALID:
+                l00StringField = "";
+                l00IntField = -1;
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+        }
+
+        l00L10Nested.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+        l00LGenericNested.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+
+        for (TestParametersLGeneric nestedParameterGroup : l00LGenericNestedMap.values()) {
+            nestedParameterGroup.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = new GroupValidationResult(this);
+
+        if (name == null || name.trim().length() == 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("name", ValidationStatus.INVALID, "name must be a non-blank string");
+        }
+
+        if (l00StringField == null || l00StringField.trim().length() == 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00StringField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "l00StringField must be a non-blank string");
+        } else if (l00StringField.equals("l00StringField")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00StringField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous");
+        } else if (l00StringField.equals("aString")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00StringField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION,
+                            "this value for name is unhelpful");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00StringField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+        if (l00IntField < 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00IntField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "l00IntField must be a positive integer");
+        } else if (l00IntField > 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00IntField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "values greater than 2 are not recommended");
+        } else if (l00IntField == 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00IntField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "this field has been set to 2");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00IntField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+        validationResult.setResult("l00L10Nested", l00L10Nested.validate());
+        validationResult.setResult("l00LGenericNested", l00LGenericNested.validate());
+
+        for (Entry<String, TestParametersLGeneric> nestedGroupEntry : l00LGenericNestedMap.entrySet()) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l00LGenericNestedMap", nestedGroupEntry.getKey(),
+                            nestedGroupEntry.getValue().validate());
+        }
+
+        return validationResult;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL10.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL10.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..94a67ec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersL10.java
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterConstants;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
+
+public class TestParametersL10 implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private int l10IntField = 0;
+    private String l10StringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+    private TestParametersLGeneric l10LGenericNested0 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l10LGenericNested0");
+    private TestParametersLGeneric l10LGenericNested1 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l10LGenericNested1");
+    private Map<String, TestParametersLGeneric> l10LGenericNestedMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Default constructor
+     */
+    public TestParametersL10() {
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public TestParametersL10(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+
+        TestParametersLGeneric l10LGenericNestedMapVal0 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l10LGenericNestedMapVal0");
+        l10LGenericNestedMap.put(l10LGenericNestedMapVal0.getName(), l10LGenericNestedMapVal0);
+        TestParametersLGeneric l10LGenericNestedMapVal1 = new TestParametersLGeneric("l10LGenericNestedMapVal1");
+        l10LGenericNestedMap.put(l10LGenericNestedMapVal1.getName(), l10LGenericNestedMapVal1);
+    }
+
+    public void setName(String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public void setL10IntField(int l10IntField) {
+        this.l10IntField = l10IntField;
+    }
+
+    public void setL10StringField(String l10StringField) {
+        this.l10StringField = l10StringField;
+    }
+
+    public void setL10LGenericNested0(TestParametersLGeneric l10lGenericNested0) {
+        l10LGenericNested0 = l10lGenericNested0;
+    }
+
+    public void setL10LGenericNested1(TestParametersLGeneric l10lGenericNested1) {
+        l10LGenericNested1 = l10lGenericNested1;
+    }
+
+    public void setL10LGenericNestedMap(Map<String, TestParametersLGeneric> l10lGenericNestedMap) {
+        l10LGenericNestedMap = l10lGenericNestedMap;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Trigger a validation message.
+     * 
+     * @param level Number of levels to recurse before stopping
+     */
+    public void triggerValidationStatus(final ValidationStatus triggerStatus, int level) {
+        if (level == 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        else {
+            level--;
+        }
+
+        switch (triggerStatus) {
+            case CLEAN:
+                l10StringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+                l10IntField = 0;
+                break;
+            case OBSERVATION:
+                l10StringField = "aString";
+                l10IntField = 2;
+                break;
+            case WARNING:
+                l10StringField = "l10StringField";
+                l10IntField = 3;
+                break;
+            case INVALID:
+                l10StringField = "";
+                l10IntField = -1;
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+        }
+
+        l10LGenericNested0.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+        l10LGenericNested1.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+
+        for (TestParametersLGeneric nestedParameterGroup : l10LGenericNestedMap.values()) {
+            nestedParameterGroup.triggerValidationStatus(triggerStatus, level);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.name;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = new GroupValidationResult(this);
+
+        if (l10StringField == null || l10StringField.trim().length() == 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10StringField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "l10StringField must be a non-blank string");
+        } else if (l10StringField.equals("l10StringField")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10StringField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous");
+        } else if (l10StringField.equals("aString")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10StringField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION,
+                            "this value for name is unhelpful");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10StringField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+        if (l10IntField < 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10IntField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "l10IntField must be a positive integer");
+        } else if (l10IntField > 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10IntField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "values greater than 2 are not recommended");
+        } else if (l10IntField == 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10IntField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION, "this field has been set to 2");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10IntField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+
+        validationResult.setResult("l10LGenericNested0", l10LGenericNested0.validate());
+        validationResult.setResult("l10LGenericNested1", l10LGenericNested1.validate());
+
+        for (Entry<String, TestParametersLGeneric> nestedGroupEntry : l10LGenericNestedMap.entrySet()) {
+            validationResult.setResult("l10LGenericNestedMap", nestedGroupEntry.getKey(),
+                            nestedGroupEntry.getValue().validate());
+        }
+
+        return validationResult;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersLGeneric.java b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersLGeneric.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ce368bac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/common/parameters/testclasses/TestParametersLGeneric.java
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/*-
+ * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
+ *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ * ================================================================================
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * 
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
+ */
+
+package org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses;
+
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterGroup;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.GroupValidationResult;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterConstants;
+import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ValidationStatus;
+
+public class TestParametersLGeneric implements ParameterGroup {
+    private String name;
+    private int lgenericIntField = 0;
+    private String lgenericStringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+    
+    /**
+     * Default constructor
+     */
+    public TestParametersLGeneric() {
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Create a test parameter group.
+     * 
+     * @param name the parameter group name
+     */
+    public TestParametersLGeneric(final String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public void setName(String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public void setLgenericIntField(int lgenericIntField) {
+        this.lgenericIntField = lgenericIntField;
+    }
+
+    public void setLgenericStringField(String lgenericStringField) {
+        this.lgenericStringField = lgenericStringField;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Trigger a validation message.
+     * 
+     * @param level Number of levels to recurse before stopping
+     */
+    public void triggerValidationStatus(final ValidationStatus triggerStatus, int level) {
+        if (level == 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        else {
+            level--;
+        }
+
+        switch (triggerStatus) {
+            case CLEAN:
+                lgenericStringField = "Legal " + this.getClass().getCanonicalName();
+                lgenericIntField = 0;
+                break;
+            case OBSERVATION:
+                lgenericStringField = "aString";
+                lgenericIntField = 2;
+                break;
+            case WARNING:
+                lgenericStringField = "lgenericStringField";
+                lgenericIntField = 3;
+                break;
+            case INVALID:
+                lgenericStringField = "";
+                lgenericIntField = -1;
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return this.name;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public GroupValidationResult validate() {
+        GroupValidationResult validationResult = new GroupValidationResult(this);
+
+        if (lgenericStringField == null || lgenericStringField.trim().length() == 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericStringField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "lgenericStringField must be a non-blank string");
+        } else if (lgenericStringField.equals("lgenericStringField")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericStringField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous");
+        } else if (lgenericStringField.equals("aString")) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericStringField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION,
+                            "this value for name is unhelpful");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericStringField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+        if (lgenericIntField < 0) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericIntField", ValidationStatus.INVALID,
+                            "lgenericIntField must be a positive integer");
+        } else if (lgenericIntField > 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericIntField", ValidationStatus.WARNING,
+                            "values greater than 2 are not recommended");
+        } else if (lgenericIntField == 2) {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericIntField", ValidationStatus.OBSERVATION,
+                            "this field has been set to 2");
+        } else {
+            validationResult.setResult("lgenericIntField", ValidationStatus.CLEAN,
+                            ParameterConstants.PARAMETER_HAS_STATUS_MESSAGE + ValidationStatus.CLEAN.toString());
+        }
+
+        return validationResult;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestJsonYamlValidationResult.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestJsonYamlValidationResult.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..103321ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestJsonYamlValidationResult.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+parameter group "l00NameFromFile" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+  field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00NameFromFile" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00 string field value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group "l00L10NestedNameFromFile" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+    field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00L10NestedNameFromFile" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00 L10 nested string field value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested0NameFromFile" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNested0NameFromFile" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l10 generic nested 0 string field value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested1NameFromFile" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNested1NameFromFile" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l10 generic nested 1 string field value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group map "l10LGenericNestedMap" CLEAN, parameter group map has status CLEAN
+      parameter group "L10Entry0Name" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+        field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "L10Entry0Name" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "L10Entry0 value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      parameter group "L10Entry1Name" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+        field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "L10Entry1Name" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "L10Entry1 value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group "l00GenericNestedNameFromFile" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+    field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00GenericNestedNameFromFile" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00 generic nested string field value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group map "l00LGenericNestedMap" CLEAN, parameter group map has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "L00Entry0Name" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "L00Entry0Name" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "L00Entry0 value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "L00Entry1Name" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "L00Entry1Name" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "L00Entry1 value from file" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_0_OK.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_0_OK.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f6d298c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_0_OK.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+  field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l0Parameters" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+    field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00L10Nested" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNested0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNested1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group map "l10LGenericNestedMap" CLEAN, parameter group map has status CLEAN
+      parameter group "l10LGenericNestedMapVal0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+        field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNestedMapVal0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      parameter group "l10LGenericNestedMapVal1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+        field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l10LGenericNestedMapVal1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+        field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+    field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00LGenericNested" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+  parameter group map "l00LGenericNestedMap" CLEAN, parameter group map has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l00LGenericNestedMapVal0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00LGenericNestedMapVal0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+    parameter group "l00LGenericNestedMapVal1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter group has status CLEAN
+      field "name" type "java.lang.String" value "l00LGenericNestedMapVal1" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "0" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "Legal org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" CLEAN, parameter has status CLEAN
+
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Invalid.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Invalid.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dcc3cee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Invalid.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, l00IntField must be a positive integer
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, l00StringField must be a non-blank string
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Observation.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Observation.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae627926
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Observation.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Warning.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Warning.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..14a65aa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_1_Warning.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00StringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Invalid.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Invalid.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cec8f208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Invalid.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, l00IntField must be a positive integer
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, l00StringField must be a non-blank string
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, l10IntField must be a positive integer
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, l10StringField must be a non-blank string
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, lgenericIntField must be a positive integer
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, lgenericStringField must be a non-blank string
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Observation.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Observation.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45402033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Observation.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Warning.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Warning.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..33d1d16a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_2_Warning.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00StringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l10StringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "lgenericStringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Invalid.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Invalid.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fecfe70d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Invalid.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, l00IntField must be a positive integer
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, l00StringField must be a non-blank string
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, l10IntField must be a positive integer
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, l10StringField must be a non-blank string
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, lgenericIntField must be a positive integer
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, lgenericStringField must be a non-blank string
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, lgenericIntField must be a positive integer
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, lgenericStringField must be a non-blank string
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "-1" INVALID, lgenericIntField must be a positive integer
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "" INVALID, lgenericStringField must be a non-blank string
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Observation.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Observation.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00fe6627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Observation.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" OBSERVATION, parameter group has status OBSERVATION
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "2" OBSERVATION, this field has been set to 2
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "aString" OBSERVATION, this value for name is unhelpful
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Warning.txt b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Warning.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c1c639d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/expectedValidationResults/TestParametersL0_3_Warning.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+parameter group "l0Parameters" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL00" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+  field "l00IntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+  field "l00StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l00StringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+  parameter group "l00L10Nested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersL10" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+    field "l10IntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+    field "l10StringField" type "java.lang.String" value "l10StringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested0" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "lgenericStringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+    parameter group "l10LGenericNested1" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+      field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+      field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "lgenericStringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
+  parameter group "l00LGenericNested" type "org.onap.policy.common.parameters.testclasses.TestParametersLGeneric" WARNING, parameter group has status WARNING
+    field "lgenericIntField" type "int" value "3" WARNING, values greater than 2 are not recommended
+    field "lgenericStringField" type "java.lang.String" value "lgenericStringField" WARNING, using the field name for the parameter value is dangerous
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.json b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e312166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.json
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+    "name" : "l00NameFromFile",
+    "l00IntField" : 1,
+    "l00StringField" : "l00 string field value from file",
+    "l00L10Nested" : {
+        "name" : "l00L10NestedNameFromFile",
+        "l10IntField" : 1,
+        "l10StringField" : "l00 L10 nested string field value from file",
+        "l10LGenericNested0" : {
+            "name" : "l10LGenericNested0NameFromFile",
+            "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+            "lgenericStringField" : "l10 generic nested 0 string field value from file"
+        },
+        "l10LGenericNested1" : {
+            "name" : "l10LGenericNested1NameFromFile",
+            "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+            "lgenericStringField" : "l10 generic nested 1 string field value from file"
+        },
+        "l10LGenericNestedMap": {
+            "L10Entry0": {
+                "name" : "L10Entry0Name",
+                "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+                "lgenericStringField" : "L10Entry0 value from file"
+            },
+            "L10Entry1": {
+                "name" : "L10Entry1Name",
+                "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+                "lgenericStringField" : "L10Entry1 value from file"
+            }
+        }
+    },
+    "l00LGenericNested" : {
+        "name" : "l00GenericNestedNameFromFile",
+        "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+        "lgenericStringField" : "l00 generic nested string field value from file"
+    },
+    "l00LGenericNestedMap": {
+        "L00Entry0": {
+            "name" : "L00Entry0Name",
+            "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+            "lgenericStringField" : "L00Entry0 value from file"
+        },
+        "L00Entry1": {
+            "name" : "L00Entry1Name",
+            "lgenericIntField" : 1,
+            "lgenericStringField" : "L00Entry1 value from file"
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.yaml b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c7e17f6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common-parameters/src/test/resources/parameters/TestParameters.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+name: l00NameFromFile
+l00IntField: 1
+l00StringField: l00 string field value from file
+l00L10Nested:
+  name: l00L10NestedNameFromFile
+  l10IntField: 1
+  l10StringField: l00 L10 nested string field value from file
+  l10LGenericNested0:
+    name: l10LGenericNested0NameFromFile
+    lgenericIntField: 1
+    lgenericStringField: l10 generic nested 0 string field value from file
+  l10LGenericNested1:
+    name: l10LGenericNested1NameFromFile
+    lgenericIntField: 1
+    lgenericStringField: l10 generic nested 1 string field value from file
+  l10LGenericNestedMap:
+    l10Entry0:
+      name: L10Entry0Name
+      lgenericIntField: 1
+      lgenericStringField: L10Entry0 value from file
+    L10Entry1:
+      name: L10Entry1Name
+      lgenericIntField: 1
+      lgenericStringField: L10Entry1 value from file
+l00LGenericNested:
+  name: l00GenericNestedNameFromFile
+  lgenericIntField: 1
+  lgenericStringField: l00 generic nested string field value from file
+l00LGenericNestedMap:
+  L00Entry0:
+    name: L00Entry0Name
+    lgenericIntField: 1
+    lgenericStringField: L00Entry0 value from file
+  L00Entry1:
+    name: L00Entry1Name
+    lgenericIntField: 1
+    lgenericStringField: L00Entry1 value from file