code: def validate(self, value):
          
          # check for the required flag
          if self.testFlag(self.Flags.Required) and not self.testFlag(self.Flags.AutoAssign):
              if self.isNull(value):
                  msg = '{0} is a required column.'.format(self.name())
                  raise orb.errors.ColumnValidationError(self, msg)
  
          # otherwise, we're good
          return True
docs: Validates the inputted value against this columns rules.  If the inputted value does not pass, then
          a validation error will be raised.  Override this method in column sub-classes for more
          specialized validation.
  
          :param      value | <variant>
  
          :return     <bool> success