private Boolean preFlightSanityChecks() {

		// check whether user entered both values for template id/template file
		if (!this.templateID.equals("") && !this.templateFile.equals("")) {
			JenkinsLogger
					.error("Values were provided for both template id and file. Please provide just one or the other.");
			return false;
		}

		// check whether user provided neither template id nor file
		if (!this.templateID.equals("") && !this.templateFile.equals("")) {
			JenkinsLogger
					.error("No value was provided for template ID or file. Please provide either a valid Skytap template ID, or a valid template file.");
			return false;
		}

		// check whether user entered both values for conf id/conf file
		if (!this.configurationID.equals("")
				&& !this.configurationFile.equals("")) {
			JenkinsLogger
					.error("Values were provided for both environment ID and file. Please provide just one or the other.");
			return false;
		}

		// check whether we have neither conf id or file
		if (this.configurationFile.equals("")
				&& this.configurationID.equals("")) {
			JenkinsLogger
					.error("No value was provided for environment ID or file. Please provide either a valid Skytap environment ID, or a valid environment file.");
			return false;
		}

		// check whether no environment file value was provided
		if (this.configFile.equals("")) {
			JenkinsLogger
					.log("No optional value was provided for a new environment data save file. Continuing...");
			return true;
		}

		return true;

	}