Abstract
A complete and accurate experimental test of theoretical spectroscopic data sets (state positions, lifetimes) available for the n = 3–5 terms of the 1s23lnl' Rydberg series of oxygen and neon ions is presented in a series of two papers. This result was achieved by fitting our high resolution electron spectra with post-collisional lineshapes calculated with the help of these spectroscopic data. In this paper the method which has been developed for this fitting procedure is explained. In addition, as a first test, a comparison of all the available calculated spectroscopic data is presented and discussed. Strong deviations of transition energies and decay lifetimes are observed in many cases. Best data are selected in the following companion paper through a quantitative comparison with our experimental electron spectra.