# Checks related to length of variables

**URL:** <https://forum.certara.com/t/checks-related-to-length-of-variables/299>\
**Category:** Validation Rule Suggestions\
**Created:** [May 1, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.certara.com/t/checks-related-to-length-of-variables/299 "2012-05-01T00:09:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sergiy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/certara/user_avatar/forum.certara.com/sergiy/32/2553_2.png) [@Sergiy](https://forum.certara.com/u/Sergiy)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://forum.certara.com/t/checks-related-to-length-of-variables/299/1 "2012-05-02T15:08:21Z")

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Hi!

I agree with comment about checks around (NY) control terminology. They are already fixed, but not published yet.

Thank you,

Sergiy

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**Author:** ![carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e495f1/32.png) [@carmichael](https://forum.certara.com/u/carmichael)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.certara.com/t/checks-related-to-length-of-variables/299/2 "2012-06-11T21:14:12Z")

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I think Carol’s comment about ARMCD length is also valid. We shouldn’t see “warning” messages if we are using less than the recommended length of variables - the FDA seems to think that’s a good thing!

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**Author:** ![Carol\_Vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@Carol\_Vaughn](https://forum.certara.com/u/Carol_Vaughn)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.certara.com/t/checks-related-to-length-of-variables/299/3 "2012-05-01T00:09:40Z")

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I don’t think that checks related to lengths of variables should be included. FDA is pushing for reducing the length of each variable in a submission to the minumum length needed to accomodate the longest value. Therefore, for example, if the longest value of ARMCD in a submission is 4, the length should not be forced to 20.

Also, checks such as SD1054 which use the NY codelist should not be forced to a length of 1 for all the variables listed. “NA” is a valid value in the NY codelist. For example, if the collected value of CMOCCUR is “NA” for the birth control pill for males in the study, the length of this --OCCUR variable would need to be 2.