On the call last week, it was agreed that a conservative approach to pattern based lengths was sufficient for DFDL 1.0. Revised text for 12.3.5.1: 12.3.5.1 Pattern-Based Lengths - Scanability dfdl:lengthKind 'pattern' may be specified for · elements of simple type with representation 'text' · elements of complex type For an element of complex type: all simple child elements must have representation 'text' and have the same encoding as the parent complex element, and all complex child elements must themselves follow 1 and 2 (recursively). Similar wording to apply to dfdl:assert testKind="pattern". Regards Steve Hanson Architect, Data Format Description Language (DFDL) Co-Chair, OGF DFDL Working Group IBM SWG, Hursley, UK smh@uk.ibm.com tel:+44-1962-815848 Unless stated otherwise above: IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598. Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU