# How to quickly check if a tag is required or not

**URL:** <https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311>\
**Category:** General Q&A\
**Tags:** general-qa, imported, xid\_166024\
**Created:** [November 26, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311 "2012-11-26T19:30:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jibinhan\_x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@jibinhan\_x](https://forum.fixtrading.org/u/jibinhan_x)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311/1 "2012-11-26T19:30:07Z")

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Imported from previous forum

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**Author:** ![jibinhan\_x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@jibinhan\_x](https://forum.fixtrading.org/u/jibinhan_x)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311/2 "2012-11-26T19:30:07Z")

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Hi,

It seems fixmate does not indicate if a tag is required, conditional required or optional. Is there a quicker way to get that than pulling out PDF?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![jaspergrootaers93\_x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jaspergrootaers93\_x](https://forum.fixtrading.org/u/jaspergrootaers93_x)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311/3 "2012-11-26T19:38:15Z")

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Hi,

Yes it does.

How are you searching?

Regards.  
JG

> Hi,
> 
> It seems fixmate does not indicate if a tag is required, conditional required or optional. Is there a quicker way to get that than pulling out PDF?
> 
> Thanks!

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**Author:** ![jim.northey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/forum.fixtrading.org/jim.northey/32/37_2.png) [@jim.northey](https://forum.fixtrading.org/u/jim.northey)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311/4 "2012-11-26T19:53:31Z")

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Maybe the issue is conceptual. FIX fields in and of themselves are never required. Their usage within a message or component may be required. You need to look at message and component definitions to determine if a field is required in a specific context. Neither FIXimate nor FIXwiki give a summary of whether the use of a field in a specific context is required or not. Might be an interesting enhancement to one or both.

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**Author:** ![adityakapur](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/forum.fixtrading.org/adityakapur/32/179_2.png) [@adityakapur](https://forum.fixtrading.org/u/adityakapur)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.fixtrading.org/t/how-to-quickly-check-if-a-tag-is-required-or-not/2311/5 "2012-11-26T21:25:36Z")

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Perhaps in the FIXimate message layout – the Req’d column could indicate either “Y”, “N” or “C” to show if a particular field is required, optional or conditionally required instead of just containing a checkmark. Also a brief one line context could be given for conditionally required fields (just like Tag 1032). The data dictionary in the FIX volume also might be ideal perhaps…

> Maybe the issue is conceptual. FIX fields in and of themselves are never required. Their usage within a message or component may be required. You need to look at message and component definitions to determine if a field is required in a specific context. Neither FIXimate nor FIXwiki give a summary of whether the use of a field in a specific context is required or not. Might be an interesting enhancement to one or both.