A variable can be defined as mandatory or optional. A variable is mandatory only when its view is marked mandatory and all containers of the variable are marked mandatory, as well as the variable itself. If any containing structure, sub-structure, or other recursive or nested container is optional, then the variable is optional.
An optional variable does not require a value. This is reflected in the attribute state variable.
The attribute state variable is sufficient to determine whether a value is assigned for all data types other than date and timestamp. If the attribute state variable indicates that the value is present, then optionality is always successful. If a value is not present and the variable is optional, then optionality is also successful. When a value is not present and the variable is mandatory, then the field is flagged in error.
In the case of date and timestamp, it is necessary to check components of the entry for zeroes. Zero dates and timestamps that are omitted or empty are legal only for optional variables. If specified for a mandatory variable, then the field containing the zero value is marked in error. Times are not included in this test because a value of zero is legal even for a mandatory variable.
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