Skip to main content

CALPADS error brief · FRMT

FRMT0009

Invalid column count for file type
Severity
FATAL error - Must be corrected in order to post the record and/or certify the data.
Error type PLAN - Special Education Plan
Record type FRMT

Official CALPADS rule

What CALPADS is rejecting

Format for invalid column (fields) count based on file type.

Focus fields

Fields validated

All PLAN fields

Recommended correction path

Suggested resolution

PLAN validation

Severity: Fatal   Type: Input Validation

Fields validated

  • All PLAN fields (23.01–23.35)

A blank optional field still occupies a position. Adjacent delimiters preserve that empty position; removing the position shifts every field that follows.

How a 35-position PLAN row becomes the wrong length

PositionsContentsFrequent structural failure
23.01–23.10Record, transaction, local identifiers, LEA, year, SSID, SELPA and DSEAA leading zero is lost or a local identifier contains the file delimiter.
23.11–23.20Plan type/date/reason, residence, disabilities, support and settingA blank conditional field is deleted instead of preserved.
23.21–23.30Preschool, participation and transition-plan informationA spreadsheet paste introduces a comma, tab, return, or shifted value.
23.31–23.35Participation, transportation and Part C-to-B transition fieldsTrailing blank positions are omitted by the export.

Concrete checks

  • Count delimiters in the raw file rather than a formatted spreadsheet.
  • Confirm each row contains all 35 PLAN positions.
  • Inspect embedded commas, tabs, returns, quotation marks, and pasted narrative text.
  • Check whether trailing blank fields 23.34 and 23.35 were dropped.
  • Compare the export header or mapping with the Version 18 PLAN layout.

Recommended correction path

  1. 1

    Preserve the rejection

    Capture the submission ID, raw PLAN row, row number, file name, error details, and applicable ODS history.

  2. 2

    Identify the exact failure

    Determine whether the problem is structural formatting, a literal field value, a duplicate within the batch, or a collision with accepted history.

  3. 3

    Confirm identity and ownership

    Verify SSID, Reporting LEA, Reporting SELPA, SENR enrollment context, and the intended student before changing special education data.

  4. 4

    Reconcile the event

    Compare the governing plan, MEET event, SWDS status, local special education system, and existing PLAN history.

  5. 5

    Correct the responsible source

    Restore the missing position or remove the unintended extra delimiter in the source export. Do not move values manually until the responsible field is identified. Repair any repeatable export or crosswalk defect.

  6. 6

    Regenerate and verify

    Resubmit the untouched regenerated row, confirm acceptance, and inspect neighboring PLAN and SERV history for unintended changes.

Official references