Writing & StyleStyle guide

Dataset-to-XPORT File Naming in FDA Submission

FDA’s June 2026 conformance guide states that the dataset contained in a transport file should be named the same as the transport file, making file-system naming a distinct submission-packaging requirement from variable and dataset syntax rules.

Quick answer

For FDA XPORT submissions covered by the current conformance guide, keep the dataset name and transport-file name aligned as specified by the guide.

Key details

Core IssueFDA’s June 2026 conformance guide states that the dataset contained in a transport file should be named the same as the transport file, making file-system naming a distinct submission-packaging requirement from variable and dataset syntax rules.
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Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This is current FDA technical-conformance guidance for electronic study-data submissions; recheck the current FDA guide, supported standards, and eCTD specifications before relying on version-sensitive requirements.

Further guidance

Content

Treat the transport-file mapping as a file-packaging rule; do not merge it with the separate rules governing variable names, dataset names inside standards, labels, or metadata.

Purpose

For FDA XPORT submissions covered by the current conformance guide, keep the dataset name and transport-file name aligned as specified by the guide.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Study Data Technical Conformance Guide - Technical Specifications Document (opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Current FDA technical specifications for standardized clinical and nonclinical study-data submissions, including reviewer guides, datasets and eCTD organization.

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