# Design has 19 columns but only 18 are used: what to do?

**URL:** <https://forum.surveyengine.com/t/design-has-19-columns-but-only-18-are-used-what-to-do/364>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** experiment-design\
**Created:** [16 January 2026 14:44 UTC](https://forum.surveyengine.com/t/design-has-19-columns-but-only-18-are-used-what-to-do/364 "2026-01-16T14:44:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![healthgov.asmph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@healthgov.asmph](https://forum.surveyengine.com/u/healthgov.asmph)\
**Post date:** [16 January 2026 14:44 UTC](https://forum.surveyengine.com/t/design-has-19-columns-but-only-18-are-used-what-to-do/364/1 "2026-01-16T14:44:57Z")

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In the design tab of the Forced experiment, I find an error that says “Design has 19 columns, but only 18 are used.” When I try to publish my survey, automated checks flag this error. How do I correct this and proceed?

 ![Screenshot 2026-01-09 at 10.29.50 AM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/surveyengine/original/1X/341208cbbc85ce0f4a4cdee6e0e256e92bc2e415.png)

 ![Screenshot 2026-01-09 at 10.30.10 AM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/surveyengine/original/1X/86ae5add295797b5f45bfce79271c189388f2924.png)

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**Author:** ![benno](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.surveyengine.com/benno/32/3_2.png) [@benno](https://forum.surveyengine.com/u/benno)\
**Post date:** [16 January 2026 14:45 UTC](https://forum.surveyengine.com/t/design-has-19-columns-but-only-18-are-used-what-to-do/364/2 "2026-01-16T14:45:58Z")

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Can you go through every step to reproduce this in detail - this looks like the uploaded design had additional columns.