diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/models/operation_params.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/models/operation_params.py
index 7174f09e9..3cc8b938a 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/models/operation_params.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/models/operation_params.py
@@ -62,3 +62,4 @@ class OperationParams:
     value_is_reference: bool = False
     namespace: str = None
     delimiter: str = None
+    define_xml_path: str = None
diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/base_operation.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/base_operation.py
index a045a323b..80c088a36 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/base_operation.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/base_operation.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import os
+
+from cdisc_rules_engine.constants.define_xml_constants import DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME
 from cdisc_rules_engine.models.operation_params import OperationParams
 from cdisc_rules_engine.constants.permissibility import (
     PERMISSIBLE,
@@ -314,3 +317,16 @@ def _resolve_variable_name(variable_name, domain: str):
             if "--" in variable_name
             else variable_name
         )
+
+    def _get_define_contents(self):
+        define_path = (
+            self.params.define_xml_path
+            if self.params.define_xml_path
+            else os.path.join(self.params.directory_path, DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME)
+        )
+        if not os.path.exists(define_path):
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Define XML file {define_path} not found")
+        define_contents = self.data_service.get_define_xml_contents(
+            dataset_name=define_path
+        )
+        return define_contents
diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_dictionary_version_validator.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_dictionary_version_validator.py
index f1db3e4a2..2b4190896 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_dictionary_version_validator.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_dictionary_version_validator.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from cdisc_rules_engine.constants.define_xml_constants import DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME
 from cdisc_rules_engine.models.external_dictionaries_container import (
     DICTIONARY_VALIDATORS,
     DictionaryTypes,
@@ -8,7 +7,6 @@
 )
 from .base_operation import BaseOperation
 from cdisc_rules_engine.exceptions.custom_exceptions import UnsupportedDictionaryType
-import os
 
 
 class DefineDictionaryVersionValidator(BaseOperation):
@@ -36,9 +34,7 @@ def _execute_operation(self) -> bool:
             whodrug_path=self.params.whodrug_path,
             loinc_path=self.params.loinc_path,
         )
-        define_contents = self.data_service.get_define_xml_contents(
-            dataset_name=os.path.join(self.params.directory_path, DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME)
-        )
+        define_contents = self._get_define_contents()
         define_reader = DefineXMLReaderFactory.from_file_contents(define_contents)
         define_dictionary_version = define_reader.get_external_dictionary_version(
             self.params.external_dictionary_type
diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_variable_metadata.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_variable_metadata.py
index ab5e73eea..c6312cb82 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_variable_metadata.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/operations/define_variable_metadata.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-from cdisc_rules_engine.constants.define_xml_constants import DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME
 from cdisc_rules_engine.services.define_xml.define_xml_reader_factory import (
     DefineXMLReaderFactory,
 )
 from .base_operation import BaseOperation
-import os
 
 
 class DefineVariableMetadata(BaseOperation):
@@ -32,9 +30,7 @@ def _execute_operation(self):
                     ...
                 }
         """
-        define_contents = self.data_service.get_define_xml_contents(
-            dataset_name=os.path.join(self.params.directory_path, DEFINE_XML_FILE_NAME)
-        )
+        define_contents = self._get_define_contents()
         define_reader = DefineXMLReaderFactory.from_file_contents(define_contents)
         variables_metadata = define_reader.extract_variables_metadata(
             self.params.domain
diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/rules_engine.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/rules_engine.py
index 2d69de749..6a469f28a 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/rules_engine.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/rules_engine.py
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ def execute_rule(
             standard_substandard=self.standard_substandard,
             external_dictionaries=self.external_dictionaries,
             ct_packages=ct_packages,
+            define_xml_path=self.define_xml_path,
         )
         dataset_variable = DatasetVariable(
             dataset,
diff --git a/cdisc_rules_engine/utilities/rule_processor.py b/cdisc_rules_engine/utilities/rule_processor.py
index 407f67cb7..316cab635 100644
--- a/cdisc_rules_engine/utilities/rule_processor.py
+++ b/cdisc_rules_engine/utilities/rule_processor.py
@@ -234,11 +234,12 @@ def rule_applies_to_class(
         excluded_classes = classes.get("Exclude", [])
         is_included = True
         is_excluded = False
+        dataset_name = dataset_metadata.full_path
         if included_classes:
             if ALL_KEYWORD in included_classes:
                 return True
             variables = self.data_service.get_variables_metadata(
-                dataset_name=dataset_metadata.full_path, datasets=datasets
+                dataset_name=dataset_name, datasets=datasets
             ).data.variable_name
             class_name = self.data_service.get_dataset_class(
                 variables,
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ def rule_applies_to_class(
                 is_included = False
         if excluded_classes:
             variables = self.data_service.get_variables_metadata(
-                dataset_name=dataset_metadata.full_path, datasets=datasets
+                dataset_name=dataset_name, datasets=datasets
             ).data.variable_name
             class_name = self.data_service.get_dataset_class(
                 variables,
@@ -367,6 +368,7 @@ def perform_rule_operations(
                     for ct_package_type in operation.get("ct_package_types", [])
                 ],
                 ct_version=operation.get("version"),
+                define_xml_path=kwargs.get("define_xml_path"),
                 dataframe=dataset_copy,
                 dataset_path=dataset_path,
                 datasets=datasets,
diff --git a/tests/QARegressionTests/test_Issues/test_CoreIssue1248.py b/tests/QARegressionTests/test_Issues/test_CoreIssue1248.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b5b60572d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/QARegressionTests/test_Issues/test_CoreIssue1248.py
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+import pytest
+import json
+from conftest import get_python_executable
+
+
+@pytest.mark.regression
+class TestCoreIssue1248:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "command,rules_report,num_issues",
+        [
+            # define path provided will lead to successful execution
+            (
+                [
+                    f"{get_python_executable()}",
+                    "-m",
+                    "core",
+                    "validate",
+                    "-s",
+                    "sdtmig",
+                    "-v",
+                    "3-2",
+                    "-of",
+                    "JSON",
+                    "-lr",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "sample.yml"),
+                    "-cs",
+                    "-dxp",
+                    os.path.join(
+                        "tests",
+                        "resources",
+                        "CoreIssue1248",
+                        "define_subfolder",
+                        "define.xml",
+                    ),
+                    "-ps",
+                    "1",
+                    "-dp",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "data.xlsx"),
+                ],
+                [
+                    {
+                        "core_id": "SD1129",
+                        "version": "1",
+                        "cdisc_rule_id": "",
+                        "fda_rule_id": "",
+                        "message": "TEST",
+                        "status": "ISSUE REPORTED",
+                    }
+                ],
+                2,
+            ),
+            # JSON data file and no define.xml in same folder and no -dxp param will provide error
+            (
+                [
+                    f"{get_python_executable()}",
+                    "-m",
+                    "core",
+                    "validate",
+                    "-s",
+                    "sdtmig",
+                    "-v",
+                    "3-2",
+                    "-of",
+                    "JSON",
+                    "-lr",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "sample.yml"),
+                    "-cs",
+                    "-dp",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "relrec.json"),
+                    "-ps",
+                    "1",
+                ],
+                [
+                    {
+                        "core_id": "SD1129",
+                        "version": "1",
+                        "cdisc_rule_id": "",
+                        "fda_rule_id": "",
+                        "message": "TEST",
+                        "status": "EXECUTION ERROR",
+                    }
+                ],
+                1,
+            ),
+            # no define.xml in same path as data.xlsx file will provide error
+            (
+                [
+                    f"{get_python_executable()}",
+                    "-m",
+                    "core",
+                    "validate",
+                    "-s",
+                    "sdtmig",
+                    "-v",
+                    "3-2",
+                    "-of",
+                    "JSON",
+                    "-lr",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "sample.yml"),
+                    "-cs",
+                    "-dp",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "data.xlsx"),
+                    "-ps",
+                    "1",
+                ],
+                [
+                    {
+                        "core_id": "SD1129",
+                        "version": "1",
+                        "cdisc_rule_id": "",
+                        "fda_rule_id": "",
+                        "message": "TEST",
+                        "status": "EXECUTION ERROR",
+                    }
+                ],
+                1,
+            ),
+            # define.xml in same folder as the data.xls and no -dxp provided will provide error until
+            # in ExcelDataService dataset metadata creation full_path=dataset_name
+            (
+                [
+                    f"{get_python_executable()}",
+                    "-m",
+                    "core",
+                    "validate",
+                    "-s",
+                    "sdtmig",
+                    "-v",
+                    "3-2",
+                    "-of",
+                    "JSON",
+                    "-lr",
+                    os.path.join("tests", "resources", "CoreIssue1248", "sample.yml"),
+                    "-cs",
+                    "-dp",
+                    os.path.join(
+                        "tests",
+                        "resources",
+                        "CoreIssue1248",
+                        "data_and_define",
+                        "data.xlsx",
+                    ),
+                    "-ps",
+                    "1",
+                ],
+                [
+                    {
+                        "core_id": "SD1129",
+                        "version": "1",
+                        "cdisc_rule_id": "",
+                        "fda_rule_id": "",
+                        "message": "TEST",
+                        "status": "EXECUTION ERROR",
+                    }
+                ],
+                1,
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_define_path_used(self, command, rules_report, num_issues):
+        subprocess.run(command, check=True)
+
+        # Get the latest created report file
+        files = os.listdir()
+        json_files = [
+            file
+            for file in files
+            if file.startswith("CORE-Report-") and file.endswith(".json")
+        ]
+        json_report_path = sorted(json_files)[-1]
+        # Open the JSON report file
+        json_report = json.load(open(json_report_path))
+        assert {
+            "Conformance_Details",
+            "Dataset_Details",
+            "Issue_Summary",
+            "Issue_Details",
+            "Rules_Report",
+        }.issubset(json_report.keys())
+        assert len(json_report["Issue_Details"]) == num_issues
+        assert json_report["Rules_Report"] == rules_report
+        if os.path.exists(json_report_path):
+            os.remove(json_report_path)
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data.xlsx b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c994860b4
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data.xlsx differ
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/data.xlsx b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/data.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c994860b4
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/data.xlsx differ
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/define.xml b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/define.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50bc56b7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/data_and_define/define.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="define2-1.xsl"?><!-- ********************************************************************************* --><!-- File: defineV21-MSGv2.xml                                                          --><!-- Author: CDISC MSG v2 Team                                                         --><!-- Description: This is a draft define.xml V2.1.0 document based on the define.xml   --><!--    Metadata provided by the MSG v2 Team                                           --><!--    plus adjustments to comply with the Define-XML Specification Version 2.1.0     --><!-- Release Note(s):                                                                  --><!--  1. The resulting HTML presentation and the availability and usability of         --><!--      functions will vary depending upon which browser application used.           --><!-- ********************************************************************************* -->
+<ODM xmlns="http://www.cdisc.org/ns/odm/v1.3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
+     xmlns:def="http://www.cdisc.org/ns/def/v2.1" ODMVersion="1.3.2"
+     FileOID="www.cdisc.org/StudyMSGv2/1/Define-XML_2.1.0" FileType="Snapshot" CreationDateTime="2021-01-24T16:59:33"
+     Originator="CDISC MSG Team" SourceSystem="M.Hungria-System" SourceSystemVersion="2.1-A1"
+     def:Context="Submission"><!-- ******************************************  --><!-- OID conventions used in this example:       --><!--    Study                   = STDY.          --><!--    MetaDataVersion         = MDV.           --><!--    def:Standard            = STD.           --><!--    def:ValueListDef        = VL.            --><!--    def:WhereClauseDef      = WC.            --><!--    ItemGroupDef            = IG.            --><!--    ItemDef                 = IT.            --><!--    CodeList                = CL.            --><!--    MethodDef               = MT.            --><!--    def:CommentDef          = COM.           --><!--    def:leaf, leafID        = LF.            --><!-- ******************************************  -->
+    <Study OID="cdisc.com/CDISCPILOT01">
+        <GlobalVariables>
+            <StudyName>CDISCPILOT01</StudyName>
+            <StudyDescription>Study Data Tabulation Model Metadata Submission Guidelines Sample Study</StudyDescription>
+            <ProtocolName>CDISCPILOT01</ProtocolName>
+        </GlobalVariables>
+        <MetaDataVersion OID="MDV.MSGv2.0.SDTMIG.3.3.SDTM.1.7" Name="Data Definitions for MSGv2.0 SDTM datasets."
+                         Description="This metadata version contains only a subset of SDTM domains available in the SDTMIG 3.3. The data contained do not represent the data which would appear together in an actual regulatory submission."
+                         def:DefineVersion="2.1.0"
+                         def:CommentOID="COM.MDV"><!-- ************************************************************************** --><!-- Standard Definitions                                                       --><!-- ************************************************************************** -->
+            <def:Standards>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.1" Name="STDTMIG" Type="IG" Version="3.3" Status="Final"
+                              def:CommentOID="COM.ST1"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.2_1" Name="SDTMIG-MD" Type="IG" Version="1.1" Status="Final"
+                              def:CommentOID="COM.ST2"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.4" Name="CDISC/NCI" Type="CT" PublishingSet="DEFINE-XML" Version="2020-12-18"
+                              Status="Final" def:CommentOID="COM.ST4"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.3" Name="CDISC/NCI" Type="CT" PublishingSet="SDTM" Version="2020-12-18"
+                              Status="Final" def:CommentOID="COM.ST3"/>
+            </def:Standards><!-- ************************************************************************** --><!-- Supporting Documents                                                       --><!-- ************************************************************************** -->
+            <def:SupplementalDoc>
+                <def:DocumentRef leafID="LF.csdrg"/>
+            </def:SupplementalDoc>
+            <ItemGroupDef OID="IG.RELREC" Name="RELREC" Domain="RELREC" Repeating="Yes" IsReferenceData="No"
+                          SASDatasetName="RELREC"
+                          def:Structure="One record per related record, group of records or dataset"
+                          Purpose="Tabulation" def:StandardOID="STD.1" def:ArchiveLocationID="LF.RELREC">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Related Records</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.STUDYID" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="1" KeySequence="1" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RDOMAIN" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="2" KeySequence="2" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.USUBJID" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="3" KeySequence="3" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.IDVAR" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="4" KeySequence="4" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.IDVARVAL" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="5" KeySequence="5" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RELTYPE" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="6" Role="Record Qualifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RELID" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="7" KeySequence="6"
+                         Role="Record Qualifier"/>
+                <def:Class Name="RELATIONSHIP"/>
+                <def:leaf ID="LF.RELREC" xlink:href="relrec.xpt">
+                    <def:title>relrec.xpt</def:title>
+                </def:leaf>
+            </ItemGroupDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.STUDYID" Name="STUDYID" DataType="text" Length="12" SASFieldName="STUDYID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Study Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Protocol" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RDOMAIN" Name="RDOMAIN" DataType="text" Length="6" SASFieldName="RDOMAIN">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Related Domain Abbreviation</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <CodeListRef CodeListOID="CL.RDOMAIN_RELREC"/>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.USUBJID" Name="USUBJID" DataType="text" Length="8" SASFieldName="USUBJID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Unique Subject Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.IDVAR" Name="IDVAR" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="IDVAR">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Identifying Variable</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.IDVARVAL" Name="IDVARVAL" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="IDVARVAL">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Identifying Variable Value</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RELTYPE" Name="RELTYPE" DataType="text" Length="4" SASFieldName="RELTYPE">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Relationship Type</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <CodeListRef CodeListOID="CL.RELTYPE"/>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RELID" Name="RELID" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="RELID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Relationship Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef><!-- ******************************** --><!-- Code List Definitions Section    --><!-- ******************************** -->
+            <CodeList OID="CL.RDOMAIN_RELREC" Name="SDTM Domain Abbreviation, subset used for RELREC" DataType="text"
+                      def:StandardOID="STD.3" SASFormatName="$FMT138">
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="AE" OrderNumber="1">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Adverse Events</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C49562"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="DS" OrderNumber="2">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Disposition</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C49576"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="DD" OrderNumber="3">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Death Details</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C95087"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="FA" OrderNumber="4">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Findings About Events or Interventions</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C85442"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C66734"/>
+            </CodeList>
+            <CodeList OID="CL.RELTYPE" Name="Relationship Type" DataType="text" def:StandardOID="STD.3"
+                      SASFormatName="$FMT139">
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="MANY" OrderNumber="1">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Many</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C78728"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="ONE" OrderNumber="2">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">One</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C66832"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C78737"/>
+            </CodeList><!-- ******************************** --><!-- Leafs Definitions Section        --><!-- ******************************** -->
+            <def:leaf ID="LF.acrf" xlink:href="acrf.pdf">
+                <def:title>Annotated CRF</def:title>
+            </def:leaf>
+            <def:leaf ID="LF.csdrg" xlink:href="csdrg.pdf">
+                <def:title>Reviewers Guide</def:title>
+            </def:leaf><!-- ***********************************     --><!-- End of Metadata Definitions Section     --><!-- ***********************************     -->
+        </MetaDataVersion>
+    </Study>
+</ODM>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/define_subfolder/define.xml b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/define_subfolder/define.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50bc56b7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/define_subfolder/define.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="define2-1.xsl"?><!-- ********************************************************************************* --><!-- File: defineV21-MSGv2.xml                                                          --><!-- Author: CDISC MSG v2 Team                                                         --><!-- Description: This is a draft define.xml V2.1.0 document based on the define.xml   --><!--    Metadata provided by the MSG v2 Team                                           --><!--    plus adjustments to comply with the Define-XML Specification Version 2.1.0     --><!-- Release Note(s):                                                                  --><!--  1. The resulting HTML presentation and the availability and usability of         --><!--      functions will vary depending upon which browser application used.           --><!-- ********************************************************************************* -->
+<ODM xmlns="http://www.cdisc.org/ns/odm/v1.3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
+     xmlns:def="http://www.cdisc.org/ns/def/v2.1" ODMVersion="1.3.2"
+     FileOID="www.cdisc.org/StudyMSGv2/1/Define-XML_2.1.0" FileType="Snapshot" CreationDateTime="2021-01-24T16:59:33"
+     Originator="CDISC MSG Team" SourceSystem="M.Hungria-System" SourceSystemVersion="2.1-A1"
+     def:Context="Submission"><!-- ******************************************  --><!-- OID conventions used in this example:       --><!--    Study                   = STDY.          --><!--    MetaDataVersion         = MDV.           --><!--    def:Standard            = STD.           --><!--    def:ValueListDef        = VL.            --><!--    def:WhereClauseDef      = WC.            --><!--    ItemGroupDef            = IG.            --><!--    ItemDef                 = IT.            --><!--    CodeList                = CL.            --><!--    MethodDef               = MT.            --><!--    def:CommentDef          = COM.           --><!--    def:leaf, leafID        = LF.            --><!-- ******************************************  -->
+    <Study OID="cdisc.com/CDISCPILOT01">
+        <GlobalVariables>
+            <StudyName>CDISCPILOT01</StudyName>
+            <StudyDescription>Study Data Tabulation Model Metadata Submission Guidelines Sample Study</StudyDescription>
+            <ProtocolName>CDISCPILOT01</ProtocolName>
+        </GlobalVariables>
+        <MetaDataVersion OID="MDV.MSGv2.0.SDTMIG.3.3.SDTM.1.7" Name="Data Definitions for MSGv2.0 SDTM datasets."
+                         Description="This metadata version contains only a subset of SDTM domains available in the SDTMIG 3.3. The data contained do not represent the data which would appear together in an actual regulatory submission."
+                         def:DefineVersion="2.1.0"
+                         def:CommentOID="COM.MDV"><!-- ************************************************************************** --><!-- Standard Definitions                                                       --><!-- ************************************************************************** -->
+            <def:Standards>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.1" Name="STDTMIG" Type="IG" Version="3.3" Status="Final"
+                              def:CommentOID="COM.ST1"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.2_1" Name="SDTMIG-MD" Type="IG" Version="1.1" Status="Final"
+                              def:CommentOID="COM.ST2"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.4" Name="CDISC/NCI" Type="CT" PublishingSet="DEFINE-XML" Version="2020-12-18"
+                              Status="Final" def:CommentOID="COM.ST4"/>
+                <def:Standard OID="STD.3" Name="CDISC/NCI" Type="CT" PublishingSet="SDTM" Version="2020-12-18"
+                              Status="Final" def:CommentOID="COM.ST3"/>
+            </def:Standards><!-- ************************************************************************** --><!-- Supporting Documents                                                       --><!-- ************************************************************************** -->
+            <def:SupplementalDoc>
+                <def:DocumentRef leafID="LF.csdrg"/>
+            </def:SupplementalDoc>
+            <ItemGroupDef OID="IG.RELREC" Name="RELREC" Domain="RELREC" Repeating="Yes" IsReferenceData="No"
+                          SASDatasetName="RELREC"
+                          def:Structure="One record per related record, group of records or dataset"
+                          Purpose="Tabulation" def:StandardOID="STD.1" def:ArchiveLocationID="LF.RELREC">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Related Records</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.STUDYID" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="1" KeySequence="1" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RDOMAIN" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="2" KeySequence="2" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.USUBJID" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="3" KeySequence="3" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.IDVAR" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="4" KeySequence="4" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.IDVARVAL" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="5" KeySequence="5" Role="Identifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RELTYPE" Mandatory="No" OrderNumber="6" Role="Record Qualifier"/>
+                <ItemRef ItemOID="IT.RELREC.RELID" Mandatory="Yes" OrderNumber="7" KeySequence="6"
+                         Role="Record Qualifier"/>
+                <def:Class Name="RELATIONSHIP"/>
+                <def:leaf ID="LF.RELREC" xlink:href="relrec.xpt">
+                    <def:title>relrec.xpt</def:title>
+                </def:leaf>
+            </ItemGroupDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.STUDYID" Name="STUDYID" DataType="text" Length="12" SASFieldName="STUDYID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Study Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Protocol" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RDOMAIN" Name="RDOMAIN" DataType="text" Length="6" SASFieldName="RDOMAIN">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Related Domain Abbreviation</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <CodeListRef CodeListOID="CL.RDOMAIN_RELREC"/>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.USUBJID" Name="USUBJID" DataType="text" Length="8" SASFieldName="USUBJID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Unique Subject Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.IDVAR" Name="IDVAR" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="IDVAR">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Identifying Variable</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.IDVARVAL" Name="IDVARVAL" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="IDVARVAL">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Identifying Variable Value</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RELTYPE" Name="RELTYPE" DataType="text" Length="4" SASFieldName="RELTYPE">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Relationship Type</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <CodeListRef CodeListOID="CL.RELTYPE"/>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef>
+            <ItemDef OID="IT.RELREC.RELID" Name="RELID" DataType="text" Length="200" SASFieldName="RELID">
+                <Description>
+                    <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Relationship Identifier</TranslatedText>
+                </Description>
+                <def:Origin Type="Assigned" Source="Sponsor"/>
+            </ItemDef><!-- ******************************** --><!-- Code List Definitions Section    --><!-- ******************************** -->
+            <CodeList OID="CL.RDOMAIN_RELREC" Name="SDTM Domain Abbreviation, subset used for RELREC" DataType="text"
+                      def:StandardOID="STD.3" SASFormatName="$FMT138">
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="AE" OrderNumber="1">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Adverse Events</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C49562"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="DS" OrderNumber="2">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Disposition</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C49576"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="DD" OrderNumber="3">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Death Details</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C95087"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="FA" OrderNumber="4">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Findings About Events or Interventions</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C85442"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C66734"/>
+            </CodeList>
+            <CodeList OID="CL.RELTYPE" Name="Relationship Type" DataType="text" def:StandardOID="STD.3"
+                      SASFormatName="$FMT139">
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="MANY" OrderNumber="1">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">Many</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C78728"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <CodeListItem CodedValue="ONE" OrderNumber="2">
+                    <Decode>
+                        <TranslatedText xml:lang="en">One</TranslatedText>
+                    </Decode>
+                    <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C66832"/>
+                </CodeListItem>
+                <Alias Context="nci:ExtCodeID" Name="C78737"/>
+            </CodeList><!-- ******************************** --><!-- Leafs Definitions Section        --><!-- ******************************** -->
+            <def:leaf ID="LF.acrf" xlink:href="acrf.pdf">
+                <def:title>Annotated CRF</def:title>
+            </def:leaf>
+            <def:leaf ID="LF.csdrg" xlink:href="csdrg.pdf">
+                <def:title>Reviewers Guide</def:title>
+            </def:leaf><!-- ***********************************     --><!-- End of Metadata Definitions Section     --><!-- ***********************************     -->
+        </MetaDataVersion>
+    </Study>
+</ODM>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/relrec.json b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/relrec.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e26b186cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/relrec.json
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+{
+  "datasetJSONCreationDateTime": "2024-11-11T15:09:17",
+  "datasetJSONVersion": "1.1.0",
+  "fileOID": "www.cdisc.org/StudyMSGv2/1/Define-XML_2.1.0/2024-11-11/relrec",
+  "dbLastModifiedDateTime": "2020-08-21T09:14:25",
+  "originator": "CDISC SDTM MSG Team",
+  "sourceSystem": {
+    "name": "SAS on X64_10PRO",
+    "version": "9.0401M7"
+  },
+  "studyOID": "cdisc.com/CDISCPILOT01",
+  "metaDataVersionOID": "MDV.MSGv2.0.SDTMIG.3.3.SDTM.1.7",
+  "metaDataRef": "define.xml",
+  "itemGroupOID": "IG.RELREC",
+  "records": 6,
+  "name": "RELREC",
+  "label": "Related Records",
+  "columns": [
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.STUDYID",
+      "name": "STUDYID",
+      "label": "Study Identifier",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 12,
+      "keySequence": 1
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.RDOMAIN",
+      "name": "RDOMAIN",
+      "label": "Related Domain Abbreviation",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 6,
+      "keySequence": 2
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.USUBJID",
+      "name": "USUBJID",
+      "label": "Unique Subject Identifier",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 8,
+      "keySequence": 3
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.IDVAR",
+      "name": "IDVAR",
+      "label": "Identifying Variable",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 200,
+      "keySequence": 4
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.IDVARVAL",
+      "name": "IDVARVAL",
+      "label": "Identifying Variable Value",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 200,
+      "keySequence": 5
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.RELTYPE",
+      "name": "RELTYPE",
+      "label": "Relationship Type",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 4
+    },
+    {
+      "itemOID": "IT.RELREC.RELID",
+      "name": "RELID",
+      "label": "Relationship Identifier",
+      "dataType": "string",
+      "length": 200,
+      "keySequence": 6
+    }
+  ],
+  "rows": [
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "AE", "", "AELNKID", "", "ONE", "AEDS"],
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "DS", "", "DSLNKID", "", "ONE", "AEDS"],
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "AE", "", "AELNKID", "", "ONE", "AEDD"],
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "DD", "", "DDLNKID", "", "ONE", "AEDD"],
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "AE", "", "AELNKID", "", "ONE", "AEFA"],
+    ["CDISCPILOT01", "FA", "", "FALNKGRP", "", "MANY", "AEFA"]
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/sample.yml b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/sample.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..529298774
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/resources/CoreIssue1248/sample.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+custom_id: SD1129
+Authorities:
+  - Organization: TEST
+    Standards:
+      - Name: SDTMIG
+        Version: "3.2"
+    Category: SD1129
+Check:
+  all:
+    - name: RELTYPE
+      operator: non_empty
+Operations:
+  - id: $test
+    operator: define_variable_metadata
+    name: RELID
+    attribute_name: define_variable_label
+Core:
+  Id: SD1129
+  Status: Published
+  Version: 1
+Description: TEST
+Executability: Fully Executable
+Outcome:
+  Message: TEST
+Rule Type: Record Data
+Scope:
+  Classes:
+    Include:
+      - RELATIONSHIP
+  Domains:
+    Include:
+      - RELREC
+Sensitivity: Record