Empty fields in electronic records

I received the question several times if it is a compliance issue to leave empty fields in electronic record. Let me just copy-paste my usual answer below :)

For the paper-based records, it is an obvious rule not to leave empty cells in the documents, since it leaves an option to register data later. This contradicts the ALCOA’s ’Contemporaneus’ principle. For the electronic records, all cells are locked when closing/finalizing/signing the record, it’s not possible to register data in the cells later.

Since the locking of the cells avoids contradicting the ’Comtemporaneus’ principle. it’s not mandatory to register ’N/A’ or ’-’ in all cells.