diff --git a/+file/fillConstructor.m b/+file/fillConstructor.m
index 020ec2ca..42f67cbd 100644
--- a/+file/fillConstructor.m
+++ b/+file/fillConstructor.m
@@ -12,17 +12,28 @@
         functionBody = [functionBody newline() bodyString];
     end
 
-    functionBody = strjoin({functionBody, ...
-        sprintf('if strcmp(class(obj), ''%s'')', namespace.getFullClassName(name)), ...
+    % Build final validation/setup block that executes only for the target class,
+    % with conditional inclusion of mixin setup and dynamic table validation
+    constructorElements = {functionBody, ...
+        '', ...
+        '% Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class''s', ...
+        '% constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain', ...
+        sprintf('if strcmp(class(obj), ''%s'') %%#ok<STISA>', namespace.getFullClassName(name)), ...
         '    cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));', ...
-        '    types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));', ...
-        'end'}, newline());
+        '    types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));'};
+    
+    % Include the setup function for the HasUnnamedGroups mixin if applicable
+    if isa(class, 'file.Group') && class.hasAnonGroups
+        constructorElements{end+1} = '    obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();';
+    end
 
-    % insert check for DynamicTable class and child classes
-    bodyString = fillCheck(name, namespace);
-    if ~isempty(bodyString)
-        functionBody = [functionBody newline() bodyString];
+    % Add custom validation for DynamicTable and its descendant classes
+    if isDynamicTableDescendant(name, namespace)
+        constructorElements{end+1} = '    types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);';
     end
+    
+    constructorElements{end+1} = 'end';
+    functionBody = strjoin(constructorElements, newline());
 
     functionString = strjoin({...
         ['function obj = ' name '(varargin)']...
@@ -169,11 +180,6 @@
     fullBody = strjoin(fullBody, newline);
     bodystr(end+1:end+length(fullBody)+1) = [newline fullBody];
 
-    if isa(class, 'file.Group') && class.hasAnonGroups
-        % Include the setup function for the HasUnnamedGroups mixin
-        bodystr = [bodystr, newline, 'obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()', newline];
-    end
-
     parser = {...
         'p = inputParser;',...
         'p.KeepUnmatched = true;',...
@@ -209,31 +215,6 @@
     bodystr(end+1:end+length(parser)+1) = [newline parser];
 end
 
-function checkTxt = fillCheck(name, namespace)
-    checkTxt = [];
-
-    % find if a dynamic table ancestry exists
-    ancestry = namespace.getRootBranch(name);
-    isDynamicTableDescendent = false;
-    for iAncestor = 1:length(ancestry)
-        ParentRaw = ancestry{iAncestor};
-        % this is always true, we just use the proper index as typedefs may vary.
-        typeDefInd = isKey(ParentRaw, namespace.TYPEDEF_KEYS);
-        isDynamicTableDescendent = isDynamicTableDescendent ...
-            || strcmp('DynamicTable', ParentRaw(namespace.TYPEDEF_KEYS{typeDefInd}));
-    end
-
-    if ~isDynamicTableDescendent
-        return;
-    end
-
-    checkTxt = strjoin({ ...
-        sprintf('if strcmp(class(obj), ''%s'')', namespace.getFullClassName(name)), ...
-        '    types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);', ...
-        'end',...
-        }, newline);
-end
-
 function docString = fillConstructorDocString(name, props, namespace, superClassProps)
     
     classVarName = name; classVarName(1) = lower(classVarName(1));
@@ -289,6 +270,26 @@
     docString = char( strjoin(docString, newline) );
 end
 
+function tf = isDynamicTableDescendant(name, namespace)
+% Check if name is DynamicTable or if name is for a type that inherits from DynamicTable
+
+    tf = false;
+
+    if strcmp(name, 'DynamicTable')
+        tf = true;
+        return
+    end
+
+    ancestry = namespace.getRootBranch(name);
+    for iAncestor = 1:length(ancestry)
+        ParentRaw = ancestry{iAncestor};
+        % this is always true, we just use the proper index as typedefs may vary.
+        typeDefInd = isKey(ParentRaw, namespace.TYPEDEF_KEYS);
+        ancestorName = ParentRaw(namespace.TYPEDEF_KEYS{typeDefInd});
+        tf = tf || strcmp(ancestorName, 'DynamicTable');
+    end
+end
+
 % Todo: Mostly duplicate code from file.fillProps. Should consolidate
 function typeStr = getTypeStr(prop)
     if ischar(prop)
diff --git a/+tests/+unit/dynamicTableTest.m b/+tests/+unit/dynamicTableTest.m
index 7f47ad30..3eb7a13d 100644
--- a/+tests/+unit/dynamicTableTest.m
+++ b/+tests/+unit/dynamicTableTest.m
@@ -55,13 +55,17 @@ function testClearDynamicTableV2_1(testCase)
 
             table = types.core.DynamicTable( ...
                 'description', 'test table with DynamicTableRegion', ...
-                'colnames', {'dtr_col_a', 'dtr_col_b'}, ...
-                'dtr_col_a', 1:4, ...
-                'dtr_col_b', 5:8, ...
+                'colnames', {'col_a', 'col_b'}, ...
+                'col_a', types.core.VectorData('data', (1:4)'), ...
+                'col_b', types.core.VectorData('data', (5:8)'), ...
                 'id', types.core.ElementIdentifiers('data', [0; 1; 2; 3]) );
         
+            % Verify that vectordata has a length of 2 after adding 2 columns
+            testCase.verifyEqual(size(table.vectordata), uint64([2,1]))
+
             types.util.dynamictable.clear(table)
         
+            % Verify that vectordata has a length of 0 after calling clear
             testCase.verifyEqual(size(table.vectordata), uint64([0,1]))
         
             nwbClearGenerated(typesOutputFolder, 'ClearCache',true)
diff --git a/+types/+core/AbstractFeatureSeries.m b/+types/+core/AbstractFeatureSeries.m
index 153fa00e..a364cc78 100644
--- a/+types/+core/AbstractFeatureSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/AbstractFeatureSeries.m
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.feature_units = p.Results.feature_units;
         obj.features = p.Results.features;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.AbstractFeatureSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.AbstractFeatureSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/AnnotationSeries.m b/+types/+core/AnnotationSeries.m
index 21853aba..10a89032 100644
--- a/+types/+core/AnnotationSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/AnnotationSeries.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.AnnotationSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.AnnotationSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/BaseImage.m b/+types/+core/BaseImage.m
index cd814a2a..d201ea69 100644
--- a/+types/+core/BaseImage.m
+++ b/+types/+core/BaseImage.m
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'description',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BaseImage')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BaseImage') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/BehavioralEpochs.m b/+types/+core/BehavioralEpochs.m
index 2d00c31d..80d8287e 100644
--- a/+types/+core/BehavioralEpochs.m
+++ b/+types/+core/BehavioralEpochs.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.intervalseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'intervalseries', 'types.core.IntervalSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralEpochs')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralEpochs') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/BehavioralEvents.m b/+types/+core/BehavioralEvents.m
index 8ee46485..78cff2ee 100644
--- a/+types/+core/BehavioralEvents.m
+++ b/+types/+core/BehavioralEvents.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.timeseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'timeseries', 'types.core.TimeSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralEvents')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralEvents') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/BehavioralTimeSeries.m b/+types/+core/BehavioralTimeSeries.m
index 46f63a44..546fbec2 100644
--- a/+types/+core/BehavioralTimeSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/BehavioralTimeSeries.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.timeseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'timeseries', 'types.core.TimeSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralTimeSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.BehavioralTimeSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ClusterWaveforms.m b/+types/+core/ClusterWaveforms.m
index 263c403e..2044a021 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ClusterWaveforms.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ClusterWaveforms.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         obj.waveform_filtering = p.Results.waveform_filtering;
         obj.waveform_mean = p.Results.waveform_mean;
         obj.waveform_sd = p.Results.waveform_sd;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ClusterWaveforms')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ClusterWaveforms') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Clustering.m b/+types/+core/Clustering.m
index 31789a2e..ae16aada 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Clustering.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Clustering.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         obj.num = p.Results.num;
         obj.peak_over_rms = p.Results.peak_over_rms;
         obj.times = p.Results.times;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Clustering')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Clustering') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/CompassDirection.m b/+types/+core/CompassDirection.m
index ab2bf141..afe9acb9 100644
--- a/+types/+core/CompassDirection.m
+++ b/+types/+core/CompassDirection.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.spatialseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'spatialseries', 'types.core.SpatialSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CompassDirection')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CompassDirection') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/CorrectedImageStack.m b/+types/+core/CorrectedImageStack.m
index 87b083a6..21854cb6 100644
--- a/+types/+core/CorrectedImageStack.m
+++ b/+types/+core/CorrectedImageStack.m
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@
         obj.corrected = p.Results.corrected;
         obj.original = p.Results.original;
         obj.xy_translation = p.Results.xy_translation;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CorrectedImageStack')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CorrectedImageStack') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/CurrentClampSeries.m b/+types/+core/CurrentClampSeries.m
index 682c03a6..6ea81e79 100644
--- a/+types/+core/CurrentClampSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/CurrentClampSeries.m
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@
         obj.bias_current = p.Results.bias_current;
         obj.bridge_balance = p.Results.bridge_balance;
         obj.capacitance_compensation = p.Results.capacitance_compensation;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CurrentClampSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CurrentClampSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/CurrentClampStimulusSeries.m b/+types/+core/CurrentClampStimulusSeries.m
index 50bb59f0..1139d549 100644
--- a/+types/+core/CurrentClampStimulusSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/CurrentClampStimulusSeries.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CurrentClampStimulusSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.CurrentClampStimulusSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/DecompositionSeries.m b/+types/+core/DecompositionSeries.m
index efef4ed9..e7a5f431 100644
--- a/+types/+core/DecompositionSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/DecompositionSeries.m
@@ -80,7 +80,10 @@
         obj.metric = p.Results.metric;
         obj.source_channels = p.Results.source_channels;
         obj.source_timeseries = p.Results.source_timeseries;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DecompositionSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DecompositionSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Device.m b/+types/+core/Device.m
index 3f247749..03225f67 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Device.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Device.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         obj.model_name = p.Results.model_name;
         obj.model_number = p.Results.model_number;
         obj.serial_number = p.Results.serial_number;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Device')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Device') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/DeviceModel.m b/+types/+core/DeviceModel.m
index 379d8f33..0e1b6714 100644
--- a/+types/+core/DeviceModel.m
+++ b/+types/+core/DeviceModel.m
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
         obj.manufacturer = p.Results.manufacturer;
         obj.model_number = p.Results.model_number;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DeviceModel')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DeviceModel') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/DfOverF.m b/+types/+core/DfOverF.m
index 2e9aad41..a001b9ca 100644
--- a/+types/+core/DfOverF.m
+++ b/+types/+core/DfOverF.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.roiresponseseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'roiresponseseries', 'types.core.RoiResponseSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DfOverF')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.DfOverF') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ElectricalSeries.m b/+types/+core/ElectricalSeries.m
index 45c2e5bb..dc8f6f45 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ElectricalSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ElectricalSeries.m
@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@
         obj.channel_conversion_axis = p.Results.channel_conversion_axis;
         obj.electrodes = p.Results.electrodes;
         obj.filtering = p.Results.filtering;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectricalSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectricalSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ElectrodeGroup.m b/+types/+core/ElectrodeGroup.m
index eccdc0e1..373f54e0 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ElectrodeGroup.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ElectrodeGroup.m
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@
         obj.device = p.Results.device;
         obj.location = p.Results.location;
         obj.position = p.Results.position;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectrodeGroup')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectrodeGroup') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ElectrodesTable.m b/+types/+core/ElectrodesTable.m
index 5fab86da..e84071f1 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ElectrodesTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ElectrodesTable.m
@@ -101,11 +101,12 @@
         obj.x = p.Results.x;
         obj.y = p.Results.y;
         obj.z = p.Results.z;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectrodesTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectrodesTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ElectrodesTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/EventDetection.m b/+types/+core/EventDetection.m
index 4edb9024..5c1c7006 100644
--- a/+types/+core/EventDetection.m
+++ b/+types/+core/EventDetection.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         obj.source_idx = p.Results.source_idx;
         obj.times = p.Results.times;
         obj.times_unit = p.Results.times_unit;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EventDetection')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EventDetection') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/EventWaveform.m b/+types/+core/EventWaveform.m
index a2385e8c..91902fdb 100644
--- a/+types/+core/EventWaveform.m
+++ b/+types/+core/EventWaveform.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.spikeeventseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'spikeeventseries', 'types.core.SpikeEventSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EventWaveform')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EventWaveform') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ExperimentalConditionsTable.m b/+types/+core/ExperimentalConditionsTable.m
index 132f22f1..1df0713c 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ExperimentalConditionsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ExperimentalConditionsTable.m
@@ -48,11 +48,12 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.repetitions = p.Results.repetitions;
         obj.repetitions_index = p.Results.repetitions_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ExperimentalConditionsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ExperimentalConditionsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ExperimentalConditionsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ExternalImage.m b/+types/+core/ExternalImage.m
index 85c0f871..dab5269e 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ExternalImage.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ExternalImage.m
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.image_format = p.Results.image_format;
         obj.image_mode = p.Results.image_mode;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ExternalImage')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ExternalImage') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/EyeTracking.m b/+types/+core/EyeTracking.m
index a91e9eb1..57c645c5 100644
--- a/+types/+core/EyeTracking.m
+++ b/+types/+core/EyeTracking.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.spatialseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'spatialseries', 'types.core.SpatialSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EyeTracking')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.EyeTracking') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/FeatureExtraction.m b/+types/+core/FeatureExtraction.m
index afb8f420..9b5e3b3f 100644
--- a/+types/+core/FeatureExtraction.m
+++ b/+types/+core/FeatureExtraction.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         obj.electrodes = p.Results.electrodes;
         obj.features = p.Results.features;
         obj.times = p.Results.times;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FeatureExtraction')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FeatureExtraction') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/FilteredEphys.m b/+types/+core/FilteredEphys.m
index c5038249..94258869 100644
--- a/+types/+core/FilteredEphys.m
+++ b/+types/+core/FilteredEphys.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.electricalseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'electricalseries', 'types.core.ElectricalSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FilteredEphys')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FilteredEphys') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/Fluorescence.m b/+types/+core/Fluorescence.m
index ac09297b..6e265ef5 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Fluorescence.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Fluorescence.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.roiresponseseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'roiresponseseries', 'types.core.RoiResponseSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Fluorescence')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Fluorescence') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/FrequencyBandsTable.m b/+types/+core/FrequencyBandsTable.m
index 22d9d07b..e1fea696 100644
--- a/+types/+core/FrequencyBandsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/FrequencyBandsTable.m
@@ -61,11 +61,12 @@
         obj.band_mean = p.Results.band_mean;
         obj.band_name = p.Results.band_name;
         obj.band_stdev = p.Results.band_stdev;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FrequencyBandsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FrequencyBandsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.FrequencyBandsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/GrayscaleImage.m b/+types/+core/GrayscaleImage.m
index f948d6ee..d96025f5 100644
--- a/+types/+core/GrayscaleImage.m
+++ b/+types/+core/GrayscaleImage.m
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.GrayscaleImage')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.GrayscaleImage') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IZeroClampSeries.m b/+types/+core/IZeroClampSeries.m
index 67c2983e..c8b3eb83 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IZeroClampSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IZeroClampSeries.m
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IZeroClampSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IZeroClampSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Image.m b/+types/+core/Image.m
index aef7d3dc..474add54 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Image.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Image.m
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'resolution',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.resolution = p.Results.resolution;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Image')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Image') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImageMaskSeries.m b/+types/+core/ImageMaskSeries.m
index 2ac80633..6556bf45 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImageMaskSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImageMaskSeries.m
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'masked_imageseries',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.masked_imageseries = p.Results.masked_imageseries;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageMaskSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageMaskSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImageReferences.m b/+types/+core/ImageReferences.m
index 2b18b6c9..0ed36130 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImageReferences.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImageReferences.m
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageReferences')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageReferences') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImageSegmentation.m b/+types/+core/ImageSegmentation.m
index 11801451..98db9490 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImageSegmentation.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImageSegmentation.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.planesegmentation, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'planesegmentation', 'types.core.PlaneSegmentation', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageSegmentation')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageSegmentation') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImageSeries.m b/+types/+core/ImageSeries.m
index cb6b2778..116305b9 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImageSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImageSeries.m
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@
         obj.external_file = p.Results.external_file;
         obj.external_file_starting_frame = p.Results.external_file_starting_frame;
         obj.format = p.Results.format;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImageSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Images.m b/+types/+core/Images.m
index 458245ae..3f75cb23 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Images.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Images.m
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
         obj.order_of_images = p.Results.order_of_images;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Images')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Images') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImagingPlane.m b/+types/+core/ImagingPlane.m
index 426fd3b9..415b84b3 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImagingPlane.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImagingPlane.m
@@ -78,8 +78,6 @@
         [obj.opticalchannel, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'opticalchannel', 'types.core.OpticalChannel', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
@@ -113,9 +111,13 @@
         obj.origin_coords = p.Results.origin_coords;
         obj.origin_coords_unit = p.Results.origin_coords_unit;
         obj.reference_frame = p.Results.reference_frame;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImagingPlane')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImagingPlane') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ImagingRetinotopy.m b/+types/+core/ImagingRetinotopy.m
index 47cd7bb8..f74cf1a4 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ImagingRetinotopy.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ImagingRetinotopy.m
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@
         obj.vasculature_image_dimension = p.Results.vasculature_image_dimension;
         obj.vasculature_image_field_of_view = p.Results.vasculature_image_field_of_view;
         obj.vasculature_image_format = p.Results.vasculature_image_format;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImagingRetinotopy')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ImagingRetinotopy') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IndexSeries.m b/+types/+core/IndexSeries.m
index 9e07114f..a22f1009 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IndexSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IndexSeries.m
@@ -65,7 +65,10 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.indexed_images = p.Results.indexed_images;
         obj.indexed_timeseries = p.Results.indexed_timeseries;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IndexSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IndexSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntervalSeries.m b/+types/+core/IntervalSeries.m
index 4e7296bd..27d79b3d 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntervalSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntervalSeries.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntervalSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntervalSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrode.m b/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrode.m
index 390f290d..b79c5b4f 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrode.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrode.m
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@
         obj.resistance = p.Results.resistance;
         obj.seal = p.Results.seal;
         obj.slice = p.Results.slice;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularElectrode')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularElectrode') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrodesTable.m b/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrodesTable.m
index 4cedc578..33e872a7 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrodesTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntracellularElectrodesTable.m
@@ -42,11 +42,12 @@
         addParameter(p, 'electrode',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.electrode = p.Results.electrode;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularElectrodesTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularElectrodesTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularElectrodesTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntracellularRecordingsTable.m b/+types/+core/IntracellularRecordingsTable.m
index 5f2c68db..94b52edb 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntracellularRecordingsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntracellularRecordingsTable.m
@@ -56,11 +56,12 @@
         obj.electrodes = p.Results.electrodes;
         obj.responses = p.Results.responses;
         obj.stimuli = p.Results.stimuli;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularRecordingsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularRecordingsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularRecordingsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntracellularResponsesTable.m b/+types/+core/IntracellularResponsesTable.m
index ef5f9ef6..b05bacdd 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntracellularResponsesTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntracellularResponsesTable.m
@@ -42,11 +42,12 @@
         addParameter(p, 'response',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.response = p.Results.response;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularResponsesTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularResponsesTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularResponsesTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/IntracellularStimuliTable.m b/+types/+core/IntracellularStimuliTable.m
index afc1da5a..a2e666eb 100644
--- a/+types/+core/IntracellularStimuliTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/IntracellularStimuliTable.m
@@ -50,11 +50,12 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.stimulus = p.Results.stimulus;
         obj.stimulus_template = p.Results.stimulus_template;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularStimuliTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularStimuliTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.IntracellularStimuliTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/LFP.m b/+types/+core/LFP.m
index 921dedc4..001ab0c6 100644
--- a/+types/+core/LFP.m
+++ b/+types/+core/LFP.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.electricalseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'electricalseries', 'types.core.ElectricalSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.LFP')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.LFP') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/LabMetaData.m b/+types/+core/LabMetaData.m
index 6f9cb0ae..a90652da 100644
--- a/+types/+core/LabMetaData.m
+++ b/+types/+core/LabMetaData.m
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@
         %  - labMetaData (types.core.LabMetaData) - A LabMetaData object
         
         obj = obj@types.core.NWBContainer(varargin{:});
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.LabMetaData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.LabMetaData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/MotionCorrection.m b/+types/+core/MotionCorrection.m
index e3ed97e8..124ffd92 100644
--- a/+types/+core/MotionCorrection.m
+++ b/+types/+core/MotionCorrection.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.correctedimagestack, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'correctedimagestack', 'types.core.CorrectedImageStack', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.MotionCorrection')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.MotionCorrection') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/NWBContainer.m b/+types/+core/NWBContainer.m
index 02b6d2b1..0a2cd513 100644
--- a/+types/+core/NWBContainer.m
+++ b/+types/+core/NWBContainer.m
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@
         %  - nWBContainer (types.core.NWBContainer) - A NWBContainer object
         
         obj = obj@types.hdmf_common.Container(varargin{:});
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBContainer')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBContainer') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/NWBData.m b/+types/+core/NWBData.m
index 348806d8..eb02c7f8 100644
--- a/+types/+core/NWBData.m
+++ b/+types/+core/NWBData.m
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/NWBDataInterface.m b/+types/+core/NWBDataInterface.m
index 1012dc86..07ff8884 100644
--- a/+types/+core/NWBDataInterface.m
+++ b/+types/+core/NWBDataInterface.m
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@
         %  - nWBDataInterface (types.core.NWBDataInterface) - A NWBDataInterface object
         
         obj = obj@types.core.NWBContainer(varargin{:});
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBDataInterface')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBDataInterface') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/NWBFile.m b/+types/+core/NWBFile.m
index bdb882e4..0d367540 100644
--- a/+types/+core/NWBFile.m
+++ b/+types/+core/NWBFile.m
@@ -290,7 +290,10 @@
         obj.stimulus_templates = p.Results.stimulus_templates;
         obj.timestamps_reference_time = p.Results.timestamps_reference_time;
         obj.units = p.Results.units;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBFile')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.NWBFile') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/OnePhotonSeries.m b/+types/+core/OnePhotonSeries.m
index bfbeba61..4dce91fc 100644
--- a/+types/+core/OnePhotonSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/OnePhotonSeries.m
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@
         obj.pmt_gain = p.Results.pmt_gain;
         obj.power = p.Results.power;
         obj.scan_line_rate = p.Results.scan_line_rate;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OnePhotonSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OnePhotonSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/OpticalChannel.m b/+types/+core/OpticalChannel.m
index 1e3c8aa6..c9dda0ab 100644
--- a/+types/+core/OpticalChannel.m
+++ b/+types/+core/OpticalChannel.m
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
         obj.emission_lambda = p.Results.emission_lambda;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OpticalChannel')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OpticalChannel') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/OpticalSeries.m b/+types/+core/OpticalSeries.m
index 766ad368..621c47c3 100644
--- a/+types/+core/OpticalSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/OpticalSeries.m
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@
         obj.distance = p.Results.distance;
         obj.field_of_view = p.Results.field_of_view;
         obj.orientation = p.Results.orientation;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OpticalSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OpticalSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/OptogeneticSeries.m b/+types/+core/OptogeneticSeries.m
index 0cea5f36..9e3fa8ff 100644
--- a/+types/+core/OptogeneticSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/OptogeneticSeries.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'site',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.site = p.Results.site;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OptogeneticSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OptogeneticSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/OptogeneticStimulusSite.m b/+types/+core/OptogeneticStimulusSite.m
index 4dacc81a..b30bbd5a 100644
--- a/+types/+core/OptogeneticStimulusSite.m
+++ b/+types/+core/OptogeneticStimulusSite.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         obj.device = p.Results.device;
         obj.excitation_lambda = p.Results.excitation_lambda;
         obj.location = p.Results.location;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OptogeneticStimulusSite')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.OptogeneticStimulusSite') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/PatchClampSeries.m b/+types/+core/PatchClampSeries.m
index d0070a54..88f04a8f 100644
--- a/+types/+core/PatchClampSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/PatchClampSeries.m
@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@
         obj.gain = p.Results.gain;
         obj.stimulus_description = p.Results.stimulus_description;
         obj.sweep_number = p.Results.sweep_number;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PatchClampSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PatchClampSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/PlaneSegmentation.m b/+types/+core/PlaneSegmentation.m
index e97b322a..92e7d8e0 100644
--- a/+types/+core/PlaneSegmentation.m
+++ b/+types/+core/PlaneSegmentation.m
@@ -76,11 +76,12 @@
         obj.reference_images = p.Results.reference_images;
         obj.voxel_mask = p.Results.voxel_mask;
         obj.voxel_mask_index = p.Results.voxel_mask_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PlaneSegmentation')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PlaneSegmentation') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PlaneSegmentation')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Position.m b/+types/+core/Position.m
index fe546460..9ca0fb84 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Position.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Position.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.spatialseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'spatialseries', 'types.core.SpatialSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Position')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Position') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/ProcessingModule.m b/+types/+core/ProcessingModule.m
index a87fd733..13c18b01 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ProcessingModule.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ProcessingModule.m
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@
         [obj.nwbdatainterface, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'nwbdatainterface', 'types.core.NWBDataInterface', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
@@ -52,9 +50,13 @@
         addParameter(p, 'description',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ProcessingModule')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ProcessingModule') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/PupilTracking.m b/+types/+core/PupilTracking.m
index 4e066bf5..c49f1223 100644
--- a/+types/+core/PupilTracking.m
+++ b/+types/+core/PupilTracking.m
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@
         [obj.timeseries, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'timeseries', 'types.core.TimeSeries', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PupilTracking')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.PupilTracking') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+core/RGBAImage.m b/+types/+core/RGBAImage.m
index 284628a3..0316c288 100644
--- a/+types/+core/RGBAImage.m
+++ b/+types/+core/RGBAImage.m
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RGBAImage')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RGBAImage') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/RGBImage.m b/+types/+core/RGBImage.m
index 3480051d..29a25ca5 100644
--- a/+types/+core/RGBImage.m
+++ b/+types/+core/RGBImage.m
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RGBImage')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RGBImage') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/RepetitionsTable.m b/+types/+core/RepetitionsTable.m
index f1f2ca7a..b0a97cf0 100644
--- a/+types/+core/RepetitionsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/RepetitionsTable.m
@@ -48,11 +48,12 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.sequential_recordings = p.Results.sequential_recordings;
         obj.sequential_recordings_index = p.Results.sequential_recordings_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RepetitionsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RepetitionsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RepetitionsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/RoiResponseSeries.m b/+types/+core/RoiResponseSeries.m
index 419e4679..548bc2a8 100644
--- a/+types/+core/RoiResponseSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/RoiResponseSeries.m
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'rois',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.rois = p.Results.rois;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RoiResponseSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.RoiResponseSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/ScratchData.m b/+types/+core/ScratchData.m
index ca010396..e3517ad1 100644
--- a/+types/+core/ScratchData.m
+++ b/+types/+core/ScratchData.m
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'notes',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.notes = p.Results.notes;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ScratchData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.ScratchData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/SequentialRecordingsTable.m b/+types/+core/SequentialRecordingsTable.m
index 16d68148..b987416a 100644
--- a/+types/+core/SequentialRecordingsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/SequentialRecordingsTable.m
@@ -53,11 +53,12 @@
         obj.simultaneous_recordings = p.Results.simultaneous_recordings;
         obj.simultaneous_recordings_index = p.Results.simultaneous_recordings_index;
         obj.stimulus_type = p.Results.stimulus_type;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SequentialRecordingsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SequentialRecordingsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SequentialRecordingsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/SimultaneousRecordingsTable.m b/+types/+core/SimultaneousRecordingsTable.m
index bd643b0c..a04cfc29 100644
--- a/+types/+core/SimultaneousRecordingsTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/SimultaneousRecordingsTable.m
@@ -48,11 +48,12 @@
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.recordings = p.Results.recordings;
         obj.recordings_index = p.Results.recordings_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SimultaneousRecordingsTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SimultaneousRecordingsTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SimultaneousRecordingsTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/SpatialSeries.m b/+types/+core/SpatialSeries.m
index ecdab93f..6e561066 100644
--- a/+types/+core/SpatialSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/SpatialSeries.m
@@ -62,7 +62,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'reference_frame',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.reference_frame = p.Results.reference_frame;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SpatialSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SpatialSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/SpikeEventSeries.m b/+types/+core/SpikeEventSeries.m
index 39ce891f..ceb31bdd 100644
--- a/+types/+core/SpikeEventSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/SpikeEventSeries.m
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SpikeEventSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SpikeEventSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Subject.m b/+types/+core/Subject.m
index 63f36880..a1ced292 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Subject.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Subject.m
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@
         obj.strain = p.Results.strain;
         obj.subject_id = p.Results.subject_id;
         obj.weight = p.Results.weight;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Subject')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Subject') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/SweepTable.m b/+types/+core/SweepTable.m
index a755c88d..6decf071 100644
--- a/+types/+core/SweepTable.m
+++ b/+types/+core/SweepTable.m
@@ -53,11 +53,12 @@
         obj.series = p.Results.series;
         obj.series_index = p.Results.series_index;
         obj.sweep_number = p.Results.sweep_number;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SweepTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SweepTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.SweepTable')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/TimeIntervals.m b/+types/+core/TimeIntervals.m
index 5f96fdac..0d622faf 100644
--- a/+types/+core/TimeIntervals.m
+++ b/+types/+core/TimeIntervals.m
@@ -71,11 +71,12 @@
         obj.tags_index = p.Results.tags_index;
         obj.timeseries = p.Results.timeseries;
         obj.timeseries_index = p.Results.timeseries_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeIntervals')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeIntervals') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeIntervals')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/TimeSeries.m b/+types/+core/TimeSeries.m
index 265307fc..4b884cf9 100644
--- a/+types/+core/TimeSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/TimeSeries.m
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@
         obj.timestamps = p.Results.timestamps;
         obj.timestamps_interval = p.Results.timestamps_interval;
         obj.timestamps_unit = p.Results.timestamps_unit;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData.m b/+types/+core/TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData.m
index 354f517f..59d1921c 100644
--- a/+types/+core/TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData.m
+++ b/+types/+core/TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData.m
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TimeSeriesReferenceVectorData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/TwoPhotonSeries.m b/+types/+core/TwoPhotonSeries.m
index 828a6301..974fab06 100644
--- a/+types/+core/TwoPhotonSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/TwoPhotonSeries.m
@@ -89,7 +89,10 @@
         obj.imaging_plane = p.Results.imaging_plane;
         obj.pmt_gain = p.Results.pmt_gain;
         obj.scan_line_rate = p.Results.scan_line_rate;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TwoPhotonSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.TwoPhotonSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/Units.m b/+types/+core/Units.m
index fb32fb3a..2bc4b373 100644
--- a/+types/+core/Units.m
+++ b/+types/+core/Units.m
@@ -98,11 +98,12 @@
         obj.waveforms = p.Results.waveforms;
         obj.waveforms_index = p.Results.waveforms_index;
         obj.waveforms_index_index = p.Results.waveforms_index_index;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Units')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Units') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.Units')
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+core/VoltageClampSeries.m b/+types/+core/VoltageClampSeries.m
index 003bd54e..0a95597b 100644
--- a/+types/+core/VoltageClampSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/VoltageClampSeries.m
@@ -122,7 +122,10 @@
         obj.whole_cell_capacitance_comp_unit = p.Results.whole_cell_capacitance_comp_unit;
         obj.whole_cell_series_resistance_comp = p.Results.whole_cell_series_resistance_comp;
         obj.whole_cell_series_resistance_comp_unit = p.Results.whole_cell_series_resistance_comp_unit;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.VoltageClampSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.VoltageClampSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+core/VoltageClampStimulusSeries.m b/+types/+core/VoltageClampStimulusSeries.m
index 678bf0fe..d719cb52 100644
--- a/+types/+core/VoltageClampStimulusSeries.m
+++ b/+types/+core/VoltageClampStimulusSeries.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.VoltageClampStimulusSeries')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.core.VoltageClampStimulusSeries') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/AlignedDynamicTable.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/AlignedDynamicTable.m
index 892079b0..7907b4d9 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/AlignedDynamicTable.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/AlignedDynamicTable.m
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@
         [obj.dynamictable, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'dynamictable', 'types.hdmf_common.DynamicTable', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
@@ -55,11 +53,13 @@
         addParameter(p, 'categories',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.categories = p.Results.categories;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.AlignedDynamicTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.AlignedDynamicTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
-        end
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.AlignedDynamicTable')
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
             types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/CSRMatrix.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/CSRMatrix.m
index a2c93a2d..45682a3a 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/CSRMatrix.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/CSRMatrix.m
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
         obj.indices = p.Results.indices;
         obj.indptr = p.Results.indptr;
         obj.shape = p.Results.shape;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.CSRMatrix')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.CSRMatrix') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/Container.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/Container.m
index 80468457..f9419e5e 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/Container.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/Container.m
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@
         %  - container (types.hdmf_common.Container) - A Container object
         
         obj = obj@types.untyped.MetaClass(varargin{:});
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.Container')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.Container') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/Data.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/Data.m
index 87276371..b5b6717d 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/Data.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/Data.m
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'data',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.data = p.Results.data;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.Data')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.Data') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTable.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTable.m
index 1126c495..41bd4b43 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTable.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTable.m
@@ -52,9 +52,13 @@
         obj.colnames = p.Results.colnames;
         obj.description = p.Results.description;
         obj.id = p.Results.id;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.DynamicTable')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.DynamicTable') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            types.util.dynamictable.checkConfig(obj);
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTableRegion.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTableRegion.m
index ad44d2c3..146e9a70 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTableRegion.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/DynamicTableRegion.m
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'table',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.table = p.Results.table;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.DynamicTableRegion')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.DynamicTableRegion') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/ElementIdentifiers.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/ElementIdentifiers.m
index be665c60..1f9e208c 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/ElementIdentifiers.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/ElementIdentifiers.m
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.ElementIdentifiers')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.ElementIdentifiers') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/SimpleMultiContainer.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/SimpleMultiContainer.m
index baa722ef..947bd848 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/SimpleMultiContainer.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/SimpleMultiContainer.m
@@ -37,16 +37,18 @@
         [obj.data, ivarargin] = types.util.parseConstrained(obj,'data', 'types.hdmf_common.Data', varargin{:});
         varargin(ivarargin) = [];
         
-        obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin()
-        
         p = inputParser;
         p.KeepUnmatched = true;
         p.PartialMatching = false;
         p.StructExpand = false;
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.SimpleMultiContainer')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.SimpleMultiContainer') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
+            obj.setupHasUnnamedGroupsMixin();
         end
     end
     %% SETTERS
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorData.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorData.m
index f28c2f47..dc02d100 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorData.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorData.m
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@
         obj.resolution = p.Results.resolution;
         obj.sampling_rate = p.Results.sampling_rate;
         obj.unit = p.Results.unit;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.VectorData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.VectorData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorIndex.m b/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorIndex.m
index 1b8b53cc..839986a9 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorIndex.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_common/VectorIndex.m
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'target',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.target = p.Results.target;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.VectorIndex')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_common.VectorIndex') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_experimental/EnumData.m b/+types/+hdmf_experimental/EnumData.m
index a723bfdb..d4e741a4 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_experimental/EnumData.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_experimental/EnumData.m
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@
         addParameter(p, 'elements',[]);
         misc.parseSkipInvalidName(p, varargin);
         obj.elements = p.Results.elements;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_experimental.EnumData')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_experimental.EnumData') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end
diff --git a/+types/+hdmf_experimental/HERD.m b/+types/+hdmf_experimental/HERD.m
index 95fa0618..993082f7 100644
--- a/+types/+hdmf_experimental/HERD.m
+++ b/+types/+hdmf_experimental/HERD.m
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@
         obj.keys = p.Results.keys;
         obj.object_keys = p.Results.object_keys;
         obj.objects = p.Results.objects;
-        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_experimental.HERD')
+        
+        % Only execute validation/setup code when called directly in this class's
+        % constructor, not when invoked through superclass constructor chain
+        if strcmp(class(obj), 'types.hdmf_experimental.HERD') %#ok<STISA>
             cellStringArguments = convertContainedStringsToChars(varargin(1:2:end));
             types.util.checkUnset(obj, unique(cellStringArguments));
         end