Weight hierarchies of linear codes satisfying the almost chain condition

The weight hierarchy of a linear [n, k;q] code C over GF(q) is the sequence (d1,d2,..., dk) where dr is the size of the smallest support of an r-dimensional subcode of C. An [n,k;q] code satisfies the chain condition if there exists subcodes D1 D2 … Dk = C of C such that Dr has dimension r and support of size dr for all r. Further, C satisfies the almost chain condition if it does not satisfy the chain condition, but there exist subcodes Dr of dimension r and support of size dr for all r such that D2 D3 Dk = C and D1 D3. A simple necessary condition for a sequence to be the weight hierarchy of a code satisfying the almost chain condition is given. Further, explicit constructions of such codes are given, showing that in almost all cases, the necessary conditions are also sufficient.