Cycle suspension to full bump and full droop to determine travel needs.
It is always recommended to cycle suspension to full bump and full droop to determine travel needs. Build type will determine where you want the damper to sit at static ride height. When cycling you want to remove anything that can bind such as swaybar etc.
NOTE: Shock travel may not always match suspension travel, the shock may be shorter than the fully compressed dimension or longer than the fully extened measurment. Shocks without zone control should not be used for droop limiters or compression/bumpstops. Frame or arm mounted bumpstops and limit straps should limit suspension movement at full droop and fully compressed ends of the cycle.