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| TagName | Short answer | Expected? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record reference | Use the ISBN-13 here | YES all records | Every ONIX record should carry a unique number – used to identify the metadata record. |
| Notification type | default as "03" | YES all records | Notification type is about the record as well. It tells the recipient how much trust to put in the metadata (pre-publication information can change) or might be used to convey advanced problems that a small publisher should email trading partners about. |
| product form | BC=paperback BB=hardcover DG=digital book (PDF or eBook) | YES all records | An ONIX record is a Product record as defined above. What form does it take in the broadest terms possible? That's what goes here. DO NOT code BA "book" it's there situations when a distributor doesn't know anything. Audio books are "A_" Ask for help if you need to describe a product with more than one Product Form |
| Product form detail | B102 is Trade paperback | All paperbacks | A place to add detail to what you've said for Product Form. If it's a paperback retailers need to know what type it is. And that's almost always a "Trade Paperback" . Look at the list and you'll find |
| Epublication type | 002 is PDF | Digital only | Digital book don't usually use Product Form Detail, but this the digital equivalent to it. |
| Barcode | Code: 10 is likely | Do you have a standard ISBN-13 based barcode? It's called an EAN13 Barcode. | |
| Work identifier | Use only when you've published this title in more than one "Form" | Digital book sellers in particular want this but each ONIX record describes a Product. If you sold the same "work" or title in multiple formats wouldn't it be nice if ALL the records shared an identifier? So in all such records select "01 Proprietary" and fill in a shared value in the box beside it – a unique code please – don't use the book title spaces and all as that's no help to anyone. | |
| Title prefix Title without prefix | Use only if your book title contains a prefix | Use "Distinct title" on its own if the book title doesn't have a prefix. Otherwise this is a support for indexing – help the retailer out by putting the Prefix in one box and the title without it in the box Title without prefix | |
| Distinct title | As it appears on the book | YES all records | |
| Imprint: Name code type Name code value | Use only if you're supplying your ONIX metadata to Amazon | More than you want to know available here: Imprint Codes and the need for consistent presentation of Supplier, Publisher and Imprint names | |
| Imprint name | YES all records | The Publisher is the company who published the book. The Imprint is the brand how the book appears They are usually the same thing but retailers like to know. | |
| Publication date | The date this ISBN was first sold | YES all records | Dates in ONIX are YYYYMMDD – no hyphens, slashes or marks. Dates are "text" fields |
| Publishing status | 02 is forthcoming 04 is Active | YES all records | A way for the supply chain to understand where your book is in it's lifecycle. Nothing is in print forever. "Forthcoming" is "before publication" and you should update your record to "Active" |
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| SUPPLY DETAIL: Supplier name Supplier role | Print and digital products | YES all records | For Print books this would normally be who a RETAILER contacts to order stock. For Digital books this would be the same if this product (ISBN) is available from several e-tailers but if this ISBN is uniquely available from one source then you can specify that in Supplier Role as well. |