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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 use code BA "book." It's there for situations like if a distributor doesn't know more. 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 | YES 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 things that might describe your book, and the full ONIX code list contains notes. Google terms you don't understand as you'll usually find definitions. Don't kill yourself on this but these are primary data points used by retailers. |
| Epublication type | 002 is PDF | Digital books only | Digital book books don't usually use Product Form Detail (there are some choices for fixed format or free flow choices), but this the digital equivalent to it. |
| Barcode | Code: 10 is likely | Physical books only | Do you have a standard ISBN-13 based barcode? It's called an EAN13 Barcode. |
| Work identifier | Use onlywhen you've published this title with
and ISBN | Optional, but expected | 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 w/wo prefix is a support for indexing – to help the retailer out by putting index the title properly. Simply put the Prefix in one box and the title without it (how it would be alphabetized) in the box for 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 | As it appears on the book | YES all records | The Publisher is the company who published the book. The Imprint is the brand, how it appears on the book. Publisher are Imprint are often the same thing but retailers like to know for sure. |
| Publisher name | As it appears on the book | YES all records | See Imprint Name above – but normally the Publisher Name is the name of the company that signs contracts and whose name appears on the Title and Copyright page |
| 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" when it becomes available. The value should make sense with the Publication Date and the Supply Detail's Product availability code. |
SUPPLY DETAIL: | Print and digital products 10 is Forthcoming | YES all records | For Print books the Supplier would normally be your distributor but thewhatever company that a contacts to order stock is the Supplier. For Digital books this would be the same if this product (ISBN) is available from several e-tailersand most often it would then be the same as , the Publisher's name appears as they supply the file to the retailerthe Supplier because they are who a retailer using Supplier Role code "08". The Product availability information is mandatory. |