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In ONIX 2.1 there is the product form <ProductForm>DG</ProductForm> (Electronic Book Text), which is described as “Electronic book text in proprietary or open standard format.” This is not a supported product form in ONIX 3.0 and, looking through ONIX 3.0’s different codes, I can’t find one that matches DG. The best fit I can see is <ProductForm>EA</ProductForm> (Digital [delivered electronically]), which is described as “Digital content delivered electronically (delivery method unspecified)”. This seems more vague than DG was.
Is this meant to be clarified in the <ProductFormFeature>?
Answer
ONIX 3.0 has some major differences from 2.1 and digital products is one. When ONIX 2.1 was in primary development (years 2000 to 2005), digital products were separated as their use case had not yet been defined. With ONIX 3.0 digital products are integrated to the routine way ONIX is organized using Product Form and Product Form Detail. That change is the main reason why ONIX 2.1 uses List 7 & 78 and ONIX 3.0 needs different lists -- List 150 and 175.
The code list “Heading” is seldom enough to fully understand the code use so the code list’s “Notes" need to be referenced. In 3.0, Product Form EA is not recommended as it doesn't specify the delivery method - see an abbreviated List 150 with its notes column below. ONIX always supports codes like EA because there’s a use case for not being able to supply information, its just not one typically needed. Most digital products are traded as "ED" - where "download" is specified. One notable exception is audiobooks would be traded as AJ – a downloadable audio file. These require different Product Forms because they are different file type – more different than paper or hardback.
AJ | Downloadable audio file | Digital audio recording downloadable to the purchaser’s own device(s) |
EA | Digital (delivered electronically) | Digital content delivered electronically (delivery method unspecified) |
EB | Digital download and online | Digital content available both by download and by online access |
EC | Digital online | Digital content accessed online only |
ED | Digital download | Digital content delivered by download only |
Generally (not always) the first character of a Product Form matches to the first character of its corresponding Product Form Detail list. For digital books ONIX 2.1 List 10 EpubType matches to ONIX 3.0 List 175 Product Form Detail’s “E___” section. In ONIX 3.0 List 150 Product Form the “D_” section is reserved for digital products on physical media with its corresponding List 175 Detail supporting a "D___" section reserved for their operating system details (and you really want to check the Notes!)
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