A guide to BNC Webform data entry and code list references
Go directly to a Tab's entry:
Purpose:
It's not always clear what's wanted in a specific field in Webform. Metadata between companies is traded because it's needed and those needs develop over time. Conventions develop – varying slightly between trading partners — and are normally discussed or published as guidelines. However, the typical Webform user is developing book metadata from scratch without a trading partner, so they can't possibly know the conventions, definitions, and why's of an industry.
With this in mind, the general purpose of this page is to provide the following:
a short pragmatic answer about what goes into a field, i.e., a quick reference guide
a quick way to access the full ONIX code list for, or that may support, an entry
Those two things are probably enough for most Webform users: what's wanted and a solution to limited drop-down menus. Drop-downs are incomplete because they lack the "Notes" section that explains the codes. As well, a full code list that appears, complete, on a single page can be quickly scanned in its entirety. Seen that way, most code lists become self explanatory in a way that a drop-down just can't support. You won't need to reference it all the time but if you're ever unsure, a look here and at a code list may be all you need.
The other purpose of this page is to provide a guide to the specific ONIX tag and manual entry that this information will be sent as, which may be helpful if a trading partner asks you to confirm this, or if you're trying to understand your ONIX feed.
How to use this guide:
This document assumes you are using ONIX 2.1 and is organized in Webform page order, generally going top to bottom, left to right, and named by its tab reference.
All text values you enter should be in "mixed case" following normal conventions for capitalization of titles and names. DO NOT USE ALL CAPS.
Unless prompted or marked as Mandatory? it's fine to leave fields blank. For example, if the book is not part of a Series then leave "Series" blank – DO NOT USE "N/A" or other values, as retailers will display it to consumers.
If a number is requested, just supply a number without anything else. ISBNs are always supplied WITHOUT hyphens in all cases. Numbers are computer friendly and text unexpected.
Each code list number links to a separate page. It would be best to open in a new tab (right click on a PC or CMD click on a Mac).
General Info
Webform label | Comments | Mandatory? | ONIX | ONIX Manual reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ISBN 13 | Enter your ISBN-13 as assigned by Library and Archives Canada. NO HYPHENS supply a 13 digit number | All records | PR.2.7 Product identifier code | |
Autofilled in ONIX output | Based on the ISBN-13 entered, Webform includes as product identifiers:
| All records | PR.2.7 Product identifier code | |
RECORD REFERENCE | Enter your ISBN-13 here as well. (The Record Reference must be a unique value and is used to identify individual records. The ISBN-13 is a convenient way to maintain that) | All records | PR.1.1 Record reference number | |
| All records enter a value in TITLE – Enter the 'main' book title (without subtitle) in the "Title" box. If the title begins with a prefix (The, A, An, etc.) enter the Prefix and the balance of the title split between the Title Prefix / WO Prefix. (Retailers will use the WO Prefix value for indexing.) If the title doesn't have prefix, simply leave the two fields blank and use "Title" on its own. | All records | Code "01" | |
General Information | ||||
SUBTITLE | The book's subtitle goes here. See Title above. | if it appears | PR.7.14 Subtitle | |
NOTIFICATION TYPE | Default to "03" (This is used to define the "quality" of information. Early pre-publication information may change and by giving "02" you warn of that. Most Webform users have a book-in-hand so "Confirmed information" is appropriate for the lifetime of a book. Using other codes should be updated to 03 on publication. Do not use 04 as it's an ONIX 3.0 value.) | All records | PR.1.2 Notification or update type code | |
WORK IDENTIFIER | Use this when you've published this "work" (single title) in more than one format (multiple ISBNs). | Optional | PR.7.15 Work identifier type code | |
PRODUCT FORM | For print books Product Form is a "binding" type and normal values are BC=paperback or BB=hardcover Other "B_" codes can be used for other formats but these 2 are by far the most typical to use. Use with Product Form Detail. | All records | PR.3.1 Product form code | |
EPUBLICATION TYPE | Digital books only: 002 is PDF / 029 is EPUB Each file type is normally assigned it's own ISBN (the same as paperback and hardcover) Do NOT use "000" Content Package as it's out-dated concept. Always tell retailers the type of file they are processing. | Required for | PR.4.2 Epublication type | |
PRODUCT FORM DETAIL | Tip: "print" book codes start with "B", Digital codes start with "E" , Audio starts with "A" and so on. The letters match the first letter of the Product form in most cases. | Required for | PR.3.2 Product form detail | |
BARCODE | Major retailers want to know where the barcode is on print books and the typical answer is that you have an EAN barcode on the back cover: Use List 6 code "10" (If a price block is provided as part of the barcode then use "11" for a USD price or "68" for a CAD one. What's a price block? A second smaller barcode with price information and it's not required. If it's there and marked with zeros, then you still don't have price block – there has to be price information in the second barcode that matches the price you show in your metadata for that currency.). Webform only supports a single instance so if you have multiple barcodes specify the standard ISBN-13 based EAN barcode typically found on the back cover. Do NOT provide a Barcode code value for digital products. A retailer has no need or means to scan a barcode as part of processing a file download. | Print books only | PR.2.10 Barcode indicator | |
PRIMARY CONTENT TYPE | The use case this supports is a book format where "what's inside" isn't obvious – digital products or analogue recordings – to define what it is. For your typical epub that would be List 81 code 10 "Text (eye-readable)". Webform offers a single instance for this, so choose the main content type. This wouldn't be typically supplied on a print book. | Optional and typically for digital products | PR.3.11 Product content type code | |
TITLE OF SERIES | See below for Number Within Series. Leave blank if there's no series and that is typical for small publishers. Series generally make more sense for large publishers with many related titles and provide a means of secondary marketing. Series numbers are sometimes applied to provide order, esp in Europe. | All records | PR.5.6 Series title PR.5.9 "No series" indicator | |
PUBLISHER NAME | See next tab "Imprint" as well. The Publisher Name is the name of the company that signs contracts and whose name appears on the Title page and Copyright page. Imprint Name is based on the branding that appears on the outside of the book. For many companies Publisher and Imprint are identical. | All records | PR.19.7 Publishing role code | |
LANGUAGE OF TEXT | Most will use 'eng' This code actually defines the language market a retailer should sell to (it's how Amazon would define their Spanish vs English section), but the language the book is written is usually the same as the book's language market. Webform's ONIX output uses List 22 role code "01" Language of Text and most users will select List 74 language code "eng". See more. | All records | PR.11.3 Language role PR.11.4 Language code | |
NUMBER WITHIN SERIES | See above for Series Title. Use only if Title of Series is provided and the series carries a number. Use numbers here only. | Optional | PR.5.7 Number within series | |
PUBLICATION DATE | The date this ISBN was first published (not the "work" – see Year First Published below) and the date of record for this ISBN. Dates in ONIX are YYYYMMDD – no hyphens, slashes or marks. | All records | PR.20.5 Publication date | |
NUMBER OF PAGES | The approximate number of pages – normally the number from the last numbered page, but if there a two or more sequentially numbered sections (eg xviii + 344) add the sequences together. Digital products: While a page count might not exist in a digital product this remains the most meaningful "size" for consumers. Either use the page count from a print edition or provide an estimation based on a standard character or word conversion. | All records | PR.12.1 Approximate number of pages | |
YEAR FIRST PUBLISHED | If this ISBN is based on a work that's been previously published, you can provide the year that the "work" was first published to aid in identification. . | Optional | PR.20.3 Year first published | |
PUBLISHING STATUS | Most will show 04 "Active" or 02 "Forthcoming". There are two status values in ONIX and they should be considered together. The Publishing Status provides the book status for the company named as publisher. See Supply Detail tab "Product Availability" for the status for the company supplying the book to retailers. For many Webform users the company may be the same but both status values are important to provide a complete picture to the supply chain. Retailer metadata must be updated when the status changes. | All records | PR.20.1 Publishing status | |
NUMBER OF PIECES | Most will leave blank. If this ISBN comes in 2 or more physical parts – say a paperback split into Volume 1 and Volume 2 but sold as single ISBN – then this is a count of the number of paperbacks that come as part of this ISBN. This is important information for retailers to know if the product should be sold as two books combined – but it's very exceptional. | Optional | PR.3.9 Number of Pieces | |
FOR SALE WITH EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS | Most will check off "World" (List 49). If you only have limited rights then check off the list of countries (List 91 individual country codes) you have rights or are marketing the book in. Try to avoid a long list if possible, you can limit the list to countries you are actually marketing the book in – just be sure to include Canada's List 91 value of "CA" (assuming you're selling here). | All records | PR.21.1 Sales rights type code PR.21.2 Rights country PR.21.3 Rights territory | |
CITY OF PUBLICATION | If your title page shows the publisher name with the city and country (see below) of publication, then listing it is recommended as it will help identification of the book. If you don't list them on the title page then it's simply optional in the metadata – it will still aid in identification of the publisher. | Optional | PR.19.16 City of publication | |
COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION | See City of Publication above. | Optional | PR.19.16 Country of publication | |
EDITION NUMBER | Most will leave blank. An edition is noted in metadata when there are changed or updated versions of a book issued with different ISBNs. So "edition" marks that the content of the work has had substantial changes and published in different versions, normally as sequentially numbered editions. This is important for retailers and libraries to track. ONIX supports a NoEdition marker to show that a single "version" of the work has been published and this describes most Webform users. Do not supply "1" unless there are other editions (changed content) as different formats or bindings with the same content are all of the same "edition". See More | All records | PR.10.2 Edition number PR.10.5 "No edition" indicator | |
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE | A single ISO 3166-1 country code from List 91 designating the country of final manufacture of the product. (This functionality is provided as a workaround in ONIX 2.1. ONIX 3.0 has specific provision for country of manufacture as a separate element.) Note: this is provided for retailers reference and cross border shipping where it would be relevant. It typically isn't provided for a POD product unless there is only one location, then whatever country that printing happens in. | Mandatory | PR.15.3 Other text type code "code 99" | |
SEE Website TAB | NOTE: Website entries appear in different places within an ONIX record – placement of information within an ONIX record is "meaningful". Webform supports distinct Website entries for
| Optional | PR.19.12 to PR.19.14 PR.16.15 to PR.16.17 |
Imprint
Webform label | Comments | Mandatory? | ONIX | ONIX Manual reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NAME CODE TYPE | Most select "01" Proprietary. See next label | Recommended | PR.19.2 Name code type | |
NAME CODE VALUE | A self-selected "code" value associated with the Imprint Name you provide. It's simply a tool to allow retailers to track changes to imprint names which can change for marketing reasons. A consistent code will help confirm that the imprint remains related to a previous imprint name, while a new code confirms it's a new and different imprint. See more. | PR.19.4 Name code value | ||
NAME | Imprint Name goes here, but for most small publishers the Imprint Name is the same as Publisher Name. See more. | Mandatory | PR.19.5 Imprint of brand name |
Contributor
Webform label | Comments | Mandatory? | ONIX | ONIX Manual reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlabeled - a sequence number is added | Auto-filled based on sequence in the list. The order of the contributor list in Webform is meaningful as each entry will be labeled with a sequence number used by retailers to control display order. | All records should support at least one contributor entry. If the product has no specific author (a calendar might be an example) then use the Publisher as a Corporate contributor. | PR.8.1 Contributor sequence number | |
First name (bef key) | General instructions: Each Contributor entry supports a specific (single) person OR A "Corporate" entry is supplied – never both. If a husband and wife are the joint authors, give each a separate entry even if the book cover combines them If the contributor is a "person" then enter everything before their "last name" as "First name (bef key)" If there are name parts that you're not sure are part of a last name (de von, etc.) then define the "last name" as how the retailer should index the author. | PR.8.8 Person name part 2: names before key name | ||
Name (key) | Enter the "last name" of a person (defined in previous entry) here. If the person is identified by a singular name (Cher is an example) then enter it here as it's the "key" name and leave the "First name" blank | PR.8.9 Person name part 3: names before key name | ||
Person name | auto-filled based on previous entries | PR.8.5 Person name | ||
Person name inv. | auto-filled based on previous entries | PR.8.6 Person name inverted | ||
Corporate | Use this if the contributor isn't a person but a named group – the corporate sponsor (a company) or an editorial group might be examples – then enter that group here but do not fill out the "person" related tags (above). | PR.8.26 Corporate contributor name | ||
Role | Most use A01 author / A12 Illustrator / B01 Editor / B06 Translated by Select the most appropriate role code here – use the full code list and read the notes. While you should select the most appropriate code, some retailers privilege "authors" over other types and map many codes to "author" resulting in, as example, the caption writer appearing before the Photographer as Author code. TIP: Be accurate but using atypical codes to try to attract attention can have the reverse effect. | Required in all Contributor entries | PR.8.2 Contributor role | |
Country | If needed to support marketing, select the Country code associated with the author. In Canada a "CA" is used to identify a Canadian author and identifies the product for inclusion in 49thshelf.com or Canadian best seller lists. | Optional, Recommended for Canadian authors | PR.8.33 Country code | |
SEE Website TAB | If the author has their own website and you want to link to it for its marketing potential you can add it in the Website tab. A separate interface there allows you to associate a contributor with a website, normally identified as "06" Contributor's own website, "07" Publisher's website related to specified contributor, or "09" Third-party website related to the specified contributor. NOTE: Website entries appear in different places within an ONIX record. Webform supports distinct Website entries for
| Optional | PR.8.28 to PR.8.30 |
Text
Webform label | Comments | Mandatory? | ONIX | ONIX Manual reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MAIN DESCRIPTION | Information about HTML use is here. Simple HTML designed for use within ONIX metadata feeds is strongly recommended. Webform defaults to showing a Text Format of "02" HTML. If HTML use is a problem submit simple tag-less text using double page returns for paragraphs. For most books a well chosen excerpt is one of the best support – though for children's picture books or other highly illustrative or designed books several sample interior images may be a better choice. Webform offers a single entry to handle reviews. Retailers will publish them following "fair use" guidelines so short quotes are best with the quote author, journal name and date as available. Separate quote blocks as paragraphs. Nonfiction or collections by multiple authors are often best served with a Table of Contents and can include each Chapter and Section Heading or the individual title and its author for collections. Unfortunately not all retailers will use them. General guidelines: All books are different so the exact mix of what you supply can vary – you're under no obligation to supply both the Main Description and the Back Cover Copy, for example, and if one is largely a duplicate of the other there's little point. A Table of Contents should provide information to the potential buyer. Length is best judged by looking at similar books but few buyers will read long extended copy, though the excerpt is an exception to that rule. Few retailers will allow unlimited space and descriptions and bios above 300 words are preferred with 600 words exceptional. An excerpt would be best well under 2000 words. Not every retailer displays everything. | All records should include a Main Description |