Skip to main content
OCLC Support

04. Tags and subfields with subfield indicators consisting of 3 characters – bibliographic format - specifications per field

Introduction

On this page, we have grouped together bibliographic format tags with a similar structure. Per category of tags, we have marked the subfield indicators consisting of three characters with green. You can also see that we have defined a default which is displayed when only two characters of the subfield indicators are present. The consequence of the latter is that the “default” punctuation, i.e. the most commonly used punctuation, is generated.
Initially, it may appear that there are many cases in which a subfield indicator of three characters must be used, but in fact you can summarize those to only a few situations that appear in different tags.

$a Surname and forenames/initials/prefixes

CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Personal Name - tag description
M100 020A Main Entry – Personal Name
M600 070A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L600 170A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L696 173S Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
M700 080A Added Entry – Personal Name
L700 180A Added Entry – Personal Name
L790 183M Local Added Entry – Personal Name
L796 183S Local Added Entry – Personal Name
M800 090A Series Added Entry – Personal Name
L896 193S Local Series Added Entry – Personal Name

 

Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
$a A comma-space behind the surname will automatically generate PICA+ subfield $A. $a, $A

CBS MARC 21 cataloguing format:
$a Surname and forenames/initials/prefixes

PICA+ format:
$a Surname
$A Forenames/initials/prefixes

$b Remainder of title

CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Tag description
M242 031Q Translation of Title by Cataloging Agency
M245 031T/td> Title Statement
M246 031U Varying Form of Title
M247 031V Former Title
 

 

Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
;$b Semicolon $B

Remainder of title - subsequent title of the same author(s)

The generated punctuation is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

:$b Colon $C

Remainder of title - other title information

The generated punctuation is _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

=$b Equal sign $D

Remainder of title - parallel title

The generated punctuation is _=_ i.e. space-equal sign-space (in combination with other punctuation).

.$b Period $E

Remainder of title - subsequent title of (an)other author(s)

The generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space (in combination with other punctuation).

$b   $b

Remainder of title - other title information

The default generated punctuation is _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).


$c Titles and words associated with name / Other words or phrases associated with name

CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Personal Name - tag description
M100 020A Main Entry – Personal Name
M600 070A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L600 170A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L696 173S Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
M700 080A Added Entry – Personal Name
L700 180A Added Entry – Personal Name
L790 183M Local Added Entry – Personal Name
L796 183S Local Added Entry – Personal Name
M800 090A Series Added Entry – Personal Name
L896 193S Local Series Added Entry – Personal Name

 

Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
$c   $c

Titles and words associated with a name

The default generated punctuation is ,_ i.e. comma-space (in combination with other punctuation).

($c Opening parenthesis $C

Other words or phrases associated with a name

The generated punctuation is _( i.e. space-opening parenthesis (in combination with other punctuation).

 

$d Date of meeting or treaty signing / $g Miscellaneous information

CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Tag description
    Corporate Name
M110 020K Main Entry – Corporate Name
M610 070K Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
L610 170K Local Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
L697 173T Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
M710 080K Added Entry – Corporate Name
L710 180K Added Entry – Corporate Name
L791 183N Local Added Entry – Corporate Name
L797 183T Local Added Entry – Corporate Name
M810 090K Series Added Entry – Corporate Name
L897 193T Local Series Added Entry – Corporate Name
    Meeting Name
M111 020L Main Entry – Meeting Name
M611 070L Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
L611 170L Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
L698 173U Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
M711 080L Added Entry – Meeting Name
L711 180L Added Entry – Meeting Name
L792 183O Local Added Entry – Meeting Name
L798 183U Local Added Entry – Meeting Name
M811 090L Series Added Entry – Meeting Name
L898 193U Local Series Added Entry – Meeting Name
    Uniform Title
M130 021E Main Entry – Uniform Title
M240 031O Uniform Title
L240 131O Uniform Title
M243 031R Collective Uniform Title
M630 071E Subject Added Entry – Uniform Title
L630 171E Subject Added Entry – Uniform Title
L699 173V Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry
M730 081E Added Entry – Uniform Title
L730 181E Added Entry – Uniform Title
L793 183P Local Added Entry – Uniform Title
L799 183V Local Added Entry – Uniform Title
M830 091E Series Added Entry – Uniform Title
L899 193V Local Series Added Entry – Uniform Title
    Former Title
M247 031V Former Title (only subfield $g)

 

Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
)$d Closing parenthesis $D

Date of meeting or treaty signing

A closing parenthesis (followed by additional punctuation) is generated.

$d   $d

Date of meeting or treaty signing

The generated punctuation is dependent on the following subfield; but it will not be a closing parenthesis (followed by additional punctuation).

,$g Comma $G

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is in most cases ,_ i.e. comma-space (in combination with other punctuation).

:$g Colon $H

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is in most cases _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

.$g Period $I

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is in most cases ._ i.e. period-space (in combination with other punctuation).

$g   $g

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is dependent on the preceding subfield. When you want to have control over the punctuation, you can use the three positions subfield indicators, mentioned above.

$n Number of part/section of a work / $p Name of part/section of a work

CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Tag description
    Personal Name
M100 020A Main Entry – Personal Name
M600 070A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L600 170A Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
L696 173S Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Personal Name
M700 080A Added Entry – Personal Name
L700 180A Added Entry – Personal Name
L790 183M Local Added Entry – Personal Name
L796 183S Local Added Entry – Personal Name
M800 090A Series Added Entry – Personal Name
L896 193S Local Series Added Entry – Personal Name
    Corporate Name
M110 020K Main Entry – Corporate Name
M610 070K Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
L610 170K Local Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
L697 173T Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Corporate Name
M710 080K Added Entry – Corporate Name
L710 180K Added Entry – Corporate Name
L791 183N Local Added Entry – Corporate Name
L797 183T Local Added Entry – Corporate Name
M810 090K Series Added Entry – Corporate Name
L897 193T Local Series Added Entry – Corporate Name
    Meeting Name
M111 020L Main Entry – Meeting Name
M611 070L Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
L611 170L Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
L698 173U Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry – Meeting Name
M711 080L Added Entry – Meeting Name
L711 180L Added Entry – Meeting Name
L792 183O Local Added Entry – Meeting Name
L798 183U Local Added Entry – Meeting Name
M811 090L Series Added Entry – Meeting Name
L898 193U Local Series Added Entry – Meeting Name
    Uniform Title
M130 021E Main Entry – Uniform Title
M240 031O Uniform Title
L240 131O Uniform Title
M243 031R Collective Uniform Title
M630 071E Subject Added Entry – Uniform Title
L630 171E Subject Added Entry – Uniform Title
L699 173V Local Subject Access Field / Local Subject Added Entry
M730 081E Added Entry – Uniform Title
L730 181E Added Entry – Uniform Title
L793 183P Local Added Entry – Uniform Title
L799 183V Local Added Entry – Uniform Title
M830 091E Series Added Entry – Uniform Title
L899 193V Local Series Added Entry – Uniform Title
    Other tags
M242 031Q Translation of Title by Cataloging Agency
M245 031T Title Statement
M246 031U Varying Form of Title
M247 031V Former Title
M740 081O Added Entry – Uncontrolled Related/Analytical Title

 

Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
.$n Period $N

Number of part/section of a work

The generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space

,$n Comma $O

Number of part/section of a work

The generated punctuation is ,_ i.e. comma-space

$n   $n

Number of part/section of a work

The default generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space.

.$p Period $P

Name of part/section of a work

The generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space

,$p Comma $Q

Name of part/section of a work

The generated punctuation is ,_ i.e. comma-space

$p   $p

Name of part/section of a work

The default generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space.

Other tags and subfields

MARC tag Tag description CBS MARC tag PICA+ tag Cataloguing format Preceding punctuation sign PICA+ format Explanation / remarks
020 International Standard Book Number

M020

C020

015K

215K

       
        :$c Colon $C

Terms of availability

The generated punctuation is _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        $c
 
  $c

Terms of availability

The default generated punctuation is _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

037 Source of Acquisition M037 016B        
        ($c Opening parenthesis $C

Terms of availability

The generated punctuation is _( i.e. space-opening parenthesis (in combination with other punctuation).

        $c   $c

Terms of availability

The generated punctuation is dependent on the preceding subfield; but it will not be an opening parenthesis.

        .$g Period $G

Additional format characteristics

The generated punctuation is ._ i.e. period-space(in combination with other punctuation).

        ;$g Semicolon $H

Additional format characteristics

The generated punctuation is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space(in combination with other punctuation).

        $g   $g

Additional format characteristics

The generated punctuation is dependent on the preceding subfield, but is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space in most cases; but it will not be a period.

045 Time Period of Content M045 016J        
        -$b Dash $B

Formatted 9999 B.C. through C.E. time period (the second subfield $b when first indicator = 2 range of dates/times)

The generated punctuation is - i.e. dash.

        $b   $b

Formatted 9999 B.C. through C.E. time period

The default generated punctuation is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space.

        -$c Dash $C

Formatted pre-9999 B.C. time period (the second subfield $c when first indicator = 2 range of dates/times)

The generated punctuation is - i.e. dash.

        $c   $c

Formatted pre-9999 B.C. time period

The default generated punctuation is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space.

245 Title Statement M245 031T        
        :$k Colon $K

Form

The generated punctuation is _:_ i.e. space-colon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        $k   $k

Form

The default generated punctuation is _, i.e. a space (in combination with other punctuation).

250 Edition Statement

M250

C250

031Y

231Y

       
        /$b Slash $B

Remainder of edition statement, author(s) related to the edition

The generated punctuation is in most cases _/_ i.e. space-slash-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        ;$b Semicolon $C

Remainder of edition statement, addition to edition statement

The generated punctuation is in most cases _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

         ,$b Comma $D

Remainder of edition statement, addition to edition statement

The generated punctuation is in most cases ,_ i.e. comma-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        =$b Equal sign $E

Remainder of edition statement, parallel edition statement

The generated punctuation is in most cases _;_ i.e. space-equal sign-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        $b   $b

Remainder of edition statement

NB The default generated punctuation is in most cases ,_ i.e. comma-space (in combination with other punctuation).

300 Physical Description

M300

C300

040A

240A

       
        +$a Plus sign $A

Extent

The generated punctuation is _+_ i.e. space-plus sign-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        ($a Opening parenthesis $B

Extent

The generated punctuation is _( i.e. space-opening parenthesis (in combination with other punctuation).

        $a   $a

Extent

The generated punctuation is dependent on the preceding subfield, but it will not be a plus sign or an opening parenthesis.

        )$f Closing parenthesis $F

Type of unit

A closing parenthesis (followed by additional punctuation) is generated.

        $f   $f

Type of unit

The generated punctuation is dependent on the following subfield, but it will not be a closing parenthesis (followed by additional punctuation).

490 Series Statement M490 053M        
        .$a Period $A

Series statement

The generated punctuation is in most cases ._ i.e. period-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        =$a Equal sign $B

Series statement

The generated punctuation is in most cases _=_ i.e. space-equal sign-space (in combination with other punctuation).

        $a   $a

Series statement

The default generated punctuation is in most cases ._ i.e. period-space.

505 Formatted Contents Note

M505

C505

060F

260F

       
        ($g Opening parenthesis $G

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is _( i.e. space-opening parenthesis (in combination with other punctuation).

        $g   $g

Miscellaneous information

The generated punctuation is dependent on the following subfield. In most cases it is ._ i.e. period-space, but it will not be an opening parenthesis (followed by additional punctuation).

        ;$t Semicolon $H

Title

The generated punctuation is _;_ i.e. space-semicolon-space (in combination with other punctuation).

 

        $t   $t

Title

The generated punctuation is dependent on the following subfield. In most cases it is ._ i.e. period-space, but it will not be a semicolon (in combination with other punctuation).