Applying fixed or variable fields or both: Limitations and workarounds

Fixed field

Values of elements in the constant data fixed field (008 and Leader) replace corresponding elements in the bibliographic record, unless the constant data element contains asterisks (***) in place of a value. Or select to apply variable fields only to preserve all existing fixed field values.

Example: If you enter *** in Lang in a constant data record, the Lang data is not replaced when you apply the constant data to the bibliographic record.

Variable fields

• Repeatable variable fields are added to the bibliographic record. The new field is added after any existing corresponding field.
• Nonrepeatable variable fields replace existing fields in the bibliographic record.
• However, constant data does not retain blank fields.
• To retain empty fields, add the field and tag to the constant data record and add placeholder characters (for example, x) or enter |BLANK| (i.e., enter a vertical bar character, then the word BLANK in all uppercase letters, and then another vertical bar). When you apply the constant data, the empty field with tag number only appears in the record.

Subfields

• If variable fields in constant data include subfields that contain valid values, the subfields remain in the field added to the bibliographic record.
• However, constant data does not retain blank subfields.
• To retain empty subfields, add the subfield code and one or more placeholder characters (for example, x), or add the subfield code and enter |BLANK| (i.e., enter a vertical bar character, then the word BLANK in all uppercase letters, and then another vertical bar).
  
  Example: Entering 100 10 ‡b |BLANK| in a constant data record is added to the bibliographic record as 100 10 ‡b
  
  When you apply the constant data, the subfield code, followed by a space, appears in the record.
   
• If you apply constant data to records selected in a list, empty subfields are retained only if you have added one or more placeholder characters in the subfield of the constant data record. In this case, adding |BLANK| does not retain empty subfields.

Format mismatch warning

If the MARC format of the selected constant data record does not match the format of the bibliographic record, the system displays a warning message. Click Cancel to cancel applying the different format of the constant data record, or click OK to apply the new format.

 Note:

• The system does not compare formats if you choose to apply variable fields only.
• The system does not compare formats when you apply constant data to records selected in a list. For those records, the fixed field is automatically overwritten.