347  Digital File Characteristics (R)

Definition

Technical specifications relating to digital encoding of text, image, audio, video, and other types of data in a resource. This information could also be recorded in field 300 subfield ǂb.

For information on punctuation, see the Punctuation section below.

Guidelines

Use field 347 for both tangible and online electronic resources.

Prefer use of a separate field for each unique term. For example, for an audio CD:

For a JPEG file:

For a PDF text document:

For a DVD videodisc:

When cataloging online resources using Provider-Neutral practices, exclude elements that may differ from one iteration to another. For example, encoding format and file size should be omitted. See Provider-Neutral E-Resource MARC Record Guide: P-N/RDA Version for additional guidance.

For guidance on describing and encoding the attributes of notated music and audio carriers, see the Music Library Association's Best Practices for Music Cataloging Using RDA and MARC 21 for Chapter 3, Best Practices for Music Cataloging Using RDA and MARC 21 for Chapter 7, and "Supplement 1" of the Music Library Association's Supplements to Best Practices for Music Cataloging Using RDA and MARC21.

For additional guidance on describing resources with audio, computer, and video carriers, see the Online Audiovisual Catalogers' OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging DVD-Video and Blu-ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, Video Games, and Digital Media Storage Devices Using the Original RDA Toolkit and MARC 21.

1st Indicator

Undefined. The 1st indicator position is undefined and contains a blank.

2nd Indicator

Undefined. The 2nd indicator position is undefined and contains a blank.

Subfields

Punctuation

For records containing or omitting punctuation, follow these instructions:

• Include incidental punctuation needed within any subfields, e.g., commas, periods (following abbreviations or initials), etc.
• Omit punctuation preceding each subfield unless the preceding subfield ends with an abbreviation or initial
• Omit the terminal period at the end of the field unless the last word is an abbreviation or initial

For more information on punctuation, including OCLC policy, see section 2.8, Punctuation.

Indexing

For indexing and searching information, see Searching WorldCat Indexes, Fields 3xx.

MARC 21

For more information, including content designator history, see MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data, field 347.