BS ISO/IEC 8211:1994

Foreword
Introduction
1. Scope
2. Normative references
3. Conformance
4. Definitions and abbreviations
4.1 Definitions
4.2 Abbreviations
5. Interchange file and logical record structure
5.1 File and logical record structure
5.1.1 Interchange logical records
5.1.2 Padding of records and media blocks
5.2 Logical records - leaders and directories
5.2.1 Logical record leader
5.2.2 Logical record directory
5.3 Logical record field areas
5.3.1 Field area of the DDR
5.3.2 The field areas of the DRs
6. Description of user data types and structures
6.1 DDR leader fields related to data description
6.1.1 Interchange level field (DDR RP 5)
6.1.2 Inline code extension indicator (DDR RP 7)
6.1.3 Application indicator field (DDR RP 9)
6.1.4 Field control length field (DDR RP 10-11)(
6.1.5 Extended character set indicator field (DDR RP 17-19)
6.2 Special field tags (tags = 0...0 to 0...9)
6.2.1 File control field (tag = 0...0)
6.2.2 Record identifier field (tag = 0...1)
6.2.3 User application field (tag 0...2)
6.2.4 Announcer sequence or feature identifier field
       (tag 0...3)
6.2.5 Fields reserved for future standardization
6.2.6 Recursive tree LINKS field (tag = 0...9)
6.2.7 Order of special field tags in the DDR
6.3 Data descriptive fields in level 1 files
6.4 Data descriptive fields in level 2 and 3 files
6.4.1 Tabular summary of data descriptive fields of
       level 2 and 3 files
6.4.2 Field controls
6.4.3 Data field names, array descriptors and format
       controls
6.4.4 Order of array descriptors, labels and arrays
7. Use of coded character sets
7.1 Announcement of coded character set extension
7.1.1 Scope of active character sets
7.1.2 Length of fields and subfields
7.1.3 Use of multiple octet character sets
7.2 ISO 2022 coded character set extension
7.2.1 Designation of ISO 2022 coded character sets
7.2.2 Designation of default code set for file
7.2.3 Designation of default code sets for fields
7.2.4 ISO 2022 announcer sequence field (tag 0...3)
7.3 ISO/IEC 10646 coded character sets
7.3.1 Announcement of filewise default character set
7.3.2 Announcement of fieldwise default character set
7.3.3 ISO/IEC 10646 feature identifier field (tag 0...3)
Annex A ASN.1 and FTAM Registrations
A.1 Abstract syntax identifier
A.2 Transfer syntax identifier
A.3 FTAM document type definitions
A.3.1 ISO DDF Unstructured document type
A.3.2 ISO DDF Structured document type
Annex B ISO/IEC 8211 Application Specifications
B.1 Specification of ISO/IEC 8211 Exchange File Sets
B.2 ISO/IEC 8211 data field description
B.3 Examples of exchange set specification
Annex C Informal Introduction to ISO/IEC 8211
C.1 ISO/IEC 8211 File, logical record and field
       constructs
C.2 Data description and identification
C.3 File and record contents
C.4 Binary directories
Annex D Introduction to ISO/IEC 8211 Data Description
D.1 Data description - user data
D.2 Consistency of data description and data - validation
D.3 Data description constructs
D.4 Large application data structures
D.5 Intra-record tree structures
D.6 Coded character set extensions
Annex E Examples of Data Description
E.1 Leader and file title field
E.2 Examples of formats
E.3 Examples of bit fields
E.4 Examples of binary forms
E.5 Examples of subfield labelling
Annex F DDF Hierarchical and Network Data Structures
F.1 DDF hierarchical data structures
F.2 Conversion to corresponding binary tree
F.3 Network data structures
Annex G Database Data Transfer
G.1 Essential features of database management systems
G.2 Reduction to relational forms
Annex H Relationship to Other OSI Work
H.1 OSI Basic reference model
H.2 Relationship to FTAM virtual filestore model
H.3 Relationship to other syntax notations
H.4 Relationship to database management models
H.5 Bibliography
H.6 Summary of data types in other projects
List of Figures
1. Schematic of ISO/IEC 8211 File and Logical Records
2. File Schematic Representation
3. Logical Record Schematic
4. LR Leader Schematic
5. LR Entry Map Schematic
6. LR Directory Entry Schematic
7. File Control Field Schematic
8. Schematic of Level 2 and 3 Data Descriptive Fields
F.1 Examples of Ordered Rooted Trees
F.2 Generic Structure of a Logical Record
F.3 Instance of a User Data Tree based on F.2
F.4 Corresponding Binary Tree to the Tree of F.2
List of Tables
1. Delimiters and Their Uses
2. Data Descriptive Field Components
3. Extensions of Bitfield Data Descriptions
A.1 Information Objects in the Unstructured Text
       Document Type
A.2 Information Objects in the Structured Text
       Document Type

Specifies media-independent file and data record descriptions for information interchange; the description of vectors, data elements, arrays and hierarchies containing character strings, bit strings, numeric forms and a data descriptive file comprising a data descriptive record and companion data records that allow information interchange to happen with minimal specific external description. The standard is meant for use with physical recorded as well as communication media. The contents in the user data structure can be of any internationally recognized character set and coding and are interchanged in a transparent fashion. Covers 3 interchange levels, according to how complicated structure is.

This International Standard specifies an interchange format to facilitate the moving of files or parts of files containing data records between computer systems. The interchange format is not intended as a record format for the indigenous files of any specific system but may be used for this purpose. The standard defines a generalized structure which can be used to transmit, between systems, files or records containing a wide variety of data types and data structures. It specifies the means for the description of the contents of data records but does not specify their application semantics although these semantics can be included as a part of the transmission. The interchange format may also be used to transport individual records, individual data fields or individual subfields with their description.

This International Standard specifies:

• media-independent file and data record descriptions for information interchange;

• the description of data elements, vectors, arrays and hierarchies containing character strings, bit strings and numeric forms;

• a data descriptive file composed of a data descriptive record and companion data records that enable interchange to occur with minimal specific external description;

• the data descriptive record that describes the characteristics of each data field within the companion data records;

• three levels of complexity of file and record structure;

• FTAM unstructured and structured documenttypes