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+ | Punctuation Options | ||
+ | The subject of punctuation in USMARC is hopelessly complex. However, if you are going to perform global changes, then you should take a few minutes to read through the following to see what options are available for handling punctuation in MARC Global. | ||
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+ | Punctuation marks in USMARC are an integral part of a subfield. When adding or removing a complete subfield from a tag, therefore, required punctuation may also be added or removed. | ||
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+ | Consider this simple example: | ||
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+ | 260 | ||
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+ | If we give a command to delete subfield b from the above, we are left with-- | ||
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+ | 260 | ||
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+ | --because in USMARC, the comma that terminates the publisher is part of the subfield b, and is also deleted. | ||
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+ | The Punctuation Options form in MARC Global provides a way of dealing with this situation. This form appears as an additional option in any global change type where a complete subfield is added or removed from a tag (Add a Subfield, Delete a Subfield, Copy a Subfield). | ||
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+ | The form is divided into three sections: Preceding punctuation, | ||
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+ | Preceding punctuation refers to ending punctuation marks in any subfield that precedes the subfield being changed. In the example for the 260 above, preceding punctuation would refer to the colon at the end of the subfield a. In this example, we want to select the ' | ||
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+ | 260 | ||
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+ | In MARC, punctuation is often bound together with a blank space. In our example, the colon in subfield a is preceded by a blank space, and we want to remove that blank space along with the colon. | ||
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+ | To deal with this, use the ' | ||
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+ | If we set the blank space option to ' | ||
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+ | 260 | ||
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+ | Now we have to deal with the comma that should precede the $c. | ||
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+ | The meaning of Trailing punctuation also depends on the type of global change. If a subfield is being removed (as in Delete a Subfield), then trailing punctuation refers to ending punctuation in the subfield being removed; but if a subfield is being added (Add a Subfield, Copy a Subfield), then trailing punctuation refers to any punctuation at the beginning of the following subfield. | ||
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+ | In our example, then, ' | ||
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+ | 260 | ||
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+ | Hopefully this example will illustrate just how complex and careful you need to be when running global changes where punctuation is involved. | ||
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+ | Defining Punctuation | ||
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+ | On the bottom left of the Punctuation Options form is a button that reads 'Click here to define Punctuation' | ||
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+ | Add Subfield example | ||
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+ | Adding a subfield to (the middle of) an existing field can be fairly complex. To illustrate, consider the example of adding the GMD $h[videorecording] to the 245 of every applicable record. | ||
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+ | The first decision we need to make has nothing to do with punctuation: | ||
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+ | Punctuation handling is just as difficult. If we add the $h after the $a, then the punctuation will be different depending on whether the $a is followed by a $b or a $c. On the other hand, if we elect to add the $h before the $b, we know the punctuation after the $h will always be ' :'; but if there is no $b present, then the $h will not be added--so we will have to run through the file again to handle $h before $c, etc. | ||
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+ | Fortunately, | ||
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+ | If we add the $h after the $a, this special option will handle several different 245 patterns correctly: | ||
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+ | 245 $aMy life in film. | ||
+ | 245 $aMy life in film /$cRichard Fritz. | ||
+ | 245 $aMy life in film :$brare footage /$cRichard Fritz. | ||
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+ | If we select 'Move preceding to trailing', | ||
+ | 245 $aMy life in film$h[videorecording]. | ||
+ | 245 $aMy life in film$h[videorecording] /$cRichard Fritz. | ||
+ | 245 $aMy life in film$h[videorecording] :$brare footage /$cRichard Fritz. | ||
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+ | General Notes about Punctuation | ||
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+ | Much of the above discussion assumes a properly punctuated field to begin with. But if this is not so, if the record was not input correctly in the first place, or if the record is an older one, then the results may not be what are expected. | ||
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+ | We will be adding an automated Punctuation Feature in the next major release; if you turn it on, it will automatically re-punctuate a field according to ISBD standards during a global change. But we will continue to maintain the current Punctuation Options, and improve them, so that you will have the most precise tools available for dealing with punctuation. |