Understanding Subfields

A subfield contains information within a field. Each subfield starts with a delimiter and is labeled with either a letter or number, called a subfield code. You can edit the subfield code without changing the information in the subfield. You can also change the information.

For example, in this MARC 21 publication tag (260), the two subfields have the codes a and b, respectively:

Subfields may or may not display in a tag in alphabetical order; order is determined by standard cataloging rules. Also, some subfield codes may be repeated (duplicated) within a tag.

Horizon provides a defined list of MARC subfields. When you want to add a subfield to a field, you can open the list to choose a valid subfield. You can also add a subfield by entering the subfield code manually. (For more information, see Adding a Subfield to a Tag.)

To edit a subfield in an authority‑controlled tag, you can edit the corresponding authority record for that tag, or you can edit the subfield in the bib record.

If you edit an authority‑controlled subfield in the bib record, Horizon breaks the link and you may affect the authority record. Any further linking of that edited information is based on the link settings. (For more information, see Linking Authority‑Controlled Records to Bib Records.)

 


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