Control Function Sets (Character Sets, Part 1: MARC-8 Environment)

The C0 and C1 control function sets are fixed for MARC 21. They are thus designated and invoked by default and need not be designated and invoked in the record.

 The C0 set is the set of 32 control functions defined in ASCII. They occupy codes 00(hex) through 1F(hex) at all times. This set contains basic control characters, of which only four characters may be used in MARC 21 records. These four characters are the escape character (1B(hex)), subfield delimiter (1F(hex)), field terminator (1E(hex)), and record terminator (1D(hex)).

 The C1 set is another set of 32 possible control characters which occupy codes 80(hex) through 9F(hex) at all times. There are four control characters currently defined for use in MARC 21 records: non-sorting character(s) begin, 88(hex); non-sorting character(s) end, 89(hex); joiner 8D(hex); and nonjoiner 8E(hex). The latter two control characters are used to control the environment of graphic characters whose proximity to other characters affects their processing. Specifications for use of the non-sorting characters are contained in the MARC 21 bibliographic format. As of July 1999 the rules for use were not yet completely decided. When they are, they will be published in the format and be available from the MARC web site.

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Part 1: MARC-8 Environment (Character Sets)

Character Sets