ISO/IEC 8211:1994

Information technology — Specification for a data descriptive file for information interchange

Cancels and replaces the first edition (1985). Specifies an interchange format to facilitate the moving of files or parts of files containing data records between computer systems. 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; a data descriptive record; three levels of complexity of file and record structure; FTAM unstructured and structured document types.

Technologies de l'information — Spécifications pour fichier de données descriptif pour l'échange d'information

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Sep-1994
• ICS: 35.080 - Software
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1 - Information technology
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1 - Information technology
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 21-Jun-2000

Relations

• Revises: ISO 8211:1985 - Information processing — Specification for a data descriptive file for information interchange
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL
lSO/IEC
STANDARD
8211
Second edition
1994-I o-01
Information technology - Specification
for a data descriptive file for information
interchange
Technologies de I’informa tion
- Spkifications pour fichier de don&es
descriptif pour I’kchange d ’information
Reference number
lSO/IEC 8211 :I 994(E)

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ISO/IEC 8211: 1994(E)
Contents
............................. vii
.........................................................................................
Foreword
...
............................ VIII
Introduction . .
1
.............................
1 Scope .
........ 1
.................................................... ......................................
2 Normative references
2
...........................................
3 Conformance. .
....... 2
.............................................................................
4 Definitions and abbreviations.
........ 2
4.1 Definitions. .
5
................................................................... ..................................
4.2 Abbreviations
.......................... 6
......................................
5 Interchange file and logical record structure
............................................... ........................... 7
5.1 File and logical record structure
.................. 7
....................................................
5.1 .I Interchange logical records.
...................................................... 7
5.1.2 Padding of records and media blocks.
7
...........................................................
5.2 Logical records - leaders and directories.
........................ 8
5.2.1 Logical record leader .
8
..........................................................
5.2.1.1 record length field (LR RP O-4)
.......................................................... 8
5.2.1.2 leader identifier field (LR RP 6)
.......................................... 8
5.2.1.3 ISO/IEC 8211 version number (LR RP 8).
......................................... 8
5.2.1.4 Base address of field area (LR RP 12-16).
.......................................................... 9
5.2.1.5 Entry map field (LR RP 20-23).
........ 9
...................................
5.2.1.5.1 Size of field length field (LR RP 20)
........................................ 9
5.2.1.5.2 Size of field position field (LR RP 21).
........................ 9
5.2.1.5.3 Reserved for future standardization (LR RP 22).
............................................... 9
5.2.1.5.4 Size of field tag field (LR RP 23).
.................................... 9
5.2.1.6 Alternate forms of counts and field positions.
.......................................................................... 10
5.2.2 Logical record directory.
................................................................................. 10
5.2.2.1 Field tag field.
.............................................................................. 10
5.2.2.2 Field length field
............................................................................ 10
5.2.2.3 Field position field
10
..................................................... ............................
5.3 Logical record field areas
................ 10
5.3.1 Field area of the DDR .
...................................................................... 11
5.3.2 The field areas of the DRs.
............................................................................... 11
User data fields
5.3.2.1
............................................................. 11
5.3.2.1.1 Elementary data fields
........... 11
5.3.2.1.2 Compound data fields .
.......................................................... 11
6 Description of user data types and structures.
.................................................... 11
6.1 DDR leader fields related to data description
.......................................................... 11
6.1.1 Interchange level field (DDR RP 5).
............................................. 12
6.1.2 lnline code extension indicator (DDR RP 7).
..................................................... 12
indicator field (DDR RP 9).
6.1.3 Application
......................................................... 12
6.1.3.1 Reference to other standards.
................................................ 12
6.1.4 Field control length field (DDR RP 1 O-l 1).
............................ 12
6.1.5 Extended character set indicator field (DDR RP 17-l 9).
12
6.2 Special field tags (tags = 0. . . to 0.9) .
.. -0) .................................................................... 12
6.2.1 File control field (tag = 0
.............................................................................
Field control field 13
6.2.1.1
13
............................
6.2.1.2 External file title field. .
.......................................................................
13
6.2.1.3 List of Field tag pairs
.. ............................................................ 13
6.2.2 Record identifier field (tag = 0 .I )
...............................................................
13
6.2.3 User application field (tag 0.2).
.......................... 13
6.2.4 Announcer sequence or feature identifier field (tag 0.3)
13
...............................................
6.25 Fields reserved for future standardization.
.................................................... 14
6.2.6 Recursive tree LINKS field (tag = 0.9)
. . 14
6.2.7 Order of special field tags in the DDR .
14
files .
6.3 Data descriptive fields in level 1
0 ISO/IEC 1994
All rights reserved. No part of this standard may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photopcopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Printed in Switzerland
ii

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ISOAEC 8211 :I 994(E)
o ISOAEC
14
6.4 Data descriptive fields in level 2 and 3 files .
............. 14
6.4.1 Tabular summary of data descriptive fields of level 2 and 3 files.
15
................................................ ...........................................
6.4.2 Field controls
.............................................................. 16
6.4.2.1 Data structure code (RP 0)
..................................................................... 16
6.4.2.2 Data type code (RP 1)
16
6.4.2.3 Auxiliary controls (RP 2-3) .
............................................................. 16
6.4.2.4 Printable graphics (RP 4-5)
16
6.4.2.5 Truncated escape sequence (RP 6-8) .
........................... 16
6.4.3 Data field names, array descriptors and format controls
............................................................................... 16
6.4.3.1 Data field name
16
6.4.3.2 Array descriptors .
17
6.4.3.2.1 Numeric array descriptor .
........................................................................ 17
6.4.3.2.2 Subfield labels
6.4.3.2.3 Vector labels . 17
17
6.4.3.2.4 Cartesian label .
6.4.3.2.5 Description of concatenated structures . 17
19
6.4.3.3 Format controls .
............................................ 21
6.4.4 Order of array descriptors, labels and arrays
21
..................................................
6.4.4.1 Order of numeric array descriptors
21
6.4.4.2 Order of Cartesian labels .
...................................................... 21
6.4.4.3 Storage order of array elements
...................................... 22
7 Use of coded character sets .
.............................................. 22
7.1 Announcement of coded character set extension
................................................................. 22
7.1.1 Scope of active character sets
................................................................... 22
7.12 Length of fields and subfields
23
7.1.3 Use of multiple octet character sets .
........................................................... 23
7.2 IS0 2022 coded character set extension
....................................... 23
7.2-l Designation of IS0 2022 coded character sets.
23
7.2.1.1 Use in the 7-bit environment .
...................................................... 23
7.2.2 Designation of default code set for file
................................................ 23
7.2.3 Designation of default code sets for fields
........................................ 24
7.2.4 IS0 2022 announcer sequence field (tag 0.3).
................................................................ 24
7.3 ISO/IEC 10646 coded character sets
24
7.3.1 Announcement of filewise default character set .
...................................... 24
7.3.2 Announcement of fieldwise default character set
24
7.3.3 ISO/IEC 10646 feature identifier field (tag 0.3) .
......................................... ............................ 26
Annex A ASN. 1 and FTAM Registrations
26
..................................................................................
A. 1 Abstract syntax identifier
26
A.2 Transfer syntax identifier .
...................................................................... 26
A.3 FTAM document type definitions
26
A.3.1 IS0 DDF unstructured document type .
...................................................................... 26
A.3.1 .I Entry number: DDF-1
A.3.1.2 Information objects . 26
.......................................................... 26
A.3.1.3 Scope and field of application
26
A.3.1.4 References .
26
A.3.1.5 Definitions . .
A.3.1.6 Abbreviations. . 27
27
A.3.1.7 Document semantics .
............................................................. 27
A.3.1.8 Abstract syntactic structure
27
A.3.1.9 Definition of transfer .
.................................................................. 27
A.3.1.9.1 Datatype definition
A.3.1.9.2 Presentation data values . 27
............................... ...... 27
A.3.1.9.3 Sequence of presentation data values
................................................... .......................... 27
A.3. I. 10 Transfer syntax
............................. 27
A. 3.1.11 ASE specific specifications .
.......... ..................................................... 27
A.3.1.11.1 IS0 8571 - FTAM.
27
A.3.1.11.2 ISO/IEC 8211 implementation support .
...................................................... 27
A.3.1.11.2.1 The EXTEND operation
A.3.1.11.2.2 The REPLACE operation . 28
28
A-3.1.11.2.3 Relaxations. . .:. . .
......................................................... 28
A.3.2 IS0 DDF Structured document type
28
A.3.2.1 Entry number: DDF-2 . .
28
A. 3.2.2 Information objects .
...................................................... 28
A.3.2.3 Scope and field of application.
28
A.3.2.4 References .

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ISO/IEC 8211:1994(E) 0 ISOAEC
A. 3.2.5 Definitions . . 28
A. 3.2.6 Abbreviations . . . 28
I
A.3.2.7 Document semantics . . 29
29
A.3.2.8 Abstract syntactic structure .
A.3.2.9 Definition of transfer . 29
A.3.2.9.1 Datatype definition. . 29
...................................................... 29
A.3.2.9.2 Presentation data values
29
A.3.2.9.3 Sequence of presentation data values .
A. 3.2.10 Transfer syntax . 29
30
A. 3.2.11 ASE specific specifications .
A-3.2.1 1. I IS0 8571 - FTAM . 30
A.3.2.11.2 ISO/IEC 8211 implementation support . 30
.................................................... 30
A.3.2.11.2.1 The EXTEND operation
.................................................. 30
A.3.2.11.2.2 The REPLACE operation
A.3.2.11.2.3 Relaxations . . . 30
31
Annex B ISO/IEC 8211 Application Specifications .
B.1 Specification of ISO/lEC 8211 Exchange File Sets . 31
B.2 ISO/IEC 8211 data field description . 33
8.2.1 General specifications . 33
B.2.1.1 End of line . 33
B.2.1.2 White space . 33
B.2.1.3 Comments . . 33
33
8.2.1.4 Quoted strings .
B.2.1.5 Notation . 34
B.2.1.6 The INCLUDE construct . 34
B-2.1.7 Order of Constructs . 34
B.2.2 File identification . 34
........................................................................ 35
B.2.3 DDR leader specifications
B.2.4 Global default specification . 35
........................................................................... 35
B.2.5 Data field specifications
B.2.6 Special forms of field constructs . 37
37
B.2.6.1 Null first vector label .
B.2.6.2 Correspondence of format and last vector label . 37
B-2.6.3 Special DDR tagged fields . 37
........................... 38
8.2.7 Special constructs .
B.3 Examples of exchange set specification . 38
,
42
Annex C Informal Introduction to ISO/IEC 8211 .
C.1 ISO/IEC 8211 File, logical record and field constructs . 42
42
C. 1. I Media record constructs .
C. 1.2 Logical record constructs . 42
........................................................................... 43
C. 1.3 Logical record structure
C.l.3.1 Leader (RP 0 - 23) . 43
C. 1.3.2 Directory . . 43
...................................................................................... 44
C.1.3.3 Field area . .
C. 1.4 File characteristics and processing . 44
45
C. 1.5 Variant logical records . .
............................................................ 45
C.1.5.1 Long ISO/IEC 8211 records
C. 1.5.2 Fixed-formats - repeating leaders and directories . 45
45
C. 1.6 ISO/IEC 8211 End-of-data conditions . . .
.................................. 46
C. 1.7 Summary of the logical record and field constructs
C.2 Data description and identification . 46
46
C.2.1 Components of data description .
C.2.1.1 Data extent. . 46
................................ 46
C.2.1.2 Data position. .
........................................... ...................................... 46
C.2.1.3 Data structure
C.2.1.4 Data type and syntax . 46
................................................................. 46
C.2.1.5 Intra-field tree structure.
C.2.2 Data identification . . 47
.......................... 47
C.2.2.1 Application semantics .
C.3 File and record contents . 47
47
C.4 Binary directories .
............................................ 48
Annex D Introduction to ISO/IEC 8211 Data Description.
48
D.1 Data description - user data .
....................................... 48
D.2 Consistency of data description and data - validation
................................................................. 48
0.2.1 Complexity of data description

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0 ISOAEC ISOAEC 8211:1994(E)
0.2.2 Level 1 data description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
0.2.3 Level 2 and 3 data description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
description constructs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
0.3 Data
D.3.1 Subfield extents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
0.3.2 Data types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
D.3.3 Field identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
D.3.4 Data structure without subfield identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
D-3.5 Data structure with subfield identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
D.4 Large application data structures . 51
D.5 Intra-record tree structures . 51
D.6 Coded character set extensions . 51
Annex E Examples of Data Description .
53
E.l Leader and file title field . 53
E.2 Examples of formats . 54
E.2.1 Elementary data fields . 54
E.2.2 Linear structures . 54
E.2.3 Multi-dimensioned arrays . 54
E.3 Examples of bit fields . 55
E.4 Examples of binary forms . 56
E.5 Examples of subfield labelling . 56
E-5.1 Redundant elementary field label . 56
E.5.2 Vector labels . 56
E.5.3 Cartesian labels . 57
E.5.4 Concatenated data structures . . . 57
Annex F DDF Hierarchical and Network Data Structures. . 58
F. 1 DDF hierarchical data structures . . 58
F. 1.1 Forests . 58
F.2 Conversion to corresponding binary tree. . 58
F.3 Network data structures . 61
................................................................................ 62
Annex G Database Data Transfer
G.l Essential features of data base management systems . 62
G. 1.1 Relational data base management systems . 62
G. 1.2 Hierarchical data base management systems . 63
G. 1.3 Network data base management systems . 63
G.2 Reduction to relational forms . 63
Annex H Relationship to Other OSI Work . 64
64
H.l OSI basic reference model .
H. 1.1 Other presentation layer considerations . 64
65
H. 1.2 Remote versus local processing considerations .
H.2 Relationship to FTAM virtual filestore model. . 65
H.2.1 Correspondence of ISO/IEC 8211 file constructs to fTAM . 66
67
H.2.2 ISO/IEC 8211 access methodology .
H.2.3 Relationship of documents to files . 67
67
H.2.4 File naming .
Rela onship 67
H.3 ti to other syntax notations .
H.3.1 Abstra ct syntax notation one . . . . . 67
68
H.3.2 Transfer Syntax Description Notation .
H.4 Relationship to data base management models . 68
H.5 Bibliography . 68
H.6 Summary of data types in other projects . 69
List of figures
Figure 1 - Schematic of ISO/IEC 8211 File and Logical Records . 6
7
Figure 2 - File Schematic Representation .
Figure 3 - Logical Record Schematic . 7
8
Figure 4 - LR Leader Schematic .
....... 9
Figure 5 - LR Entry Map Schematic .
Figure 6 - LR Directory Entry Schematic . 10
13
Figure 7 - File Control Field Schematic .
Figure 8 - Schematic of Level 2 and 3 Data Descriptive Fields . 15
59
Figure F.1 - Examples of Ordered Rooted Trees .
........ 59
Figure F.2 - Generic Structure of a Logical Record .
Figure F.3 - Instance of a User Data Tree based on F.2 . 60
...... 61
Figure F.4 - Corresponding Binary Tree to the Tree of F.2 .

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ISOAEC 8211:1994(E) 0 ISOAEC
List of tables
Table 1 - Delimiters and Their Uses . . . 15
Table 2 - Data Descriptive Field Components . 15
........................................................ 20
Table 3 - Extensions of Bitfield Data Descriptions
. q Information Objects in the Unstructured Text Document Type . 26
........................ 28
Table A,2 Information Objects in the Structured Text Document Type.

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o ISOAEC
lSO/IEC 8211:1994(E)
Foreword
IS0 (the international Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the
International Electrotechnical Commission) form the specialized system for
worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of IS0 or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular
fields of technical activity. IS0 and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields
of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with IS0 and IEC, also take part in the work.
In the field of information technology, IS0 and IEC have established a joint
technical committee, ISOIIEC JTC 1. Draft International Standards adopted by
the joint technical committee are circulated to the national bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the
national bodies casting a vote.
lntemationa% Standard lSO/IEC 821 I was prepared by Joint Technical Committee
ISOWX JTC 1, ,Wo~-bnafjon fechnotogy, Subcommittee SC 21, Open systems
in%erconnenc%ion, data management and open
...