File naming
Unique file names created in a consistent form should ideally assist both machine and human processing of the files themselves by incorporating elements conveying:
- File format (e.g. by a suffix such as .MRC to indicate a MARC exchange file)
- The content of the file (e.g. via a prefix such as NB for ‘National Bibliography’)
- Some indication of the issue, part or date of the file contents (e.g. 06092014 for a file covering material released on September 6th 2014 or 2058 for issue 2058 of national bibliography)
- Sub-component number if a larger data file has been split for ease of transmission.