The block 2XX includes all ISBD areas, except notes and standard numbers. Definitions and additional information on ISBD elements is to be found in separate ISBD standards.

The ISBD punctuation between subfields is not entered manually rather it is generated automatically from the subfield identifier with exception of the equals sign which introduces parallel data. The printout of the equals sign is not to be assured automatically in certain cases therefore it should be entered in subfield explicitly whenever it occurs in the description.

The attention must be paid to the sequence of data entry in fields 200, 205, 210, 215 and 225, because data are displayed in the sequence they follow in the record. Therefore subfields must be classified by the ISBD prescribed order in which those elements should be presented. The ISBD punctuation printout is also quoted in field description.

Information found outside the prescribed sources or added by cataloguer must be introduced between square brackets "[]".

If in fields 2XX a record contains data that are not entirely formed according to the ISBD principles the subfield 001h must be entered with the code "i" – record is in partial ISBD form or "n" – record is in non-ISBD form.