6.2. Editing the Variable Fields

Last Updated 03/02/2026

Editing Variable Fields in the MARC Enhanced Editor

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Each row in the variable fields section of the MARC editor consists of the MARC tag, indicator fields, subfield labels, and their corresponding values. Users can add new rows using a variety of tools, but must enter appropriate tags, indicators and subfields. Proper management of subfields is essential for data integrity and display.

Each row in the variable fields section contains several parts:

The MARC tag
The first and seconrd indicator fields
The subfield labels (may be multiple)
The subfield values (may be multiple, matching with the number of labels)

NOTE: The indicators mean different things in different fields, and in some fields, they are not used at all so remain blank.Adding a New Row

When you add a new row, you must enter the appropriate field tag, indicators and subfields.

There are three ways to add a row:

Select "Add Row" from the Add... drop-down menu at teh top of the editor.
Hit CTRL+ENTER on your keyboard.
Click the Plus Sign (+) that appears on the right side when hovering over existing lines in the enhaned editor.

To add a new row:

Use the prefered method (lited above) to create a new row.
The field tag comes up as 999 by default. Change that to the number for the field that you need.
Enter any required Indicators in the appropriate box.
The first subfield is included automatically. Enter a label for it in the first box, and the value in the second.
Add more subfields as needed by clicking on the arrow icon that appears next to the last subfield when you hover over the row.
Move the field to the correct spot in the record (if needed) using the arrow keys or bly clicking on the four arrows icon that appears on the right side when hovering over the line, and dragging the row up or down.

Note: If you copy and paste fields with multiple subfields from other systems or from the MARC View screen, the MARC editor will not recognize the subfield delimiters.

Working with Subfields

Each field contains at least one subfield, designated as a single lower case letter.

Stacking Subfields

The MARC editor displays the subfields on one line by default, as seen in the previous examples. If you prefer, you can check the Stack Subfields box, and the subfields will each display on a separate line.

Designating Subfields

Each field within the record contains various discrete pieces of data, which are designated by various subfields, laebled alphabetically. In the Enhanced MARC Editor, each subfield is a seperate editable field, deignated by the appropriate, editable label.

Under the MARC View Tab, a double dagger icon (‡a, ‡z) designates each subfield within a line. The Flat Text Editor uses the dollar sign ($a, $z) to designate subfields. In the Enhanced MARC Editor, the delimiter is hidden.

Different subfields are valid for different fields, and the order of the subfields may vary.

See OCLC’s Bibliographic Formats and Standards for more information about the fields, indicators, and subfields.

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