When there are only a few works to register with ISAN, the registrant will enter manually the metadata in the ISAN registry user interface.
When there is a large number of works to register, the manual work by work registration is no more adapted, and registrant will submit metadata in bulk by using either:
- Excel or XML files
- the ISAN API
Registration with Bulk Files
Bulk files are useful when there are at least 20 works to register. Metadata need to be exported and formatted in the ISAN excel or xml format.
- Excel bulk format: is the fastest and easiest way to proceed, it does not require any technical implementation.
- For works registrations use the simple form (isan_bulk_load_excel_form_v1.82)
- For works and/or versions registrations, use the complex form (isan_bulk_load_excel_form_v2.0b).
- XML format: using the xml format is more complex, it require to develop a program to transform the data from the registrant format in the ISAN format. Refer the the documentation for more details on ISAN XML bulk registrations.
When the Excel or XML Bulk File is ready, it must be submitted by email to the registration agency for upload and ISAN allocations.
After upload, the registrant can connect to the ISAN registry user interface and retrieve the allocated ISAN. In case of potential duplicate detections during upload, the registration request is pending, and the ISAN will be allocated only after review and pending resolution by the user.
Registration with the ISAN API
The ISAN API enables to connect the registrant's system, tools and/or process to the ISAN registry, to automate the ISAN search or ISAN allocation. Implementing the ISAN API requires a technical implementation.
For more details on the ISAN API, refer to the the API portal, the documentation ( RESTful web services (technical reference)) and the API support pages.