Overview of the ISIS Database Format

ISIS is a document oriented database, which is very different from more common relational databases.

An ISIS record contains a variable number of fields. Some of the fields occur multiple times. Within a field, it is possible to have sub-fields.

Here is a simple example:

130	$aThe Annotated Alice $sDefinitive Edition
100	$aLewis Carroll
100	$aJohn Tenniel $eillustrator
100	$aMartin Gardner $eeditor
260	$aNew York, N.Y. :$bW.W. Norton & Co.,$c1984.