<ics-desc> ICS Code Description

The name/title/description of a decimal code from the International Classification for Standards. The element <ics> holds the decimal number while this <ics-desc> element holds the text that names/defines the decimal code.

Usage/Remarks

Code versus Code and Description

When NISO STS was being designed, it became clear that some standards organizations felt that only numeric ICS codes should be stored in the XML, while other organizations wished to record both the decimal code and the natural language expansion (description/name/title) of that code. So NISO STS has been designed to be used either way:
  • ICS decimal codes can be stored in the <ics> element in the standard’s metadata.
  • Alternatively, an <ics-wrap> grouping element can be used to hold both an ICS decimal code (<ics>) and the expansion of that code (<ics-desc>).
The <ics-desc> element can take a language attribute (@xml:lang) to name the language of the description/name/title.
Related Elements
NISO STS standards metadata describe key concepts that are not ICS terms as either keywords (inside the <kwd-group> element) or as subjects (inside <subj-group>). ICS codes use their own ICS-specific elements: <ics-wrap>, <ics>, and <ics-desc>.
Attributes

Base Attributes

Models and Context
May be contained in
Description
Text, numbers, or special characters, zero or more
Content Model
<!ELEMENT  ics-desc     (#PCDATA %ics-desc-elements;)*               >
Expanded Content Model

(#PCDATA)*

Tagged Samples
ICS code with its description in German
...
<nat-meta originator="SFS">
...
<secretariat>...</secretariat>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>13.310</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="de">Sicherheitstechnik</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
</nat-meta>
...
ICS code with two separate descriptions in Finnish and English
...
<nat-meta originator="SFS">
...
<secretariat>...</secretariat>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>03.220.30</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="fi">Rautatiekuljetus</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>03.220.30</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="en">Transport by rail</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
</nat-meta>
...
Nested ICS codes and descriptions identifying classifications and sub-classifications
...
<nat-meta originator="SFS">
...
<secretariat>...</secretariat>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="de">Medizintechnik</ics-desc>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11.040</ics>
<ics-desc>Medizinische Ger&auml;te</ics-desc>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11.040.25</ics>
<ics-desc>Injektionsger&auml;te. Kan&uuml;len. Katheter</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
</ics-wrap>
</ics-wrap>
</nat-meta>
...