Overview
ISO/IEC 13800:1996 defines a procedure for the registration of identifiers and attributes used with volume and file structure standards for information interchange. It specifies how a Registration Authority prepares, maintains and publishes International Registers of identifiers and attributes (and related numeric designators) so that implementations and applications can unambiguously reference objects defined by ISO/IEC volume-and-file-structure standards.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Registrable entities: identifiers, attributes, operating system numbers, developer numbers, and field identifier extent numbers (clause 4).
- Identifier format: an identifier is represented by a sequence of 23 octets. An octet is defined as eight binary digits; octets in the sequence are numbered from 0 (least significant) upward. At least one octet must be non‑zero; octet 0 must not have the values 43 or 45.
- Attributes: an attribute is identified by an attribute type and one or more attribute subtypes. Attribute types are defined as integers within the range specified by the standard; several type ranges are explicitly reserved for standard, implementation, or application use and some specific types are reserved to align with ISO/IEC 13346‑4 and ISO/IEC 13490‑2.
- Numeric identifiers: operating system numbers, developer numbers and field identifier extent numbers are integer values (standard specifies ranges and classifications) and are used to identify operating systems, organisations (developers) and sets of field identifiers respectively.
- Registration Authority duties: appointment by ISO/IEC JTC 1, maintenance and distribution of International Registers, managing recipient lists and issuing updates/corrections.
- Registration procedure: applications must come from approved Sponsoring Authorities (e.g., ISO/IEC technical committees, national bodies, A‑liaison organisations). The Authority checks formal compliance, circulates proposals for a three‑month comment period, considers feedback, and allocates registration numbers.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 13800 is used to support consistent, interoperable file-exchange and volume-structure implementations. Typical users:
- Standards bodies and technical committees managing file/volume structure specifications.
- Software developers implementing ISO/IEC 13346, ISO/IEC 13490 or related standards.
- Organisations registering identifiers or attributes for interchange formats, media volumes or file metadata.
- Vendors and integrators ensuring consistent interpretation of file-system-related identifiers across platforms.
Related standards
This register procedure was designed to support and work with:
ISO/IEC 13800 is a procedural companion standard: it does not mandate how registered attributes/identifiers are used in implementations, but establishes the authoritative registration and publication process that enables interoperable exchange.