What is the content of the different fields of Standard ST.8?
Standard ST.8 uses fixed length records with 50 positions for recording all information related to a symbol which was allotted to a particular document: Positions 1 to 19 are used for recording the different parts of the IPC symbol. Positions 20 to 27 are used to indicate the version indicator of the symbol in an eight digit format. The version indicator specifies which version of the particular symbol was used for classifying the corresponding document. The version indicator represents the date when the version of the respective symbol entered into force. With the entry into force of the reformed IPC on January 1, 2006, this version indicator for all symbols in force and newly entering into force at that time is set to 20060101. Thus, for symbols that were already in force before 2006, this version indicator of Standard ST.8 will not give the actual date of their entry into force. It is to be noted that the version of the symbol is not to be confused with the edition of the IPC that w
