Download Updates and Filtered Versions of the Taxonomy

This function allows you to download the Taxonomy in an XML format that you can use to load the Taxonomy into your software initially and to keep your local copy of the Taxonomy updated as it changes and grows. There are two options:  you can access the most recent version of the Taxonomy by downloading one of the XML files listed under “Current”; or if you need version control for any reason, you can choose one of the files in the archive. You can also generate and download an XML file for any of the filtered versions of the Taxonomy on the site including those you have developed and kept as private.

About XML Files and “Old Codes”  The XML files are extract files that include all Taxonomy terms as currently structured and separate Taxonomy elements (code, term, definition, facet, comments, bibliographic references, use references, see also references, related concepts, and external systems terms) using a format that is both human and machine-readable. The XML file also includes a list of codes that were used in the system prior to a term’s being moved, merged with or split to the current code. When a Taxonomy term is moved to a different place in the hierarchy, it receives a new code to mark its new position, but its old code is also assigned to the record to create a history of its previous location(s).  Likewise, when a term is deleted, the system requires one or more replacement terms and the code for the deleted term becomes an old code in each of the suggested replacement term records. The old codes are used by software systems during the update process to pinpoint changes that need to be made in the I&R database in situations where a term carrying one of the deleted or changed codes has been used as an index term.  For more information about the Taxonomy XML format, see the XML Schema Documentation.

Current Taxonomy Database in XML Format:  Each time the Taxonomy website is updated by the Taxonomy editor, the system creates new XML files for each of the three locales and makes them available on the Download page.  Depending on where you are located, you will want to choose either the U.S. English or the Canadian English version of the XML file.  A French Canadian version is also available.  Systems in Canada with resources in both English and French will use both of the Canadian files. 

Taxonomy Archive:  Older versions of the Taxonomy XML files have been archived to enable organizations that are part of a statewide or province-wide database collaborative (or are otherwise sharing their data) to standardize around the same version of the Taxonomy prior to contributing their updated records to the combined file.  On the first of each month, a snapshot is taken of the most recent “current” XML files and archived under the previous month’s name. On August 1^st, for example, the current XML files are copied and archived as the July archive for that year.

Download Instructions:  To download one of the current or archived Taxonomy XML files, right click on the link then click on Save Target As… (or Save Link As… for Firefox), choose the destination, and click OK. If you simply click the link, the system will display the information in your browser.  If you are unsure about which file you need to download, or you don’t know where to put the file or how to import the downloaded data, contact your software vendor for further instructions. 

Filtered Versions of the Taxonomy:  The system also allows you to create and download an XML version of any of the official and community filters on the system as well as any of the private filters your organization has developed. The filter XML is identical to the regular XML file except that it includes only terms that are in the selected filter.  To download a filter XML, click on custom xml page, choose a locale, mark the filter you want to select and click on “OK”.  Follow the download instructions above to save the filter to you computer.  Be sure to remove the file from the server when you are through.