README

The Federal Bulletin Board UNIONL file library includes two current data files:

1. cd-ddis.gz (comma delimited text file)

and 

2. ff-ddis.gz (fixed field text file)

These two UNIONL files are large compressed text data files. These files are downloaded weekly from GPO's mainframe computer, and uploaded to this UNIONL Federal Bulletin Board file library. 

The information in the data files is, as the Federal Bulletin Board UNIONL file library file description indicates, "Item selection data for all depository libraries. Underlying data of searchable Web application Item Lister at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/tools/item Updated weekly. . . " 
(See http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/instructions/in_ch2.html#D for an explanation of Federal Depository Library Program Item Number System).

Users can import this data into, and use it in, spreadsheet or data base software such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.

Each file consists of two fields, in very long columns, one with the item numbers listed, and besides each item number is listed a depository number that selects it. At this time, as of April 12, 2002, here are 6000 plus item numbers, and 1,300 plus depository libraries.  Both numbers change over time as item numbers and depository libraries are dropped and added.

i.e.  From the comma-delimited file, cd-ddis.gz, here are the first and last records:

"0001","0001"
   .....
"1150-A","0678"