ONIX Editor
Build a distributor-ready ONIX 3.0 metadata record from a simple form, then download the XML.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ONIXMessage release="3.0" xmlns="http://ns.editeur.org/onix/3.0/reference">
<Header>
<Sender>
<SenderName>Indie Press</SenderName>
</Sender>
<SentDateTime>20260901</SentDateTime>
</Header>
<Product>
<RecordReference>9781529009378</RecordReference>
<NotificationType>03</NotificationType>
<ProductIdentifier>
<ProductIDType>15</ProductIDType>
<IDValue>9781529009378</IDValue>
</ProductIdentifier>
<DescriptiveDetail>
<ProductComposition>00</ProductComposition>
<ProductForm>BC</ProductForm>
<TitleDetail>
<TitleType>01</TitleType>
<TitleElement>
<TitleElementLevel>01</TitleElementLevel>
<TitleText>The Midnight Library</TitleText>
</TitleElement>
</TitleDetail>
<Contributor>
<SequenceNumber>1</SequenceNumber>
<ContributorRole>A01</ContributorRole>
<PersonName>A. N. Author</PersonName>
</Contributor>
<Language>
<LanguageRole>01</LanguageRole>
<LanguageCode>eng</LanguageCode>
</Language>
<Extent>
<ExtentType>00</ExtentType>
<ExtentValue>248</ExtentValue>
<ExtentUnit>03</ExtentUnit>
</Extent>
</DescriptiveDetail>
<CollateralDetail>
<TextContent>
<TextType>03</TextType>
<ContentAudience>00</ContentAudience>
<Text>A short, compelling description of your book for retailers and libraries.</Text>
</TextContent>
</CollateralDetail>
<PublishingDetail>
<Publisher>
<PublishingRole>01</PublishingRole>
<PublisherName>Indie Press</PublisherName>
</Publisher>
<PublishingStatus>04</PublishingStatus>
<PublishingDate>
<PublishingDateRole>01</PublishingDateRole>
<Date>20260901</Date>
</PublishingDate>
</PublishingDetail>
<ProductSupply>
<SupplyDetail>
<Price>
<PriceType>02</PriceType>
<PriceAmount>9.99</PriceAmount>
<CurrencyCode>GBP</CurrencyCode>
</Price>
</SupplyDetail>
</ProductSupply>
</Product>
</ONIXMessage>ⓘGenerates a single-product ONIX 3.0 record covering the core fields most UK distributors and Nielsen need. Review against your distributor’s spec before submitting — some require extra fields (e.g. subject codes, supplier).
Retailers, libraries and aggregators do not read your book; they read its metadata. This free ONIX editor turns a plain form, ISBN, title, contributor, format, price and description, into a valid ONIX 3.0 file you can download and supply. It saves you wrestling with raw XML, while still producing the structured book metadata feed the trade actually expects from a publisher.
ONIX is the international standard for book-trade data, maintained by EDItEUR, and in the UK it is what Nielsen and most distributors accept. Get your ONIX metadata right and your title shows up correctly, with the proper price, format and on-sale date, wherever it is listed. Fill in the fields, check your entries, and the tool assembles a clean ONIX 3.0 record ready to send.
- Match your title, contributor and format exactly to the printed book.
- Use a separate ONIX record for each ISBN and format you publish.
- Re-export and resupply your file whenever the price or date changes.
- 01
Enter your book details
Add your ISBN, title and subtitle, contributor, format, page count, price, publisher and publication date, the core fields every ONIX record needs.
- 02
Add your description
Write the description and supporting copy that retailers display. Clear, accurate text here is what readers and buyers see on the listing.
- 03
Download your ONIX file
Generate a valid ONIX 3.0 XML record and download it, ready to send to your distributor, aggregator or sales feed.
Common questions
- What is ONIX and do I need it?
- ONIX is the international XML standard for book-trade metadata, maintained by EDItEUR. It carries your title, ISBN, format, price and description in a structured form that retailers, libraries and distributors can import. If you are supplying the trade rather than only selling direct, you will usually be asked for an ONIX file, which this editor creates for you.
- What is the difference between ONIX 2.1 and ONIX 3.0?
- ONIX 3.0 is the current version and the one most of the trade now requires, having largely retired the older 2.1 format. It handles modern needs such as digital products and richer rights data more cleanly. This tool produces ONIX 3.0, so the file you download reflects the standard distributors and aggregators expect today.
- Will UK distributors accept this ONIX file?
- ONIX is the standard Nielsen and most UK distributors and aggregators work with, and this tool outputs a valid ONIX 3.0 record. That said, individual feeds sometimes ask for specific fields or code values. Always check your distributor's onboarding guidance and confirm they are happy with your file before relying on it for a live listing.
- Do I need an ISBN before creating an ONIX record?
- Yes. The ISBN is the key that ties your metadata to your specific book and edition, so it sits at the heart of every ONIX record. In the UK you buy ISBNs from Nielsen, with a separate one for each format. Once you have it, our ISBN Barcode Generator also turns it into a print-ready barcode for your cover.
- Can I edit and re-download my ONIX file later?
- Yes. If your price, description or publication date changes, update the form and generate a fresh ONIX 3.0 file to resupply. Metadata is not set in stone; keeping it accurate helps your listings stay correct across retailers. Re-export whenever a detail changes so the version you send always matches your finished book.
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