Module:Format ISBN/data/doc

This module holds the data tables for formatting ISBNs. Tables are built by a Python script, from XML data published by the International ISBN Agency, in the form of a range message. ISBN ranges are updated from time to time, and when that happens these data tables need to be refreshed.

Usage
Invoke the Python program with: generate_isbn_data.py [file or url] >some_file.lua

The single argument is optional, either a local file containing the XML range message, or the URL for the current range message resource. If not supplied, the script downloads data directly from the International ISBN Agency's web site.

The script prints Lua table data to standard output. Capture this in a file, and then cut and paste it onto Module:Format ISBN/data, replacing all existing content, to update the data tables to the latest version of ISBN range data.