ISBN and Edition Register

Who this is for

One line for every ISBN you have used. Each number is tied to a single title, format and edition, with the interior and cover files that belong to it, so a reprint or a new ebook never picks up the wrong number. The numbers still unused in your block sit underneath.

Self-publishers and small presses who have bought ISBNs in a block and publish more than one format, edition or title from it.

What this helps you track

• Which ISBN belongs to which title, format and edition
• The trim size or file type and the cover version tied to each number
• The date each edition was published and the platforms it is listed on
• The numbers left in your block and any you have set aside

How to use it

1. Write your imprint name and the reference for the block of ISBNs at the top, with how many numbers it holds.
2. Give every number already used its own line: title, format, edition and publication date.
3. Record the trim size for print or the file type for ebook and audio, and the cover version that went with it.
4. List the platforms and retailers each edition is on, so a change can be made everywhere at once.
5. Copy the unused numbers into the lower table and cross each one off as it is allocated, here or in the browser version.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Does a new format need its own ISBN?

Practice varies by country and by the agency that issues numbers, and some platforms offer their own identifiers. Check the rules of your national ISBN agency; the register simply records whatever you decide, one number per line.

What counts as a new edition?

That is a decision for you and your ISBN agency's guidance. The edition and notes columns let you record why a number was used, such as revised text, a new trim size or a changed format, so the reason is clear later.

Why record the cover version?

Covers are often updated without a new number. Writing which cover file went with each edition means you can tell which one is live on each platform and which one your printer holds.

Can I keep it online instead?

Yes. The browser version saves in your own browser and lets you add rows as your list grows. The printable copy is handy to keep with your agency paperwork.