Corporate Body Codes in Compais

Abstract

Advantages of using codes instead of natural language names of corporate bodies in computer-based information system are mentioned. The features of the computer-assisted information system(COMPAIS) that make such a code particularly useful and for which the coding scheme was developed, are discussed. The factors considered in selecting and structuring the component elements of a corporate body code are mentioned. Examples of codes for international intergovernmental, international nongovernmental, regional intergovernmental regional private, national/local governmental and national/local private bodies are given. The formats of records for corporate bodies in the Encode and Decode dictionary files of COMPAIS are presented, with illustrative examples. Advantages of searches in COMPAIS using term truncation facilities applied to corporate body codes are discussed with examples.