Use Instead Term field

The Use Instead Term field records a preferred term that should be used instead of the current term.

Examples

  • In the Place file, on the record for the term Holland, you might enter Netherlands as the Use Instead Term (the preferred term). In other words, the term Netherlands should be used instead of Holland. The Used For Term field on the Netherlands record will be updated with the term Holland.

  • In the Classification file, on the record for the term Rucksack, you might enter Backpack as the Use Instead term. In other words, the term Backpack should be used instead of Rucksack.

How this field works

Vernon CMS maintains a reciprocal relationship between the Use Instead Term field (preferred term) and the Used For Term field (non-preferred term). If a term is entered in one of these fields, the system makes a corresponding entry against that term, recording it as the "opposite" term of the current term.

Once a relationship has been established between terms, you can enter either term in the relevant field and the system will prevent use of the non-preferred term.

You can search on either term and the system will find all instances of both.

The relationships between Use Instead Terms and Used For Terms are not retroactive. That is, if a term is used in the system and a Use Instead Term is later recorded for that term, the system will not replace the original term with the Use Instead Term.

Field details

Field type

Authority field

Internal field name

AU_USE_INSTEAD

Locations

  • Person > Identification window > Work/Relations tab

  • All other hierarchical authority files: Thesaurus tab

Searching on this field

Use a Select Statement.

Reporting on this field

Select Use Instead in Reporting.

You can sort on this field.