Author name-string

From WikiThing

An author name-string or author code is a character string formed from the author field when a book is added. The name-string retains the "surname, forename(s)" form, but drops capitalisation and punctuation. The entered data is truncated at 20 characters, thus causing problems for authors such as The American Association of Pediatrists and The American Association of Pederasts (both with a name-string of 'theamericanassociati') who get lumped together. What it does with characters that are not in the roman alphabet is a mystery.