NOTE: In Ramsons only protection of 5xx and 9xx fields is relevant for Bulk edit.
System defined field protection cannot be overwritten
User defined data can be overwritten if the user specifies in the Bulk edit form that the protection can be overwritten
Any field containing subfield $5 that is populated with a specified data is protected
That means that on the UI each time user adds a subfield 5 an indication of the protected field is displayed. If the user chooses not to overwrite the protection, the change for the specified is not committed and error is reported in the UI. Other subfields of the field and other fields of the record that are not protected, and they are are updated.
Entire field is protected
That means that field is protected none of the subfields can be updated unless specified by the user that the value should be overwritten.
Field with specific indicators is protected
If the user on the Bulk edit form specifies combination of field and indicators, then the field should be treated as protected. The same field but with different indicators is not protected. Note that sometimes only one indicator might make the field protected.
Field with specific subfield is protected
If the user on the Bulk edit form specifies combination of field and subfields, then the field should be treated as protected. The same field but with a different subfield is not protected.