In dealing with arms in general, and arms registered or used by The Augustan Society, Inc., it is often helpful necessary to be able to search for the armiger by using the image of the emblazonment alone. The tool for doing so is called an '''Ordinary of Arms'''. This task is presently assigned to the [[Heraldry Index, Online Armorial, & Ordinary Study Group]].
The Ordinary is presently being built in conjunction with the [[Online Armorial]], with an entry being made in the Ordinary each time an achievement is added to the Armorial. This incremental process is in its infancy, and experience may well prove that major changes may be needed as it evolves.
The standard for reference is <em>Dictionary of British Arms</em> by Thomas Woodcock and Sarah Flower. For those unfamiliar, this is a long-awaited update to Papworth's.
The issue even this standard does not sufficiently answer is the order in which charges are to be listed in the blazon. This is something that must be standardized in order for the Ordinary to work predictably, and is a topic that will require extended consideration and debate (assuming more than one member cares).