This paper is the first of a series of four. In it, a table is given t
o replace the 1983 atomic mass table. The differences with the earlier
table are briefly discussed and information is given of interest for
the users of this table. Part II of this series gives values for sever
al derived quantities (decay-, separation- and reaction energies), par
t III shows graphs of several of those quantities, and part IV gives a
list of input data and full information on the used input data and on
the procedures used in deriving the tables in the preceding parts.