ogden@nmsu.edu (Bill Ogden) (02/06/91)
Archive-name: text/bibliography/bibcard/1991-02-04
Archive: crl.nmsu.edu:pub/misc/bibcard.tar.Z [128.123.1.14]
Original-posting-by: ogden@nmsu.edu (Bill Ogden)
Original-subject: New version of BiBCard, an X interface for BiBTeX
Reposted-by: emv@ox.com (Edward Vielmetti)
A new version of BiBCard is available by anonymous ftp from:
crl.nmsu.edu:pub/misc/bibcard.3.tar.Z [128.123.1.14]
New for this release:
Support for non-standard BiBTeX fields.
Now saves @preamble items.
Improved macro handling
But now the user must enter a special character to indicate a macro name.
Uses load directory as the default directory.
Initial default directory is set by an optional $BIBPATH environment
variable.
Allows .bib suffix for file names
Done buttons added to pop-ups to aid X11 users.
It is now possible to see all cite keys for large files.
Improved scanning of existing files:
cite-key can appear on separte line
extra spaces before @ and around cite key are now ignored.
comma separator can appear at the begining of a line.
etc.
PhD thesis bug fixed.
"BiBCard", is an X based interface for BiBTeX databases.
Bibliographic entries can be displayed for each type of reference defined
by BiBTeX. Required fields are listed first, followed by the optional fields
for that type. Users can select with the mouse the reference type
desired. The user interface follows the OpenLook style.
Three menu buttons contain most of the command functions:
FILE: functions for loading and saving bib files.
EDIT: Delete - deletes the currently shown bib entry.
Add - adds a new empty bib entry.
Undo - reverts any changes to the current entry.
VIEW: Next/Previous - for showing sequential bib entries.
List - pops up a scrollable list of all cite keys in
the database. A mouse click on any key will
show that entry. This list can be displayed
sorted alphabetically. If it is sorted, only
250 entries will be displayed. Selecting
"File Order" will display all entries but
this could slow things down a bit.
Find - pops up a dialog box for entering a search
string for any field.
Annotation - shows a window that displays the
"annote" field for the current entry.
Abbreviation - shows a window that displays the
@STRING entries. Users will be able to
modify and add new abbreviations, but
must have some knowledge of BiBTeX syntax.
Other fields - shows a window to enter and display
non-standard BiBTeX fields. These are user
defined and will be ignored by BiBTeX
Entering Macros (string abbreviations):
Macros must be entered into the bibcard fields prefixed with a special
character. Currently this character is "#". Thus, if you have a
string abbreviations like this:
@string{ joj = "Journal of Jokes"}
you will have to enter:
#joj
into the bibcard Journal field which will result in the bib file entry:
Journal = joj
Bibcard will NOT retain the format of existing bib files when re-saved.
Be sure to save a back-up of your existing bib files until you are sure
bibcard's format suits you. For example, currently, bibcard does not save
any non-standard fields.
The default directory will be the current working directory unless an
optional $BIBPATH envronment variable is set.
If help is installed, information about each BiBTeX field is available
through the OpenWindow help facility.
Bibcard requires the XView 2.0 libraries distributed either by SUN or
contained in the X11/R4 contributions. It *should* run under your
favorite X window manager.
Please send comments and bug reports to ogden@nmsu.edu.
--
ogden@nmsu.edu
Bill Ogden
Computing Research Lab
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM