Re: [Docutils-users] handling BibTeX citations

[Alan G I. <ai...@am...>]

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006, David Goodger apparently wrote:=20
> Here's my terminology:=20
>     [name]_=20
> The above is a citation reference.  This occurs inline, within text.=20
> "name" is the reference name.  Isn't "name" here also the "citation=20
> key"?=20

Yes: the "reference name" is what I called the "citation key".


>     .. [name] text here=20
> This is a citation, which is a block element, like a footnote.  "name"=20
> here is the target name, or citation name.  (Also "citation key"?)=20

Yes.  Again 'name' is the key in this case.
Calling it a key makes sense if you recall one request:
to facilitate using citation *keys* in the text to pull *values* from a dat=
abase.
(My use of Bibstuff with reST has influenced how I think of this.)


> What do you mean by "citation text"?=20

This is based on my request in the email just before this one:
is it clear there?  (The "citation text" would be=20
substituted in place of the citation reference, inline in the text,
when the document is processed.)


> My proposal is to allow phrase-reference syntax for the names of=20
> citation references and citations themselves.  That's all.  That will=20
> allow you to use whatever text you like for citation keys.=20

That is good.
You are correct that I misconstrued your proposals.
See my email just before this one for an additional request,
which does involve substitution.


> I still don't know what Bibstuff actually does.=20

The only Bibstuff facility I use is the following:
it reads my reST document searching for citations,
it uses the "name" (or "key") to search a bibliographical database,
it ouputs a formatted list of references
(one for each unique key).
I then copy these into bibliography of my reST document.


> All I'm offering is:=20
> 1. An option to drop the square brackets from the output.=20
> 2. The ability to insert arbitrary text as citation names.=20
> Is that helpful or not?=20

Yes.


> If you're looking for more, I need a clear & concrete=20
> proposal, with solid examples.  Right now, all I have is=20
> confusion.=20

Yes: I badly misunderstood you.
I hope my previous email clarifies the substitution I am hoping for.
If not, I will try again.

Thank you,
Alan Isaac