User1 and Key field clash ?

[rickl]

I have BibTex enabled and have discovered recently what a wonderful thing that is. But I'm wondering what to do about web references in formats such as APA 5th, which use user1 for the date of retrieval. If I generate BibTex keys from the Refs menu, will this delete the retrieval information already there?

I don't have that many web references, so copying and pasting data between fields for each reference won't be too much trouble. So I'm thinking maybe I should move all the retrieval dates to User2 and change the $Retrieved $w part in formatting options to $Retrieved $x. Is this a good way to go?

Finally, does "Generate BibTex Key" do this only for the present reference, and if so is there a quick way to do it for all references that don't yet have one?

Thanks,
Rick

[Jon]

I have BibTex enabled and have discovered recently what a wonderful thing that is. But I'm wondering what to do about web references in formats such as APA 5th, which use user1 for the date of retrieval. If I generate BibTex keys from the Refs menu, will this delete the retrieval information already there?

Yes. But only, of course, if you invoke this menu item.

I don't have that many web references, so copying and pasting data between fields for each reference won't be too much trouble. So I'm thinking maybe I should move all the retrieval dates to User2 and change the $Retrieved $w part in formatting options to $Retrieved $x. Is this a good way to go?

In general, yes. But rather than copy/paste, do a Global Change -> Move.

Finally, does "Generate BibTex Key" do this only for the present reference, and if so is there a quick way to do it for all references that don't yet have one?

It only works for the present reference. If you want to do this in batch, export the references and import them into a fresh database, with "create key value when importing" turned on in Preferences (BibTeX tab)

Jon
Sonny Software

[rickl]

Thanks, Jon. It all sounds pretty straightforward. One thing that's occurred to me: References that I've imported from elsewhere (e.g. UniWakkaWiki), use User2 for ISBN numbers. If I take over User2 for retrieved date, is this going to create problems in the future?

Cheers,
Rick

[Jon]

Probably not. If you don't need ISBN numbers for web citations (and you shouldn't), then this field can be used for retreived date for web citations.

Jon
Sonny Software