Commands Reference, Volume 1

addbib Command

Purpose

Creates or extends a bibliographic database.

Syntax

addbib [ -a ] [ -p PromptFile ] Database

Description

The addbib command uses a series of prompts to guide the user through creating or extending a bibliographic database. The user can define responses to these prompts. All default prompts and instructions are contained in the refer message catalog.

The first prompt is Instructions?. If the answer is affirmative, you can receive directions.

If the answer is negative or if you press the Enter key, you cannot receive directions. The addbib command then prompts for various bibliographic fields, reads responses from the terminal, and sends output records to the database specified by the Database parameter.

Pressing the Enter key (a null response) means to omit a particular field. Typing a - (minus sign) means to return to the previous field. A trailing backslash allows a field to be continued on the next line. The repeating Continue? prompt allows you to resume, to quit the current session, or to edit the database. To resume, type the defined affirmative answer or press the Enter key. To quit the current session, type the defined negative answer.

To edit the database, enter any system text editor (vi, ex, edit, ed).

Flags

-a

Suppresses prompting for an abstract. Prompting for an abstract is the default. Abstracts are ended by pressing a Ctrl-D key sequence.

-pPromptFile

Causes the addbib command to use a new prompting skeleton, which is defined in the file specified by the PromptFile parameter. This file contains prompt strings, a tab, and the key letters written to the specified database.

The following are the most common key letters and their meanings. The addbib command insulates you from these key letters, since it gives you prompts in English. If you edit the bibliography file later, you need to know this information.

%A: Author's name
%B: Book containing article referenced
%C: City (place of publication)
%D: Date of publication
%E: Editor of book containing article referenced
%F: Footnote number or label (supplied by the refer command)
%G: Government order number
%H: Header commentary, printed before reference
%I: Issuer (publisher)
%J: Journal containing article
%K: Keywords to use in locating reference
%L: Label field used by -k flag of the refer command
%M: Bell Labs memorandum (undefined)
%N: Number within volume
%O: Other commentary, printed at end of reference
%P: Page numbers
%Q: Corporate or foreign author (unreversed)
%R: Report, paper, or thesis (unpublished)
%S: Series title
%T: Title of article or book
%V: Volume number
%X: Abstract used by the roffbib command, not by the refer command
%Y,Z: Ignored by the refer command.

Note: Except for the %A key letter, each field should be given just once. Only relevant fields should be supplied.

Examples

The following is an example of a bibliography file:

%A Bill Tuthill
%T Refer - A Bibliography System
%I Computing Services
%C Berkeley
%D 1982
%O UNIX 4.3.5.

Related Information

The indxbib command, lookbib command, refer command, roffbib command, sortbib command.