path: root/info/ltx3pub/l3d005.tex

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%%%  @LaTeX3-article{ LaTeX3-L3-005,
%%%  filename        = "l3d005.tex",
%%%  archived        = "ctan:/tex-archive/info/ltx3pub/",
%%%  author          = "David Rhead",
%%%  doc-group       = "Project core team",
%%%  title           = "The ``operational requirement'' (?) for
%%%                     support of bibliographic references by
%%%                     \LaTeX\ 3",
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%%%  date            = "09 August 1993",
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%%%  abstract        = "
%%%                     It is suggested that:
%%%                     \begin{itemize}
%%%                     \item \LaTeX\ 3 should aim to support the
%%%                           principal citation schemes used
%%%                           in conventional publishing
%%%                     \item consideration be given to a
%%%                           {\it modus vivendi} between \LaTeX\ 3
%%%                           and mainstream bibliography-formatting
%%%                           software.
%%%                     \end{itemize}
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% LaTeX 2.09 document

\documentstyle{l3ms001}


\newcommand{\BibTeX}{{\rm B\kern-.05em{\sc i\kern-.025em b}\kern-.08em
      T\kern-.1667em\lower.7ex\hbox{E}\kern-.125emX}}


\newcommand{\bs}{\char '134}

\begin{document}

\title{The ``operational requirement'' (?) for
support of bibliographic references by \LaTeX\ 3}
\author{David Rhead}
\date{August 1993}

%  Cripps Computing Centre
%  University of Nottingham
%  JANET: d.rhead@uk.ac.nott.vme

\maketitle

\begin{abstract}
It is suggested that:
\begin{itemize}
\item \LaTeX\ 3 should aim to support the principal citation schemes used
      in conventional publishing
\item consideration be given to a {\it modus vivendi} between \LaTeX\ 3 and
      mainstream bibliography-formatting software.
\end{itemize}
\end{abstract}

\tableofcontents

\section{Introduction}

Ideally, when writing software, it is a good idea to write down what the
software is intended to achieve --- the ``operational requirement'' ---
before writing any code.

This article attempts to take an ``operational requirement'' approach to
the ``bibliographic reference'' aspects of \LaTeX\ 3.%
\footnote{Obviously, there are limits to the what the OR approach can
achieve.  For example, it is difficult to quantify ``usability''.
Nevertheless, the approach should facilitate debate about objectives {\em
before} the ``user interface'' has been fixed.}
The objective is to stimulate debate --- if you don't agree with my
suggestions, please suggest specific alternatives!  (In the remainder of
the article, ``operational requirement'' is abbreviated to ``OR''.)

Generalizing the approach taken by the \LaTeX\ 2.09 manual \cite[pp.\
73--74]{lamport-86}, it is convenient to divide the topic into ``doing it
yourself'' and ``using bibliography-formatting software''.

\section{Doing it yourself}
\label{DIY}

In effect, the only scheme that is ``fully supported'' by \LaTeX\ 2.09 is
``reference by number, where the sequence of numbers is determined by
position in the reference-list''.

By contrast, for ``real-world publishing'', my impression is that:
\begin{enumerate}
\item
     only a minority of ``instructions to authors'' specify anything like
     the default \LaTeX\ 2.09 scheme.  This minority consists of those
     journals that specify ``reference by number, with the reference-list
     in alphabetical order of author's names''.
\item the majority of ``instructions to authors'', style-books, etc.,
     specify one of the following:
     \begin{enumerate}
     \item
          reference by number, with the reference-list in order of first
          citation
     \item
          author-date
     \item
          ``short-form in footnotes''.  For publications in the humanities,
          there seem to be two main variants of this scheme, depending on
          whether or not there is a reference-list.%
\footnote{If there is no reference-list, the convention is usually ``first
citation gives full bibliographic details, subsequent citations give
cross-reference to first citation''.  This variant is common in law
publications, when it is used in conjunction with numerous law-specific
citation conventions \cite{harvard-law}.}
     \end{enumerate}
     ISO 690 \cite[sec.\ 9]{iso-690} provides a convenient specification of
     the details of these schemes.  The default \LaTeX\ 2.09 system gives
     no particular help to anyone wanting to use them.%
\footnote{%
\BibTeX\ can help with (a).
Anyone wishing to use (b) will probably grope around in archives
looking for style-options that: arrange for {\tt \bs cite} to give (\dots)
rather than [\dots]; omit [\dots] from the reference-list; support
date-only citations when the author's name appears naturally in a
sentence.
Apart from the law-specific Lexi\TeX\ \cite{bennett-93}, I'm not aware of
any 2.09-related software that helps people who wish to use scheme (c).}
     \item a few publishers specify alternative schemes.
           E.g.,
           \begin{itemize}
          \item some Springer journals%
\footnote{See the ``instructions for authors'' in, for example, {\it
Mathematische Zeitschrift.}}
          accept citations of the form ``first letter of author's surname,
          in square brackets''
          \item
          Butcher \cite{butcher-92} mentions a variation of the
          reference-by-number system in which there is a separate numerical
          sequence for each letter, and a variation of the author-date
          system in which a number is used instead of a date
          \item a scheme like the \BibTeX\ {\tt alpha} style is sometimes
          used (for example, in the journal {\it Formal Aspects of
          Computing}).
          \end{itemize}
\end{enumerate}

Therefore, I suggest that the OR for \LaTeX\ 3:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     should include support%
\footnote{I assume that ``sorting a reference-list'' will be beyond the
scope of \LaTeX\ 3.  Thus, in practice, the \LaTeX\ 3 ``support'' might be
minimal (a ``better than nothing'' warning that a reference-list needs
human intervention, perhaps).  People who want anything better would
be advised to use bibliography-formatting software.}
     for the schemes mentioned in items 1 and 2 above, i.e.,
     \begin{itemize}
     \item
          a 2.09-like scheme aimed at journals that specify ``reference by
          number, with the reference-list in alphabetical order of author's
          names''
     \item
          the schemes specified in ISO 690, namely: ``reference-by-number
          in order of first citation'', author-date, and 2 variations of
          ``short-form in footnotes''.%
\footnote{To support these schemes, it is probably desirable that \LaTeX\ 3
should be able to determine whether a citation of a source is ``the first
citation'' of that source.  Clearly this would help to provide support for
``reference by number in order of first citation''.  In the author-date
case, it would allow support for the convention \cite[sec.\ 3.87]{apa-83}
that, when there are multiple authors, they should all be named in the
first citation but ``{\it et al.\/}'' should be used subsequently.  It
might also help to provide support for the variant of the short-form scheme
in which a ``subsequent citation'' uses the short-form and gives a
cross-reference to the footnote containing the ``first citation'' (where
full details of the source can be found).}
     \end{itemize}
\item
     should bear in mind the possibility of a ``plug-in module'' to support
     law conventions.  Since such conventions are only crucial to lawyers,
     it would probably be inappropriate to delay \LaTeX\ 3 while
     law-specific commands were finalised, or to increase the bulk of the
     \LaTeX\ 3 manual by including law-specific material.  Nevertheless, it
     might be worth simultaneous experiments with a prototype \LaTeX\ 3
     and a prototype law-support module, in the hope that the law-specific
     commands in such a module might end up with a similar ``look and
     feel'' to those for the mainstream ``short-form in footnotes''
     commands.
\item
     need not include support for the alternative schemes mentioned in
     item~3 above (although the possibility of ``plug-in modules'' to
     support these schemes might be borne in mind).
\end{itemize}

In addition, the following features are desirable:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     for situations where several bibliographic sources are cited
     simultaneously:
     \begin{itemize}
     \item
          a syntax that permits a particular division of each source to be
          pin-pointed \cite[sec.\ 15.25]{chicago-82}.  (The \LaTeX\ 2.09
          \verb+\cite[...]{...}+ syntax only supports pin-pointing within a
          single source.)
     \item
          a mechanism for sorting reference-by-number citations into
          ascending numerical order \cite[p.~106]{acs-86}.%
\footnote{Alternatively, if it is not feasible to sort reference-by-number
and author-date citations into a desired order, mechanisms for giving
warnings if simultaneous citations are in the wrong order would be ``better
than nothing''.}
     \item
          a mechanism for sorting author-date citations%
\addtocounter{footnote}{-1}\footnotemark
          into alphabetical
          order of author's surnames (or, ideally, the order in which the
          sources appear in the reference-list) \cite[sec.\ 3.91]{apa-83}
          or into ``date of publication'' order \cite[sec.\
          15.24]{chicago-82}.
\end{itemize}

\item
     support for types of bibliography that, although not as common
     as a single undivided list, are appropriate in
     particular circumstances, namely:
     \begin{itemize}
     \item a list divided into sections according to kinds of material,
           subject matter or other appropriate categories
     \item an annotated bibliography
     \item a bibliographical essay.
     \end{itemize}
     See, for example, the {\it Chicago Manual of Style} \cite[chap.\
     15]{chicago-82}.

     End-users could get confused if they try using \LaTeX\ 2.09's {\tt
     thebibliography} environment for such bibliographies.
\end{itemize}
The above might provide the major elements of an OR\@.  Minor elements may
be more difficult to specify, but can perhaps be summarized as
\begin{quote}
     \LaTeX\ 3 should be able to survive $\beta$-testing of whether
     it can conveniently deliver bibliographic details formatted as
     specified by influential style-books and ``instructions for authors''.
\end{quote}
See
\cite{harvard-law,iso-690,butcher-92,apa-83,chicago-82,mhra-91,mla-88,%
vancouver-91,bs-5605,bs-1629,bs-6371}.


\section{Using bibliography-formatting software}

\subsection[Background]{Background\footnotemark}
\footnotetext{Warning: I do not currently have ``hands on'' experience of
using \LaTeX\ in conjunction with software other than \BibTeX\ (although I
have browsed through as many of the relevant manuals as I could find).
Hence, the ideas given in this section, and in section \ref{misc},
are theoretical and speculative.}
\label{background}

\subsubsection{Software available}

The bibliography-formatting software that is ``advertised'' in the \LaTeX\
2.09 manual is \BibTeX\ \cite{lamport-86,patashnik-88}.  Tib
\cite{alexander-89} is also sometimes mentioned in \TeX\ circles.

In fact, there are a large number of bibliography-formatting programs
available.  A recent review article \cite{stigleman-93} names 52 such
programs.

Judging by comments on the {\tt bibsoft} list, the most important
bibliographic programs (from the point-of-view of professional librarians
and bibliographers) seem to be EndNote, Library Master, Papyrus, ProCite
and Reference Manager.  (Appendices \ref{suppliers} and
\ref{discussion-lists} give details of the {\tt bibsoft} list and of the
relevant vendors.)

Of these, EndNote, Papyrus, ProCite and Reference Manager have procedures
for processing a ``manuscript'', filling in the in-text citations and
generating the corresponding reference-list.  Although I understand that a
similar facility is planned for the next version of Library Master, I don't
know what form this will take.  Therefore, when referring to these
programs, I will use:
\begin{description}
\item[``main 4''] to mean the programs (EndNote, Papyrus, ProCite and Reference
     Manager) whose procedures for filling in the in-text citations are
     currently known
\item[``main 5''] to mean the ``main 4'' plus Library Master.
\end{description}

>From a \LaTeX-er's point-of-view, the public-domain \BibTeX\ and Tib are
obviously attractive, since they were {\em designed} to work with
\TeX/\LaTeX, and are available for most of the platforms on which
\TeX/\LaTeX\ are available.  By contrast, the ``main 5'' are:
\begin{itemize}
\item proprietary
\item currently aimed at ``wordprocessor'' users.%
\footnote{Certain vendors state that \TeX\ is one of their program's
``supported wordprocessors''.  You may or may not regard this as a hopeful
sign!}
\item only available on a restricted selection of platforms.  (All are
      available for MS-DOS.  Some are available for Macintosh or VAX/VMS.)
\end{itemize}

Nevertheless, there are many things about the ``main 5'' that are of
interest:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     The programs have standard procedures for importing information from
     standard database programs, online information services, CD-ROMs and
     library catalogues.
\item
     They generally have good facilities for maintenance of a ``personal
     bibliographic database'', and for searching such a database for
     entries that satisfy particular criteria.
\item
     It seems likely that the programs will continue to be developed and
     supported into the future.  (By contrast, my understanding is that
     \BibTeX\ will be ``frozen'' when version 1.0 has been finished.)
\item
     There is a choice.  If one program has underlying assumptions that
     don't match the assumptions that are usual in your discipline, you can
     look for an alternative!
\end{itemize}

Even if you don't regard the ``main 5'' as of positive interest, you may be
unable to avoid them.  If a research-group contains a \LaTeX-ing minority
and a non-\LaTeX-ing majority:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     the ``majority'' may choose one of the ``main 5'' as the group's
     ``standard bib\-li\-og\-ra\-phy-formatting software''
\item
     the \LaTeX-ers will then be at a serious disadvantage if they cannot
     use the group's bibliographic databases.
\end{itemize}
Also, if your librarian is providing bibliographic information in
electronic form (e.g., from a computerized library catalogue), s/he may
offer an off-the-shelf way to get the information into a database for one
of the ``main 5'', but be unable to help you if you use \BibTeX.

Overall, it seems to me desirable that, as well as having standard
procedures for inter-working with \BibTeX\ and Tib, \LaTeX\ 3 should have
standard procedures for inter-working with the ``main 5''.  Such procedures
are unlikely to be perfect, but it should be possible to agree on some {\it
modus vivendi}.%
\footnote{It is unlikely that the vendors will re-focus their products to
concentrate on \LaTeX\ users --- and equally unlikely that \LaTeX-ers will
start to think of themselves as ``wordprocessor users''.  Nevertheless,
with a few minor changes (which might involve the \LaTeX\ end, the
bibliographic program end and/or the documentation), it should be possible
for \LaTeX\ 3 and the mainstream bibliographic software to work reasonably
well together.

``{\it Modus vivendi}\/'', i.e., ``an arrangement between peoples who agree
to differ'', seems to fit the situation quite well.}


\subsubsection{{\it Modus vivendi} with the main 4?}
\label{modus-vivendi}

Before considering how \LaTeX\ might co-operate with the ``main 4''%
\footnote{Hopefully, it will be possible to use the same general ideas for
Library Master when its procedure for ``filling in the in-text citations
and generating the reference-list'' becomes known.}
it is convenient to contrast \BibTeX's approach with that of Tib.

\BibTeX's approach involves searching a \LaTeX\ {\tt .aux} file for details
of in-text citations, and then writing out a {\tt .bbl} file.  The {\tt
.bbl} file defines a reference-list that is read in when \LaTeX\ is next
applied to the root file.

Tib's approach is different.  It starts with a {\tt .tex} file that
contains ``incomplete or keyed citations'' within citation-delimiters, and
produces another {\tt .tex} file that contains proper in-text citations
plus (optionally) a reference-list.

When the procedures used by the ``main 4'' are interpreted in terms of
\LaTeX, they seem to be more akin to Tib's approach than to \BibTeX's.  It
looks as though the end-user would start with a {\tt .tex} file containing
keys, etc., within citation-delimiters, and use the bibliography-formatting
program to produce a near-duplicate {\tt .tex} file that contains proper
in-text citations plus a reference-list.

In fact, Tib's citation-delimiters are chosen so that:
\begin{quote}
The escape characters of Tib do not interfere with \TeX\ processing.  If
\TeX\ is applied to the original pre-Tib document, the escape characters
and incomplete citations will appear as written.
\end{quote}
I.e., the pre-Tib {\tt .tex} file and the post-Tib {\tt .tex} file are both
valid \LaTeX\ input files.

This seems a useful precedent.  If \LaTeX\ could inter-work with the ``main
4'' in an analogous way, it would not be necessary to
\begin{quote}
Apply bibliography-formatting software.\\
Then apply \LaTeX.
\end{quote}
every time that a {\tt .dvi} file is required.  For example, if someone is
concentrating on getting their equations typeset correctly, they might want
to get {\tt .dvi} files quickly without always having to go through the
bibliography-formatting step.  At the equation-checking stage, they may
just want a {\tt .dvi} file that shows their equations, and not be worried
about the appearance of their in-text citations or reference-list.

A potential problem for any \LaTeX-er trying to follow the Tib precedent,
is that EndNote and ProCite use \verb+#+ to identify ``number within
database''.  Hence the end-user may need to put a \verb+#+ (which is one of
\LaTeX's 10 ``special characters'') within the relevant
citation-delimiters.  (See Table \ref{analogues} for details of the
programs' default citation-delimiters, and the alternatives available.)

\begin{table}

\begin{center}
\begin{footnotesize}

\begin{tabular}{lll}
\hline\hline
Software                &  Citation   & Notes       \\
                        &  delimiters &             \\
\hline\hline
\LaTeX\ 2.09 with \BibTeX &  {\tt \bs cite\{\ \}}  &             \\
\hline
Tib                     &  {\tt [.\ .]}          &
                                    The delimiters {\tt <.\ .>} are used \\
                                               & & in some circumstances \\
\hline
EndNote                 &  Default: {\tt [\ ]}  &
                            You can tell EndNote to look for alternative \\
                           & & 1-character delimiters (e.g., {\tt <\ >}).\\
\hline
Library Master          &   Not known             &
                                I understand that a facility for ``given \\
                                    & & the in-text citations, compile a \\
                                & & reference-list'' is in preparation.  \\
\hline
Papyrus                 &  Default: {\tt \%\%\ \%\%}       &
                            You can tell Papyrus to look for alternative \\
                            & & delimiters (but ``start delimiter'' must \\
                                   & & be the same as ``end delimiter'') \\
\hline
ProCite                 &  Default: {\tt (\ ) }            &
                                        You can tell ProCite to look \\
                      & & for {\tt [\ ]} rather than for {\tt (\ )}. \\
\hline
Reference Manager       &  Default: {\tt \{\ \}}           &
                                  You can tell Reference Manager to look \\
                    & & for alternative delimiters.  ``Start delimiter'' \\
                           & & and ``end delimiter'' can each have up \\
                                                   & & to 7 characters.  \\
\hline\hline
\end{tabular}

\end{footnotesize}
\end{center}

\caption{Citation-delimiters: defaults and alternatives\label{analogues}}

\end{table}


One way of imitating Tib (in spite of the possibility of \verb+#+
characters) might be to arrange delimiters such that the proprietary
program's ``start delimiter'' is interpreted by \LaTeX\ as being equivalent
to \LaTeX\ 2.09's \verb!\verb+!, and its ``end delimiter'' is interpreted
as equivalent to the \verb!+!  that terminates the text introduced by
\verb!\verb+!.  Then:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     If \LaTeX\ is applied to the original {\tt .tex} file, the citation
     keys will be typeset ``as is'' in a {\tt typewriter} font (to remind
     the \LaTeX-er that the bibliographic software needs applying before
     the document can be regarded as finished).
\item
     If the bibliographic software is applied to the original {\tt .tex}
     file, a new {\tt .tex} file will be produced that, when \LaTeX-ed, has
     proper in-text citations and a reference-list.
\end{itemize}
Overall, the \LaTeX-er will be able to apply \LaTeX\ and the bibliographic
software in either order (in much the same way that \LaTeX\ and Tib can be
applied in either order).

This approach could be the major element of a {\it modus vivendi} between
\LaTeX\ 3 and the ``main 4''.  Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter} shows some
delimiters that might be suitable.

\begin{table}
\begin{center}
\begin{footnotesize}

\begin{tabular}{llll}
\hline\hline
Biblio.\                &  Tell bib.\ software & Tell \LaTeX\ 3 & Notes \\
software \\
\hline\hline
EndNote     &  Delimiters are     & {\tt<}\dots{\tt>} is equivalent \\
            & {\tt <} and {\tt >} & to 2.09's {\tt \bs verb+}\dots{\tt+} \\
\hline
Papyrus           &  Delimiter is {\tt"} & {\tt"}\dots{\tt"} is equivalent \\
                  &                 & to 2.09's {\tt \bs verb+}\dots{\tt+} \\
\hline
ProCite &                     & & No obvious alternative to ``always \\
                                     & & & apply ProCite before \LaTeX'' \\
\hline
Reference & Delimiters are                &
                                  {\tt \bs bsoft\{\dots\}} is equiv.\ to \\
Manager   & {\tt \bs bsoft\{} and {\tt\}} &
                                       2.09's {\tt \bs verb+}\dots{\tt+} \\
\hline\hline
\end{tabular} \\[2mm]
\begin{tabular}{lp{100mm}}
{\it Note:}
     & Clearly the default Papyrus and Reference Manager delimiters (see
     Table \ref{analogues}) must be changed if the end-user is to have the
     option of applying \LaTeX\ without having previously dealt with
     citations, etc.  However, the Papyrus and Reference Manager keys are
     not liable to contain a {\tt \#} character.  Hence, it is not crucial
     whether Papyrus and Reference Manager keys are ``hidden'' from \LaTeX.
\end{tabular}


\end{footnotesize}
\end{center}

\caption{Choice of delimiters for {\it modus vivendi\/}?%
\label{choice-of-delimiter}}
\end{table}

A {\it modus vivendi} would also need to incorporate an approach to the
``root file and {\tt \bs include}-ed files'' situation.  Although I don't
have any specific suggestions at this stage, I speculate that support for
this feature might be obtained by reference to the bibliographic software's
support for analogous features in wordprocessors (e.g., WordPerfect's
``master document and subdocument'' scheme, and Microsoft Word's
``include'' scheme).

\subsubsection{Preferred interface}

The suggestions in Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter} are intended as part of
a {\it modus vivendi} between \LaTeX\ 3 and the {\em current} versions of
the ``main 4''.  Although the general approach is the same, the details
differ from product to product.

It would be open to \LaTeX-ers to decide on a preferred interface, and to
inform the vendors of their preference in the hope that it may be possible
to implement the approach more consistently at some time in the future.  We
wouldn't lose anything by asking!

For example, if the preferred interface involved \verb+\bsoft{+{\it
key\/}\verb+}+ (as shown in Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter} for Reference
Manager), it would be open to us to ask the other vendors to relax their
rules on citation-delimiters so that future versions of the ``main 5'' will
all accept \verb+\bsoft{+{\it key\/}\verb+}+.  If we were lucky enough to
get the vendors' agreement, this might enable us to produce ``using
proprietary bibliographic software with \LaTeX'' notes that are simpler
from the \LaTeX\ point-of-view than Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter}.

\paragraph{Note}

It might be possible to have a {\it modus vivendi} (e.g., with Reference
Manager) involving \verb!\verb+!{\it key\/}\verb!+!, rather than having an
additional command such as \verb+\bsoft+ (which would, in any case, be
implemented in much the same way as \verb!\verb!).  The bibliographic
software will probably ignore things within \verb!\verb+!  and \verb!+!
that don't look like citation keys.  Nevertheless, I would be inclined to
introduce an extra command (e.g., \verb+\bsoft+) so that {\tt .tex} files
can be ``marked up logically'' to distinguish between:
 \begin{itemize}
\item delimiters for a key that is intended for processing by
      bibliographic software
\item delimiters for text that is intended to appear in a {\tt typewriter}
      font in the final document.
\end{itemize}

\subsubsection{Hybrid approaches}

One can envisage schemes that embed a proprietary bibliographic system's
mechanism for dealing with citations and reference-lists within \LaTeX's
mechanism or {\it vice versa\/}).  Examples might include:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     telling Papyrus to use \verb+!!+ as its delimiter, and putting the
     Papyrus citation markers inside a \LaTeX\ \verb+\cite+ command, thus
     \verb+\cite{!!+\dots\verb+!!}+.%
\footnote{Bernard J.  Treves Brown, of Manchester University, is
experimenting with this technique.}

\item
     trying to get proprietary bibliographic software to read an {\tt .aux}
     file, and write a {\tt .bbl} file, as \BibTeX\ does.  (Perhaps this
     could be done by a shell script which invokes the proprietary software
     in a suitable way.)

\end{itemize}

Generally, I fear that such hybrid schemes may lead to confusion, and I
would not be inclined to persue them:
\begin{itemize}

\item
     Anyone constructing a hybrid scheme will have to be very careful about
     ``which software is in charge when'' (e.g., whether citation numbers
     are incremented by \LaTeX, by the proprietary system, or by ``one
     shadowing the other'').  The hybrid scheme will need maintenance
     (e.g., someone will need to verify that the scheme still works with
     each new release of the proprietary system).  There may be three lots
     of documentation for the end-user to study: that about \LaTeX\ 3, that
     about the proprietary system, and that about the hybrid scheme's
     subtle combination of elements of both.  If anything goes wrong, it
     may be in ``a grey area'', which is neither the responsibility of the
     \LaTeX\ 3 project, nor the responsibility of the bibliographic
     software vendor.

\item
     The proprietary systems seem more akin to Tib than to \BibTeX.  To try
     and force them into the \BibTeX\ sterotype when they are not designed
     to work like \BibTeX\ seems like ``asking for trouble''.  I doubt
     whether the \TeX\ community has the resources to produce interfaces
     that ``make proprietary systems work like \BibTeX'', and I doubt
     whether the vendors have the inclination to commit such resources.

\end{itemize}

My instinct is that it would be better to have a simple interface (e.g.,
conventions such as those outlined in Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter}), so
as to put the end-user in a situation where responsibilities are clear:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     Typesetting is the responsibility of \LaTeX\ 3.
\item
     Bibliography-generation is the responsibility of the bibliographic
     software.
\end{itemize}

Hence, if using a proprietary bibliographic system, the end-user should
ignore the \LaTeX\ 3 manual's descriptions of commands to support the
DIY-er (i.e, ignore the \LaTeX\ commands envisaged in section \ref{DIY}),
and ignore anything that is provided to support the \BibTeX-er.
\begin{itemize}

\item
     The proprietary system will be ``in charge'' of bibliography
     generation.  The method used will be that envisaged by the vendor, and
     documented in the vendor's manual: if it's good, the vendor will get
     the credit; if it's bad, the vendor will get the blame.

\item
     The delimiters in the {\tt .tex} file will be delimiters for the
     proprietary system (chosen, if possible, in such a way that the {\tt
     .tex} file as acceptable to \LaTeX\ even before processing by the
     proprietary system.) They might be as shown in Table
     \ref{choice-of-delimiter}.  The ``keys'', etc., inside the delimiters
     will follow the rules given in the vendor's manual ({\em not} the
     rules given in the \LaTeX\ 3 manual about keys that the DIY-er can
     use.)

\item
     The proprietary system will be ``told to produce \TeX\ output''.  How
     good or bad they are at this will be the responsibility of the
     proprietary system (although interested \LaTeX-ers might advise the
     vendors about what is required).
\end{itemize}
Overall, the end-user will get in-text citations filled in, and reference
lists generated, in the standard way that is described in the manual that
describes the proprietary system.  If this standard way does not suit a
\LaTeX-er's requirements, it may be better for the him/her to seek
alternative bibliography-formatting software rather than spending time
trying to circumvent the problems.

Of course, if people want to put effort into developing hybrid schemes, and
happen to get good {\it modus vivendi} between \LaTeX\ and proprietary
bibliographic systems, I would be delighted to find that my instinct is
wrong!

\subsubsection{The user's choice}

Given some {\it modus vivendi}, end-users would be able to make their own
assessments of which bibliographic software suits their needs.
\begin{itemize}

\item Cost is obviously a factor.

\item
     An end-user who wants software that has been designed specifically for
     use in conjunction with \LaTeX, will probably be inclined to choose
     \BibTeX\ or Tib.

\item
     \BibTeX's approach makes good use of disk-space.  A {\tt .bbl} file
     will be smaller than ``near-duplicates of {\tt .tex} files''.

\item
     An end-user who wants ready-made methods of downloading information
     from commercial bibliographic databases, library catalogues, etc.,
     will probably favour one of the proprietary programs.  The proprietary
     systems also offer database administration and searching facilities.

\item
     Anyone who does not have the time and patience to deduce (from a
     proprietary system's wordprocessor-oriented documentation/menus) what
     the \LaTeX-er should do might prefer to wait until someone else has
     deduced what is required, and has documented the tricks involved.

\item
     The end-user's choice may be constrained by the platform on which they
     are using \LaTeX\ (e.g., they may need bibliographic software for a
     Unix system).

\item
     Wordprocessor-oriented systems may not support typesetting subleties
     to the degree that \LaTeX-ers would like.

\item
     Support (or lack of it) for non-English languages may be another
     factor.%
\footnote{Decisions may be needed about whether to try using a proprietary
system's support for diacritics, in the hope of being able to share a
database with colleagues who use wordprocessors.  The alternative would be
to have database entries that use \TeX\ encoding for diacritics.}

\item
     End-users may be constrained to use the same system as other people in
     their research group (e.g., so that the group can share databases).
\end{itemize}

It is unlikely that anyone will find bibliographic software that is perfect
for their needs.  However, people are more likely to find something that
suits them if they have a choice than if they have no choice.


\subsection{OR for \LaTeX\ 3}

Given the situation outlined in section \ref{background}, I suggest the
following as the OR for \LaTeX\ 3's relationship with
bibliography-formatting software:
\begin{itemize}

\item
     As far as practicable, \LaTeX\ 3 should be neutral towards the
     end-user's choice of bibligraphy-formatting software.  Ideally, people
     should be able to choose typesetting software for typesetting reasons,
     and bibliographic software for bibliographic reasons --- their choice
     of typesetting software should not restrict their choice of
     bibliographic software.
\item
     Hence, a {\it modus vivendi} between \LaTeX\ 3 and each of the
     ``main 5'' should be thought up, tested and documented.%
\footnote{The {\it modus vivendi} might be along the lines shown in Table
\ref{choice-of-delimiter}, or might be something else that emerges from
practical experience.  It doesn't matter much whether the documentation is
provided by the \LaTeX\ 3 project or by the bibliography software vendor,
as long as someone provides it!}

\item
     There might be ``a preferred interface'' between \LaTeX\ 3 and
     proprietary bibliographic software.  It vendors can be persuaded to
     support this interface, \LaTeX-ers will get a consistent interface to
     proprietary bibliographic software.  If not, things will stay
     inconsistent (e.g., as shown in Table \ref{choice-of-delimiter}).

\item
     In line with the neutrality suggested above, \BibTeX\ will continue to
     be supported, but \LaTeX\ 3 documentation will not be particularly
     pro-\BibTeX.  It is desirable that {\tt .bst} files should be updated
     so that \BibTeX\ produces \LaTeX\ 3 commands (designed to satisfy the
     requirements listed in section \ref{DIY}) rather than \LaTeX\ 2.09
     commands.
\end{itemize}

\section{Miscellaneous}
\label{misc}

\subsection{``Local names'' for keys}

If you are ``doing it yourself'', choice of keys is unlikely to be a
problem.  For example, you could equally well use {\tt lamport-86} or {\tt
latexbook} as a key for the \LaTeX\ manual.  There is no particular need
for consistency from one document to another: you can use {\tt lamport-86}
as the key in one document, and use {\tt latexbook} as the key in another.

However, if you have a large bibliographic database (perhaps shared with a
group of colleagues), it may be impracticable to keep track of keys
assigned on an {\it ad hoc} basis, and difficult to guarantee that keys
will stay unique whenever a new item is added to the database.

Moreover, a {\tt .tex} file to be \verb+\input+ may contain bibliographic
details and \LaTeX\ commands that are generated automatically by
bibliographic software (even though \LaTeX\ will have no way of
distinguishing the file from a one typed in by a DIY-er).  Such
bibliographic software might be programmed to assign keys automatically.
For example, software might write a {\tt .tex} file that contains \LaTeX\
2.09 \verb+\bibitem+ commands, with keys of the form {\tt lamport-86}
constructed automatically from two fields in the database.%
\footnote{Some thought would need giving to any method of assigning keys
automatically.  If a bibliographic database is continually growing, there
may be no guarantee that keys of the form {\tt lamport-86} will stay unique
when new items are added to the database.  It might be safer to assign less
memorable keys that can be guaranteed to stay distinct, e.g., the ``record
number'' in the database, or a book's ISBN.}

To help cater for such situations, it might be useful if \LaTeX\ 3 allowed
``local names'' for keys, i.e., some mechanism whereby an author could
declare (e.g., in a document's root file) that, for the duration of a
document, a particular ``informal key'' (to be used in in-text citation
commands) should be treated as a synonym for a ``formal key'' (which
appears in an entry in an automatically generated reference-list).  For
example, it might be useful to be able to declare that {\tt latexbook} can
be used as a ``local name'' for {\tt lamport-86}.


\subsection{Reference-lists that are also indexes}

Another requirement that needs to be borne in mind is for reference-lists
which, as well as providing bibliographic details of sources, provide an
index to the pages on which the sources are cited:
\begin{itemize}
\item
     in mainstream academic publications, the requirement will probably be
     for a ``combined list of references and author index'' \cite[pp.\ 198
     \& 258]{butcher-92}
\item
     in law books, the requirement is usually for ``front matter'' units
     such as ``table of cases'', ``table of statutes'' and ``table of
     treaties''.  In a typical ``table of cases'', each entry
     tells the reader
     \begin{itemize}
     \item where further details of the case can be found
           (e.g., the relevant law report)
     \item which pages in the book's main text mention the case.
     \end{itemize}
     The other types of tables are analogous.
\end{itemize}


\appendix
\section{Some suppliers of mainstream bibliographic software}
\label{suppliers}


\begin{description}

\item[EndNote]
     Niles and Associates.  2000 Hearst St, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA.
     E-mail: {\tt nilesinc@well.sf.ca.us}.
%    UK agents: Cherwell Scientific, 27 Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HU.
%    Tel: 0865 794884.  A couple of Cherwell people have JANET addresses
%    --- {\tt hodgkina@oxford.vax} is one, I think.

\item[Library
     Master] Balboa Software, P.  O.  Box 3145, Station D, Willowdale,
     Ontario, M2R 3G5, Canada.  E-mail: {\tt hahne@epas.utoronto.ca}.
%    No UK agent that I know of.
%    Current version just does reference-lists.  Next version
%    should do in-text citations, so they say.

\item[Papyrus]
     Research Software Design, 2718 S.  W.  Kelly St, Suite 181, Portland,
     Oregon 97201, USA.  E-mail: {\tt RSD@applelink.apple.com}.
%    UK agents: Paul Tharagonnet, European Scientific Software Company,
%    Britannia Centre, Point Pleasant, Tyne and Wear, NE28 6HQ.  Tel:
%    091-295 3000

\item[ProCite]
     Personal Bibliographic Software, P.  O.  Box 4250, Ann Arbor, Michigan
     48106.  E-mail: \verb+sales@pbsinc.com+ or \verb+support@pbsinc.com+.
%    European Office: PBS.  Woodside, Hinksey Hill, Oxford OX1 5AU.  Tel:
%    0865 326612.  There's a UK user group --- I think some official
%    (secretary?) is at Birmingham University somewhere (probably in the
%    library).  I've forgotten the details.

\item[Reference
     Manager] Research Information Systems, Camino Corporate Center, 2355
     Camino Vida Roble, Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA.  E-mail: {\tt
     sales@ris.risinc.com}.
%    John Cox (Royal Free) thinks the ``best people in the UK'' for RefMan
%    stuff are: Bilaney Consultants, St.  Julians, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15
%    0RX.  Tel.  0732 450002.  Also sold by: Microinfo, P.  O.  Box 3,
%    Omega Park, Alton, Hants, GU34 2PG.  Tel: 0420 86848.

\end{description}


\section{E-mail discussion lists about bibliographic software}
\label{discussion-lists}

The {\tt bibsoft} list provides a forum for general discussion
of personal bibliographic database management systems.  You can subscribe
by sending a one-line e-mail message of the form\\
{\tt subscribe bibsoft last-name,first-name}\\
to\\
{\tt listserv@indycms.iupui.edu}.

There are also specific discussion lists for EndNote, Library Master and
ProCite.  See \cite{stigleman-93}.

In the United Kingdom, there is a discussion list for Higher Education
institutions that have taken up the {\sc chest} Papyrus deal.  You can
subscribe by sending a one-line message of the form\\
{\tt subscribe chest-papyrus first-name last-name}\\
to\\
{\tt mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk}.

\begin{thebibliography}{10}

\bibitem{lamport-86}
Leslie Lamport.
\newblock {\em \LaTeX: A Document Preparation System}.
\newblock Addison-Wesley, 1986.

\bibitem{harvard-law}
{\em The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation}.
\newblock Harvard Law Review Association, 15th edition, 1991.
\newblock Obtainable from: Harvard Law Review Association, 1511 Massachusetts
  Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.

\bibitem{iso-690}
Documentation --- bibliographic references --- content, form and structure.
\newblock ISO 690, International Organization for Standardization, 1987.

\bibitem{bennett-93}
Frank~G. Bennett, Jr.
\newblock {Lexi\TeX}: a {\LaTeX} macro package for lawyers.
\newblock Document deposited in electronic archives, 1993.

\bibitem{butcher-92}
Judith Butcher.
\newblock {\em Copy-editing}.
\newblock Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 1992.

\bibitem{apa-83}
{\em Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association}.
\newblock American Psychological Association, 3rd edition, 1983.
\newblock Obtainable from: American Psychological Association, P. O. Box 2710,
  Hyattsville, MD 20784.

\bibitem{chicago-82}
{\em The {C}hicago Manual of Style}.
\newblock University of Chicago Press, 13th edition, 1982.

\bibitem{acs-86}
Janet~S. Dodd.
\newblock {\em The ACS Style Guide}.
\newblock American Chemical Society, 1986.

\bibitem{mhra-91}
{\em MHRA Style Book}.
\newblock Modern Humanities Research Association, 4th edition, 1991.

\bibitem{mla-88}
Joseph Gibaldi and Walter~S. Achtert, editors.
\newblock {\em MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers}.
\newblock Modern Language Association of America, 3rd edition, 1988.

\bibitem{vancouver-91}
International~Committee of~Medical Journal~Editors.
\newblock Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical
  journals.
\newblock {\em British Medical Journal}, 302:340--341, February 1991.
\newblock Note: This article was also published in the {\it New England Journal
  of Medicine} (7th Feb.\ 1991). It specifies the ``Vancouver style'' for
  manuscript-preparation, which is accepted by over 400 journals.

\bibitem{bs-5605}
Citing publications by bibliographic references.
\newblock BS 5605, British Standards Institution, 1978.

\bibitem{bs-1629}
References to published materials.
\newblock BS 1629, British Standards Institution, 1989.

\bibitem{bs-6371}
Citation of unpublished documents.
\newblock BS 6371, British Standards Institution, 1983.

\bibitem{patashnik-88}
Oren Patashnik.
\newblock {BibTeXing}.
\newblock Document deposited in electronic archives, January 1988.

\bibitem{alexander-89}
James~C. Alexander.
\newblock Tib: A {\TeX} bibliographic preprocessor.
\newblock Document deposited in electronic archives, 1989.

\bibitem{stigleman-93}
Sue Stigleman.
\newblock Bibliography formatting software: an update.
\newblock {\em Database}, February 1993.

\end{thebibliography}

\end{document}