---
name: "bibtool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bibtool"
version: "2.68-7"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bibtool"
---

# bibtool(1)

BibTeX file manipulation tool

## NAME

BibTool - BibTeX file manipulation tool

## SYNOPSIS

**bibtool** \[options\] \[files\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual is not meant to be exhaustive. The complete documentation for **BibTool** can be found in the *BibTool Manual*. BibTeX provides an easy to use means to integrate citations and bibliographies into LaTeX documents. But the user is left alone with the management of the BibTeX files. **BibTool** is intended to fill this gap. **BibTool** allows the  manipulation of BibTeX files which goes beyond the possibilities - and intentions - of BibTeX.

**BibTool** manipulates BibTeX database files through the command line front-end **bibtool** which accepts numerous options. Modifications are performed through resource instructions that allow the modification of the various internal parameters determining the behavior of  **BibTool**; resource instructions can be grouped in resource files. The original **BibTool** distribution contains a sufficient set of resource file samples to perform basic, relevant manipulations.

## OPTIONS

**bibtool** accepts the following options.

### Resource files

- **-R**

  Immediately evaluate the instructions from the default resource file.

- **-r** *rsc\_file*

  Immediately evaluate the instructions from the resource file *rsc\_file*.

- **--** *rsc\_cmd*

  Evaluate the resource instruction *rsc\_cmd*.

### Input file

- **-i** *bib\_file*

  Add the BibTeX database file *bib\_file* to the list of input files. If **-i** omitted the file name may not start with a -. If absent stdin is taken to read from. Input files should follow the [**bibtex**(1)](/bibtex/1.md) conventions.

### Output file

- **-o** *output\_file*

  Direct output to the file *output\_file*. If absent the output is directed to stdout.

### Status reporting

- **-q**

  Suppress warnings. Errors can not be suppressed.

- **-v**

  Enable informative messages on the activities of BibTool.

### Sorting

- **-s**

  Enable sorting of entries.

- **-S**

  Enable sorting of entries in reverse order.

- **-A** *type*

  Determine key disambuguation; *type* in 0, a, A.

### Selecting items

- **-x** *aux\_file*

  Extract the entries from the auxiliary (*.aux*) LaTeX *aux\_file* file.

- **-X** *regex*

  Select certain entries according to the regular expression *regex*.

- **-c**

  Turn on the additional selection of crossreferenced entries.

### Key generation

- **-f** *key\_format*

  Set the specification for key generation to *key\_format*.

- **-F**

  Turn on key generation.

- **-k**

  Generate short format keys.

- **-K**

  Generate long format keys.

### Semantic checks

- **-d**

  Find and mark (or delete) entries with identical sort keys.

### Strings/Macros

- **-m** *mac\_file*

  Write the macro definitions to the file *mac\_file* (- is stdout).

- **-M** *mac\_file*

  Write the used macro definitions to the file *mac\_file* (- is stdout).

### Getting help

- **-h**

  Print short help and exit.

- **-V**

  Print version and exit.

### Statistics

- **-#**

  Print statistics about all known entry types (long).

- **-@**

  Print statistics about the used entry types only (short).

## ENVIRONMENT

- **BIBINPUTS**

  Search path for BibTeX database (*.bib*) files.

- **BIBTOOL**

  Search path for BibTool resource (*.rsc*) files.

- **BIBTOOLRSC**

  List of resource file names separated by colon.

## FILES

- *./.bibtoolrsc*

  The default current directory **BibTool** resource file.

- *~/.bibtoolrsc*

  The default individual **BibTool** resource file.

- */usr/local/lib/BibTool/\*.rsc*

  The BibTool resource files included in the original distribution.

## SEE ALSO

[*bibtex*(1)](/bibtex/1.md), [*latex*(1)](/latex/1.md), [*tex*(1)](/tex/1.md)\
 The *BibTool Manual*.

## BUGS

Some arrays are allocated statically which may result in an overflow.\
 Most memory is allocated but not returned to the OS: A garbage collection algorithm might be integrated in a future release.\
 This man page is updated only occasionally, so it is very likely out of date. For complete, current documentation, refer to the *BibTool Manual* which is distributed as LaTeX source file (**bibtool.tex**) in the original **BibTool** source distribution.

## AUTHOR

BibTool is designed and maintained by Gerd Neugebauer.