---
name: "cb2bib"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cb2bib"
version: "2.0.1-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cb2bib"
---

# cb2bib(1)

software to extract bibliographic references from various sources

## NAME

cb2bib - software to extract bibliographic references from various sources

## SYNOPSIS

**cb2bib**

**cb2bib**  \[--conf \[filename.conf\]\] \[action\] \[filename1 \[filename2 ... \]\]

**c2bimport** \<imported reference file\>

**c2bciter** \[space-separated list of BibTeX files or directories\]

## DESCRIPTION

**cb2bib** is a software to extract bibliographic references from unformatted and non standard sources, like, for example 1) email alerts; 2) journal Web pages; 3) PDF files.

Captured references are provided to the user for inspection in a graphical form. Once validated, the references are transformed into BibTeX records which might be appended to a user-defined BibTeX bib file.

The software allows one to peruse a BibTeX file and to send to the clipboard a citation of all the records currently selected. A pipe is also setup with the LyX LaTeX editor.

When invoked with the **-h** \| **--help** option, **cb2bib** lists all the options that are available on the command line.

## VARIANTS

**cb2bib is the main program.**

**c2bimport is equivalent to using cb2bib --import (this** variant takes only **one** file name as parameter).

**c2bciter is equivalent to using cb2bib --citer.**

## OPTION

- **--conf \[filename.conf\] Use configuration file**

  ## ACTIONS

- **--configure \[filename.conf\] Edit configuration**

  **--bibedit \[filename1.bib \[filename2.bib ... \]\] Edit/browse BibTeX files**

**--citer \[filename1.bib \[filename2.bib ... \]\] Start cb2Bib citer**

**--import \<tmp\_reference\_filename\> Imports reference, usually from ad hoc websites**

**--doc2bib fn1.doc \[fn2.doc ... \] reference.bib Extract reference from document file**

**--txt2bib fn1.txt \[fn2.txt ... \] reference.bib Extract reference from text file**

**--html-annote filename.tex Convert annote file to HTML**

**--view-annote filename.tex Convert and visualize annote file**

**--view-annote filename.tex.html Visualize annote file**

## KEY SHORTCUTS

**Key:** Description

**Alt A:** Open cb2Bib Annote

**Alt B:** Edit Bookmarks

**Alt C:** Preparses cb2Bib's clipboard

**Alt D:** Deletes temporary BibTeX output file

**Alt E:** Edit Regular Expressions

**Alt F:** Select File source filename

**Alt I:** Insert Regular Expression

**Alt J:** Edit Journal Abbreviations

**Alt O:** Open File Document

**Alt P:** Postprocess BibTeX

**Alt R:** Restarts automatic recognition

**Esc:** Quits cb2Bib popup menu

**Right:** Click Editor popup menu

## EXAMPLES

cb2bib                                        Starts cb2Bib extraction program

cb2bib --import tmp\_reference\_filename        Imports a reference from a file

cb2bib --bibedit filename.bib                 Edits BibTeX filename.bib

cb2bib --conf                                 Starts cb2Bib in USB mode

cb2bib --doc2bib \*.pdf references.bib         Extracts references from PDF title pages

## NOTES

The file cb2bib.conf must be readable and writable. If it does not exist, the cb2Bib will create one based on predefined defaults.

Use switch --conf to particularize specific settings for specific actions.

If starting the cb2Bib from a removable media use the command 'cb2bib --conf' without configuration filename. Settings will be read from and written to /cb2bib/full/path/cb2bib.conf, being therefore independent of the mounting address that the host computer will provide.

To import references from a browser select when asked c2bimport, which expands to 'cb2bib --import %f'. The browser will provide the temporary reference filename. The temporary file is deleted once imported.

A number of factors influence the reliability of automatic extractions. Consider writing customized regular expressions and network queries, and use metadata when available.

- **Important**

  The commands --doc2bib and --txt2bib do not append the references to the references.bib. They create a new file, or silently overwrites it if already exists.

The website http://www.molspaces.com/d\_cb2bib-overview.php has detailed instructions corresponding to different use cases.

## BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES TO BE CITED

P. Constans (2009) "A simple extraction procedure for bibliographical author field", arXiv:0902.0755.

P. Constans (2007) "Approximate textual retrieval", arXiv:0705.0751.

## SEE ALSO

[**bib2pdf**(1)](/bib2pdf/1.md), [**med2bib**(1)](/med2bib/1.md), [**isi2bib**(1)](/isi2bib/1.md), [**ris2bib**(1)](/ris2bib/1.md)

## AUTHORS

**Pere Constans** \<constans@molspaces.com\>

-

  Program author.

**Filippo Rusconi** \<lopippo@debian.org\>

-

  Man-page author for the Debian distribution.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004-2008 Pere Constans\
 Copyright © 2009,2017 Filippo Rusconi

This manual page was written for the Debian system by Filippo Rusconi \<lopippo@debian.org\>. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 3, published by the Free Software Foundation.

 On a Debian system the complete text of the GNU General Public License version 3 can be found in the file \`*/usr/share/common-licenses/GPL-3*'.