[Tex/LaTex] LyX: Question mark [?] instead of reference number after installing new .bst file

bibtexcitinglyxmactex

Hello I'm new in using LyX 2.0.6 with MacTex, and I'd try to import a citation style (file named plos2009.bst from http://www.ploscompbiol.org/static/latexGuidelines) into the BibTex style folder.

I added the .bst file with reference to the way suggested: http://www.flukylogs.blogspot.com/2009/09/install-style-files-in-lyx.html (I have tried both methods of directly dragging the .bst file to the folder and using the terminal).

After reconfigure LyX the new citation style of "plos2009" appeared under the "style" scroll bar in "insert -> citation". However the PDF document generated only contain [?] instead of the reference number. Instead there is no such problem if the .bst file was moved to the desktop and linking it by pressing "Browse" in "insert -> citation".

There was no problem in using the pre-exist citation style inside LyX like Vancouver style. I would like to know the reason.

Best Answer

BibTeX is probably exiting with errors but LyX is not telling you because of this bug: http://www.lyx.org/trac/ticket/2757

To see what the error is, go to

Document > LaTeX Log

Under Log Type, change it from LaTeX to BibTeX. Then use the Next Error and Next Warning buttons to navigate.

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[Tex/LaTex] Bibliography style (vancouver)

Based on our discussion in the comments, you created a new .bst file using the custom-bib package. This .bst file then needs to be modified to be used with the jabbrv package.

It seems that the .bib files created by custom-bib package are a bit more sophisticated than the basic .bst files assumed by the package, and the modification suggested in the package web site doesn't work. Thanks to some discussion in chat with Joseph Wright, here's a modified function that works:

FUNCTION {format.journal}
{journal duplicate$ empty$
  'pop$
  {
    "\JournalTitle{" swap$ * "}" *
    emphasize
    output
  }
if$
}

This function is added to the .bst file and the following line in the {article} function of the .bst file

journal "journal" output.check

is changed to

format.journal "journal" output.check

Name the new .bst file jabbrv_thesis. I've put a copy here:

Modified .bst file

Now you can use the jabbrv package to do the abbreviations. To do this you use:

\usepackage[warnundef]{jabbrv}
\bibliographystyle{jabbrv_thesis}

If there are particular journal names that you don't want abbreviated (e.g. Nature) then you need to edit the jabbrv-ltwa-en.ldf file (located in the jabbrv folder) and comment out the \DefineJournalAbbreviation lines for those names. If there words that aren't abbreviated, but should be, (these will show up in the warnings) then you need to add lines like the following to your document.

\DefineJournalAbbreviation{<full name>}{<abbreviation>} % no final '.'

[Tex/LaTex] LyX: ‘Available Citations’ (and .bib files) list blank

You have to run LyX from the terminal every time you use LyX. Not just for reconfigure. The LyX Mac developer is working on a workaround that will hopefully improve things until Apple fixes the bug.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Bibliography style (vancouver)

[Tex/LaTex] LyX: ‘Available Citations’ (and .bib files) list blank

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