JabRef

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JabRef is a Grafical User Interface (GUI) to manage BibTex databases. There are two things that makes this program very useful and intersting: is a java jar file, which means you can run it in different platforms and save all data in a bibtex file format. In addition, this progam is free software. JabRef allows you:

• Import old bibtex files (you don't need to reenter all you bibliography).
• Fetch papers/books/... references directly from Medline[1] and other databases.
• Import references from IsiKnowledge (not directly like Medline)
• Import files from a lot of different file formats like BibTeXML, CSA, Refer/Endnote, SilverPlatter, Scifinder, OVID, INSPEC, Biblioscape, Sixpack,...
• Automatic bibtex key generation, and customizable, too.

Installation

JabRef is a java program, you don't need to install it, the only requirement is to have java installed in your system. To download it you have to go to the project page [2] and into the donwload section, download the jar file.

To run it you only have to type, from the directory where you've downloaded it):

   java -jar JabRef-2.2.jar

You can also create an alias to make it easier. Edit, in your home, your .bashrc file (assuming you're working in bash), and add this line:

   alias jabref='java -jar /path_to_jar_file/JabRef-2.2.jar'

External links

• JabRef project official webpage [3]
• JabRef download page [4]
• LaTeX project official webpage [5]
• BibTeX webpage [6]