BACK UP YOUR LIBRARY
Especially if you're using only a .bib database, you don't want those long hours spent creating and managing your citations to disappear. Here's a list of tools you can use to make something this bad less likely to happen.
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DropboxDropbox syncs your data to the could and supports versioning.
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SpiderOakSpiderOak is so secure that not even they know your password.
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Yale BoxYale affiliates have access to up to 50 GB of Box storage.
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Yale ITSYale ITS has services for backing up your .bib database and other important research information.
Yale + Overleaf
Yale University now has a subscription to Overleaf, which provides a Google Docs-like experience for people writing in LaTeX. Here's some stuff you need to know:
To connect your account with Yale's license, log in with your Yale email address and password. You should also be able to change your email address if you signed up with a personal account.
General .bib Management
These guides are broken into general resources, followed by resources specifically for BibTeX, natbib, and biblatex + biber.
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LaTeX: Bibliography ManagementA wikibook with general information on getting started in LaTeX's reference and citation regime.
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TeX StackExchangeA forum for troubleshooting TeX-based writing.
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The Not-So-Short Guide to LaTeX 2e [pdf, CTAN]A reference guide to functionality in LaTeX, including rudimentary, non-BibTeX citing. This introduction shows you how to use LaTeX quickly and effectively to write your documents. It does NOT include much on BibTeX.
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Using EndNote with LaTeX [HTML web log]A quick, easy guide to using .bib files and EndNote at the same time.
Software
Here are links to some software that will be helpful to you when working in LaTeX. While you can run LaTeX from the command line, many text editors also exist.
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BibToolDo you want to create a smaller .bib file relevant to a specific article based on your master .bib file? Section 1.2.4 of the BibTool instructions here is called “Extracting Entries for a Document.” The argument describes checks the .aux file that is generated during LaTeX typesetting and produces a modified .bib file based on what it finds.
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MiKTeX (windows)MiKTeX (pronounced mick-tech) is an up-to-date implementation of TeX/LaTeX and related programs for Windows (all current variants).
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TeXmaker (cross-platform)A free, modern and cross-platform LaTeX editor for Linux, Mac, and Windows systems that integrates many tools needed to develop documents with LaTeX, in just one application. Interestingly, also contains a portable version.
Science Research Support Librarian
My default ONSITE days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. I am OFFSITE most Mondays and Thursdays.
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Marx Science and Social Science Library (formerly called CSSSI)
Office C41
219 Prospect Street
Concourse Level
Kline Biology Tower