Mod:Reference Formatting Program
A simple program, built in Microsoft Excel, that converts text taken from Chemistry Journal Websites, and outputs the "Imperial Referencing Style" code for referencing in lab reports etc... It also outputs the <ref> code for referencing in Wiki reports (eg. 3rd Year Computational Labs).
Reporting DOIs that Do Not Import Properly
The program can only import style it has encountered successfully before (ie, it is programmed to follow a specific logic, and cannot workout new imports). Often, if the style is not recognised, it will return an error message.
Please use the DISCUSSION PAGE to report DOIs that do not import correctly and leave a timestamp with ~~~~.
What the Program Does and How it Works
Based on experience of how a particular website exports citations, (they all, frustratingly, have a slightly different approach), the program tries to extract the data required to build the reference, edits it, reorders it, and formats it.
- Names: Initialises based on markers such as commas and "and". Removes characters (e.g. §,*...) that are used by the website to link authors to institutions etc.
- Note, the program is not intelligent, and won't turn a paragraph of random text into anything sensible.
- Currently, the program only works for referencing JOURNALS on PUBS.ACS, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Springerlink. (RSC is added for version Beta 1.05).
How to Use the Program
MAKE SURE MACROS ARE ENABLED!
Importing From Pubs.acs
- On the Abstract page, copy the data as shown:
How to Import from JACS - On the Excel Import Page of the Reference Formatting Program, press Import Pubs.Acs
- With any luck, the code will appear at the bottom of the page in seconds.
Importing From Science Direct
1. ON THE SCIENCE DIRECT JOURNAL ABSTRACT PAGE, NAVIGATE TO EXPORT CITATION AND CHOOSE THE BIBTEXT OPTION.
2. OPEN THE DOWNLOADED FILE IN NOTEPAD/TEXTEDIT.
3. COPY FROM THE START OF THE JOURNAL LINE TO THE END OF THE AUTHORS ONLY (IMPORTANT).
4. IN EXCEL, IN THE "REFERENCE FORMATTING PROGRAM", PRESS IMPORT SCIENCE DIRECT.
Importing From Wiley
1. ON THE JOURNAL ABSTRACT PAGE, CLICK ON "EXPORT CITATION FOR THE ARTICLE."
2. CHOOSE BIBTEXT - CITATION FORMAT AND OPEN RESULTING FILE IN NOTEPAD/TEXTEDIT.
3. COPY ALL TEXT.
4. IN EXCEL, PRESS IMPORT WILEY.
Importing From Springerlink
This method looks to work around having to go through the Bibtext Option.
1. ON THE JOURNAL ABSTRACT PAGE COPY THE TWO LINES AT THE TOP; THE JOURNAL TITLE ON THE TOP LINE AND THE JOURNAL DETAILS ON THE SECOND LINE ( WHICH BEGINS WITH VOLUME..., NUMBER...).
2. IN EXCEL, PRESS "STORE JOURNAL" FOR THE SPRINGERLINK IMPORT.
3. RETURNING TO THE ABSTRACT PAGE, COPY THE AUTHORS LINE ONLY.
4. IN EXCEL, PRESS "STORE AUTHORS" FOR THE SPRINGERLINK IMPORT.
5. CLICK YEAR AND IMPORT, TYPE OR PASTE THE DATE OF THE PUBLICATION AND PROCEED. (Where is the year? Springerlink helpfully neglects to put the year of the journal anywhere easy to find on the abstract page. You can often find it in the Journal itself, or by clicking on the "Volume ###, Numbers ##-##" part copied in part one. On the left of the page should now be highlighted the issue you are on, with the year.)
(IT IS IMPORTANT THE DATA IS IMPORTED IN THIS ORDER!)
(EACH BUTTON TURNS GREEN IF THE PROGRAM THINKS YOU'VE IMPORTED THE CORRECT NUMBER OF LINES)
(IF AN IMPORT ERROR OCCURS, CAREFULLY COPY THE CORRECT DATA AGAIN AND PRESS THE RELEVANT STORE BUTTON)
Importing From RSC
1. ON THE RSC JOURNAL ABSTRACT PAGE, COPY FROM THE START OF THE AUTHOR LINE, DOWN TO THE END OF THE DOI, UP TO, BUT NOT INCLUDING THE FINAL COMMA.
2. DO NOT INCLUDE THE FINAL "PAPER/JOURNAL/REVIEW/COMMUNICATION" PART OF THIS LINE.
3. IN EXCEL, PRESS THE "IMPORT RSC" BUTTON.
NOTE THAT FOR SOME JOURNALS ON THIS WEBSITE, SUCH AS THE DALTON TRANS, NO VOLUME IS INCLUDING IN THE COPIED TEXT.
IF THE PROGRAM THINKS THIS INFORMATION IS MISSING, IT WILL PROMPT YOU TO ENTER THE MISSING ISSUE NUMBER.
THIS IS EASILY FOUND ON THE JOURNAL ABSTRACT PAGE, NEXT TO THE LARGE JOURNAL NAME HEADING AT THE TOP, WHERE IT WILL SAY "ISSUE#, YEAR". (DO NOT INCLUDE THE YEAR WHEN YOU TYPE, ONLY THE ISSUE NUMBER!).
Other Useful Features
Clear Clipboard Button
Excel is odd. If something has been copied in excel and not cleared, it overrides other copied data and decides to paste its own clipboard. Press Clear Clipboard after copying (AND PASTING!) formatted data (eg via the Copy to Clipboard Buttons), before importing a new reference. Those flashing lines around the cell will disappear and you might actually get an import to work.
Font And Size
Type the required parameters into the boxes so you don't have to format every time. (Must be set before the import to be formatted)
RESET - Press If Error Occurs Button
Sometimes the wrong thing is pasted into the program. Sometimes this tricks the program into doing bad things. Press reset if things look bad and it may fix something. It might not. (Pressing this button will not clear the RefStore, but will reset all data on the output)
The RefStore
All imported references can be stored by activating the "STORING IMPORTED REFERENCES ON?" button. This stores all data which is viewable the next time you open the program (if you saved it!) Each reference is assigned an ID number for tracking data.
Include "and" Between Final Two Authors?
Does what it says! Click the button to change the option, but beware the import may fail if you ask for an "AND" when there is only one author...
Include Issue Number?
An example when the Option is NO:
B. Qian, S. Guo, J. Shao, Q. Zhu, L. Yang, C. Xia and H. Huang, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 3651
An example when the Option is YES:
B. Qian, S. Guo, J. Shao, Q. Zhu, L. Yang, C. Xia and H. Huang, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132 (11), 3651
Again, click the button to change the option.
Disclaimer!
This is a simple, macro based program. It is not fool proof. Check the output before pasting blindly into your work! No responsibility is held for poor referencing.
Terms and Conditions of Use
This work is freely available to use and distribute.
Download the Latest Version
Compatibility: The program was largely built in Excel for Mac and should be compatible on both Mac and Windows platforms. Firefox should be used to download these links as Internet Explorer manages to find issues with them...
All files are saved as macro enabled workbooks; Excel will ask you to activate macros before importing.
Beta Version 1.05 (RSC imports added) Kga08 10:15, 18 March 2011 (UTC)
Beta Version 1.06 (fixes a Wiley bug in importing references with the volume number as the year) Kga08 10:18, 21 March 2011 (UTC)
Beta Version 1.07 (Major update to user defined options, including choice of additional "and" between final authors and inclusion/omission of ("Issue No") terms in the output) Kga08 10:18, 23 March 2011 (UTC)
Beta Version 1.08 (Fixes some small bugs introduced in the previous version (SD wiki formatting, Wiley naming errors)) Kga08 09:41, 24 March 2011 (UTC)