Overview

Citation 7.1 is a reference-managing and bibliography program targeted to writers who desire a database that can also be used to organize and format research and field notes. The user can access Citation from within Microsoft Word 6.0c, 7, 8 (97), and 2000; or WordPerfect 6.0a, 6.1, 7, 8, and 2000. Despite seamless document processing of in-text citations and bibliography formatting, a noticeable inability to return automatically to the word processor during the initial citation-insertion process is apparent. Processing of citations in the manuscript and bibliography generation are impressively fast. References may be imported from online databases into Citation by using the supplied "Convert" module, but this ability is limited by the availability of import filters. Those filters provided do work well. Research scientists will find that the companion program, BookWhere 2000, is imperative to fully take advantage of online database resources. The free, downloadable demo should be evaluated prior to purchase, because some users may find a few features awkwardly implemented.

How Long Did It Take to Learn to Use It Productively?

One day.

Product Quality

Customizability

Customizability is limited. The in-text citation styles, output formats, and publishing styles may be customized. However, because custom formats are saved separately as DOS text files, one must be careful when editing preexisting formats. A complete reference manual for the Custom Format editor is available. It is also possible to add custom fields to database entries.

Ability to Program in Scripts, Add Extension Modules, etc.

Two modules are installed with the program. "Convert" is a rudimentary import interface between Citation and online database sources. It can also be used to import from other major bibliography programs. The spell-checking module lets one check fields, records, or entire database files for accuracy.

Ability to Import and Export in Different File Formats

Import and export between Citation and other major bibliography programs such as EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, Notebook II Plus, and Papyrus (DOS/Windows) are supported and work well.

Useful or Unusual Features

Data Entry

Navigation through the database file is available using either page-up/page-down keys or by using the horizontal slider found at the bottom of the database entry window. A vertical slider scrolls through record fields. Display of database entries is one entry at a time. It is possible to view a list of all records by using the View Short List option. This option also enables users to move in a defined manner through the database file to locate entries for modification or to insert them into a word-processing document faster.

Entry of titles should be done in sentence case to take advantage of being able to convert the title capitalization into headline style. Manual reference entry is facilitated using term lists for names, keywords, and journals, which are present as convenient drop-down lists at their respective field locations. Keyboard shortcuts exist for entering diacritical marks, which greatly speeds up entry of some names. Thirty-eight data-entry forms are predefined. Oddly, instead of using a predefined unique entry number as a placeholder in manuscripts, a user-defined "access phrase" is entered. The access phrase may be generated automatically by the program using author/date information if this preference is chosen. The downside to using the access phrase as the citation placeholder is that there is no automatic detection of uniqueness - this responsibility is left completely to the user. Importing from online database sources is crude at best using the Convert utility present in Citation. If the companion product, BookWhere 2000, is obtained, importing takes place using the Z39.50 retrieval process. Citation easily converts data from other bibliography programs such as EndNote, Reference Manager, and Procite using the Convert File option.

A built-in spell checker with U.S. and U.K. English dictionaries is provided. A number of other language dictionaries may be downloaded from the company Web site. Use of this feature requires that the database file be opened with a word processor and then checked. Duplicate reference detection is adequate, but Citation offers no ability to customize detection options. The most impressive unique feature of Citation is its method for handling research notes. One can choose between four predefined resource types (Notes, Notes [extended form], Notes [field, interview], or Notecard) specifically designed to format and organize these notes. The utility of this feature lies in the fact that information stored in the "Abstract" field of any of these Notes can be inserted in its entirety in place of a formatted in-text citation.

Database Searching

Searching the database file can be used to locate a subset of references or notes or to globally find and replace text in the database. Boolean operators may be employed to narrow searches. Term-list information may also be used to perform database searches using the list-box search button. Search strategies cannot be saved.

Manuscript Processing

The industry norm for bibliography and reference-managing software packages has been to provide integrated use between the package and popular word-processing programs. In other programs, integration has meant being able to cite references while writing by accessing the reference database, copying one or more citations, switching back to the word processor, and inserting the reference at the cursor. Despite the use of the word "integration" to describe Citation's interaction with Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect, I was surprised to find that it did not mean the same thing. Instead, when I accessed Citation from the word processor, I was left stranded in Citation, with no menu-driven or automatic way to return to the word-processor window to insert a citation. Documentation is sparse on using the word-processor module; however, Oberon's technical support provided confirmation that the only ways to switch between applications was to either use the keyboard command Alt-Tab or to use the Windows taskbar. On the other hand, Citation communicates quite beautifully with the word processor upon selection of the Generate Bibliography command. In this instance, one starts out in the word processor, accesses Citation from the Tools menu, then scans for access phrases, replaces them with style-dependent in-text citations and generates a bibliography, and automatically returns to the word-processor document at warp speed. Footnotes and endnotes are smartly handled by Citation. A very convenient feature is the Preview Box, which shows an example of the currently selected record in style-defined format. Citation also has the ability to write HTML-formatted bibliographies ready to publish on the Web.

Importing from online databases using the Convert utility is limited by import-filter selection. The implementation of word-processor integration is poor and lacks the important convenience of being able to switch back and forth automatically between the program and the word processor. This ability is present in all other bibliography programs claiming integration. Compare this package with others in the same class as well as with previous versions of the same package that you have used.

Surprisingly, while Citation offers some innovative features over other bibliography programs running in the Windows environment, it handles integration between itself and word processors awkwardly. Switching from Word to Citation using the Tools menu within Word is similar to the manner in which other products in this class handle word-processor modules. However, unexpectedly, you will find yourself stranded in Citation with no easy way to return to Word. The implementation of this feature could use a facelift. Also awkward, and reminiscent of some of the earliest versions of EndNote, is the manner in which references are put into documents using a manual copy-and-paste methodology or by typing the access phrase into the document by hand. The installed Convert module for importing references from online databases is very limited and less than ideal for the needs of most scientists. On the other hand, the companion program, BookWhere 2000, sold separately, offers the ability to import from nearly any source imaginable, and it is comparable to EndNote's myriad of Z39.50-compatible connection filters, making Citation a viable choice for scientists.

Technical Support and Documentation

A tour of the program is available at the Oberon Web site and is useful as a supplement to the slim 235-page manual. The manual accompanying the program is easy to follow and example driven. Four data-file types are included with Citation for use with the tutorial. The Oberon Web site is well organized and has information about Citation's features, updates, and pricing and support information. Users may sign up for a mailing list to discuss problems and share tips with other users. The preferred method for technical support is by email. However, in this reviewer's experience, it is anything but prompt. Telephone support is also available from 9 to 5, Eastern Standard Time, at (212) 334-0445. Support provided through email is free.

Target Users

While the program is earmarked for academic, legal, and research writers, a scientist may also benefit from Citation's ability to organize research notes and insert notes, in addition to formatted references, into manuscripts.

Comments

Citation is also available in a specialized Legal Edition, which incorporates special database forms and formats applicable only to law professionals. Oberon intends to release a fully recoded version of Citation by late summer 2000. The new version is intended to provide a new interface, speed up access and performance to online databases, and to address switching between the word processor and Citation during the citation insertion process.