indxbib

indxbib database_file

database_file
    The name of the bibliographic database file to be indexed.

The indxbib command is a utility used to create an inverted index for bibliographic databases that are formatted for use with the refer and grep programs. It processes a database file (typically in the format used by refer) and generates an index file that allows for faster searching and retrieval of bibliographic entries. The index stores keywords extracted from the database entries, along with pointers to the entries where those keywords appear. This enables users to efficiently locate publications based on specific terms. The inverted index dramatically speeds up searching through large collections of bibliographic data compared to sequential scanning. The generated index file typically has the same base name as the database file but with the extension ".i". This index file is then used by `refer` or other tools to perform fast searches.

The indxbib command is designed to work with specific bibliographic database formats (typically those used by refer). It may not function correctly with databases in other formats. The program assumes that the database file uses standard refer field delimiters and formatting conventions.
If the database file is modified after the index has been created, the index must be rebuilt by running indxbib again.
Index files can become large for very large databases.

The index file created by indxbib contains entries that map keywords to the offsets within the database file where those keywords appear. This structure allows `refer` (or other applications using the index) to quickly locate relevant entries without having to scan the entire database. The detailed format of the index file is specific to the implementation and is not typically intended for direct human reading.

indxbib has its roots in older text processing systems, designed for efficient searching in text-based bibliographic databases, predominantly in academic and research environments. The program was developed alongside utilities like refer to streamline the management and retrieval of scholarly publications. It's usage has declined with the introduction of more modern database systems, but indxbib remains a useful tool for processing databases that adhere to the traditional refer format.

refer(1), grep(1)