lookbib

interactively searches bibliographic databases for groff/troff refer

TLDR

Search bibliography database

$ lookbib [database]

Search with specific query

$ lookbib [database] <<< "[search terms]"

Search multiple databases

$ lookbib [database1] [database2]

lookbib interactively searches bibliographic databases for groff/troff refer preprocessing. It prompts for keywords and displays matching bibliography entries.The tool uses index files created by indxbib for fast searching. Enter keywords at the prompt to find references; a blank line exits.

PARAMETERS

-i string

Index file suffix.

-t n

Truncate keys to n characters.

EXAMPLE SESSION

$ $ lookbib refs.bib
> knuth algorithms
%A Donald E. Knuth
%T The Art of Computer Programming
%D 1997
>

DATABASE FORMAT

$ %A Author Name
%T Title of Work
%J Journal Name
%D Date
%V Volume
%P Pages

INSTALL

sudo apt install groff

sudo dnf install groff

sudo pacman -S groff

sudo apk add groff

sudo zypper install groff

brew install groff

nix profile install nixpkgs#groff

CAVEATS

Requires indxbib to create indexes first. Part of groff refer system. Interactive only; use refer for document processing.

HISTORY

lookbib originated in the troff document preparation system at Bell Labs and was part of the refer bibliography system developed in the 1970s.