On this page: Description, Merging Sources, Splitting Sources, Step by Step

Description

Change Citations changes a reference from one source to another source while also setting the citation detail (CD). It can be used to consolidate sources or make other changes to source citations.

You choose the citations to be processed by selecting a source number. You can also specify a search target which filters the citations to be processed. The search target can be a literal string of characters or it can be defined using a search pattern that includes wild cards.

Merging Sources

When some datasets are imported into TMG they do not have sources and citations constructed such that TMG can easily separate the source data from the citation data. As a result, the TMG database may have many similar sources that should be consolidated. The citation detail must be assigned using some of the data from the original source entry.

If you have multiple sources which are in reality a single source and where the differences should be captured in the citation detail, you can use this feature. It will point the citations to a common source, and add or alter citation detail according to your needs.

After using this feature to fix the source citations, you typically delete the original source.

Splitting Sources

Some TMG users employ "generic" sources--sources where the definition is missing fundamental facts which are supplied instead via the citation detail--for convenience or to keep the number of sources manageable. In some cases, it becomes desirable to split out a subset of the citations and assign them to a more specific source.

This function does not create sources or citations. The sources and citations must exist prior to using the function. If you are using it to change citations to point to a new source, define the new source in TMG before you begin the steps listed below.

Step by Step

  1. Choose Change Citations from the function tree.
  2. Enter the source number for the citations you would like to change in the Change source # text box.
  3. Enter the new source number in the to source # text box.
  4. Enter the Citation Detail you want to assign in the w/ Citation Detail text box.
  5. Choose one of the following 3 options. These options tell the program what to do in the case where the citation already has citation detail data. Choose the option that makes sense in your case.
    • Skip citations with an existing CD
    • Append new CD to existing CD
    • Prepend new CD to existing CD
  6. If CD Contains is checked you may specify a search target in the text box to the right. Only citations that contain the search target will be processed.

    If Use Pattern Matching is checked, the search target may contain wildcard characters. (See the Find and Replace page for a brief explanation of patterns.)

    If Delete target if found is checked, the target will be removed from the citation detail prior to appending or prepending the new citation detail to the old.

  7. If Prompt before each change is checked, the program will pause before each change. The user can alter the new source number or the new citation detail that will be assigned.
  8. Click the [Change Citations] button.