BARRACUDA

Barracuda is used to edit BibTeX files, BibTeX is a format for displaying references in TeX. Barracuda is mostly self explanatory and easy to use. The most important display is the main display with the list of all present references.

In the Edit menu there are functions for editing, inserting and deleting references. Click on a reference to highlight it. The buttons below the table to the left are used for (in order) go to the top of the list, go back one item, insert a new reference, go forward one item and go to the bottom of the list. The middle buttons are used to switch between the normal database and the search database. The buttons to the right are used to find strings in the list. Their meaning is (in order) search for current string backward, enter search string, search for current string forward.

To get more help scroll downwards in this document.

The Main Display

The main display shows all current references. To highlight a reference simply click on it with the mouse. To edit a reference simply double click with left mouse button on it.

To resize a column drag the column separator in the titlebar. A double click the left mouse button on the same separator will auto-resize that column. A separator always refers to the column on its left.

To move a column's position simply left click and drag on it's title. A triangle will show where the column will be inserted.

A right click in the column title and the user will be presented with three options - 'Auto width', 'Font' and 'Hide' for that column.

Auto width - this will set the column width to the size of the longest field.

Font - this will present this dialog in which the user can change the font for the column.

Picture of the font dialog

It contains a menu 'Family' for changing the font family and a menu 'Point size' for fast changes in size.

A 'Family' field in which the current font family is presented and a 'Point size' field in which the current point size is presented. There is a scrollbar for changing the point size.

There are three radiobuttons which will add some attributes to the fonts:
'Italic' - will set the font to italic
'Underline' - will underline the font
'StrikeOut' - will strike out the font

There are five radiobuttons which will define who thick the characters should be, from 'Light' (the thinnest) to 'Black' (the thickest).

The actual font presents which the current font and its attribut.

Default value for font and point size is: Helvetic and 1 (if something inappropriate should be type in these fields).

Hide - this will hide the column.

Menu Descriptions

File -> New

This clears the current database and any search database.

File -> Open -> Database file

This opens a dialog in which a .bib file can be opened.

File -> Open -> Macro file

This opens a dialog in which a .macro file can be opened.

File -> Save

This saves the current database with the current name. If a search result is being displayed that database is saved. If 'Save unused macros' is not checked in Preferences only the macros that are used in the database are saved.

File -> Save As...

This opens a dialog were the current database can be saved with a new name. If a search result is being displayed that database is saved. If 'Save unsused macros' is not checked in Preferences only the macros that are used in the database is saved.

File -> Save Macros...

This opens a dialog were macros can be saved in a .macro file. If 'Save unused macros' is not checked in Preferences only the macros that are used in the database is saved.

File -> Print...

This opens a dialog where the user can choose to print the database to a printer or as a TeX or postscript file.

File -> Exit

This closes Barracuda.

Edit -> Insert Record

This opens a dialog where the user can insert a new record

Edit -> Delete Record

This deletes the current record

Edit -> Edit Record

This opens a dialog where the user can edit the current record.

Edit -> Edit Macros

This shows a dialog with all macros.

Option -> Preferences...

This shows a dialog where you can set your personal preferences.

Option -> Keybindings...

This shows a dialog where you can set your personal keyboard shortcuts.

Option -> View Types...

This shows a dialog where you can specify what types in a reference to view.

Option -> Save Options

This saves all options to your .barracuda file.

Tools -> Search

This shows a dialog where you can search the database and display all references that matched the search criteria.

Tools -> Simple Search

This shows a dialog where you can specify a string to find in the current database. The reference containing that string will be highlighted.

Tools -> Sort

This shows a dialog that allows you to sort all references.

Button Descriptions

This button moves the highlightor to the first reference in the list.

This button moves the highlightor one step up.

This inserts a new reference into the database.

This button moves the highlightor one step down.

This button moves the highlightor to the last reference in the list.

This button, when active, shows the normal database after a search.

This button, when active, shows the current search result database.

This searches for the current search string backwards, relative to the highlightors current position.

This shows a dialog where the search string can be changed

This searches for the current search string forwards, relative to the highlightors current position.

Advanced Features

Specifying options in the .barracuda file

All options can be set in the .barracuda file using a lispish syntax.

Power documentation

For the interested all code is available for perusing.

About the authors

Barracuda was made as part of the course 'Programutvecklingsprojekt' at KTH, Stockholm. All authors are full time students at KTH.

Barracuda comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. For detailes see COPYING.