- Find Information
- Research Guides
- LaTeX & BibTeX
LaTeX & BibTeX
This guide provides resources/tips for using LaTeX & BibTeX commands. While this Libguide is intended for any users, we can’t assist non-members of UTSA with any specific questions about using BibTeX and LaTex software programs or coding.
Packages In LaTex
A package in LaTex:
- a collection of additional commands and features that can be imported into a LaTeX document
- providing extra functionality beyond the basic LaTeX commands
-
Using LaTeX packagese.g 1.: \usepackage{amsmath}
e.g 2.: \usepackage{natbib}
bibliography-related packages
Handling Bibliography and Citation by \UsePackage Command: When it comes to bibliography management packages, there are three main options in LaTex:
- bibtex - acts as the interface between your .bib file and your LaTeX document by formatting lists of references
- natbib - Gives additional citation options and styles. Often used for journal submission
- Biblatex is a modern program to process bibliography information, provides an easier and more flexible interface and a better language localization that the other two options.
BibLaTex Package
-
What is BibLaTex?BibLATEX is a complete reimplementation of the bibliographic facilities provided by LATEX. Formatting of the bibliography is entirely controlled by LATEX macros, and a working knowledge of LATEX should be sufficient to design new bibliography and citation styles. BibLaTeX uses its own data backend program called “biber” to read and process the bibliographic data. With biber, BibLaTeX has many features rivalling or surpassing other bibliography systems. To mention a few:
-
Running LaTeX with BibLaTex vs, BibTeXRunning LaTeX → Biber → BibLaTeX
*The code should be \usepackage{biblatex}, \addbibresource{filename.bib} and \printbibliography.
**Don't use \bibliography or \bibliographystyle as they belong to BibTeX. -
BibLaTex vs. Natbib PackageTo display your bibliography and use citing commands, you need to use a LaTeX package. You can use either biblatex, or natbib. With the latter, your .bib file need to be processed with BibTeX. But if you use biblatex, you can process your .bib file either with biber, or with BibTeX.