Ibidem: Keywords

The standard bibliographic database in Ibidem includes a Keywords field. Use this field to enter any word that signifies a group to which this record belongs. You will then be able to search for all of the records in the group that interests you by searching in the keyword field. If you are likely to want to return to this group of records, you can create a subset that can easily be opened and used to generate a bibliography or list of the works in the subset.

Keywords should be separated by semicolons. To the right of the keyword field is a button with a downward pointing arrow. Click on this button to see all of the keywords that have been entered in the database. Use this keyword list to enter keywords by double-clicking on the keyword to be entered. Click the button with the downward pointing arrow again to close the keyword list. As new keywords are entered in any record, they will automatically be added to this list. The keyword list can also be opened (or closed) by clicking in the keyword field to make it active and pressing F3.

It is important to enter keywords accurately and consistently, so that your searches and/or subsets will include all of the records that should be included. You search will not find a keyword that has been inaccurately entered. For example, if you are using the keyword "history" and plan to search for all of the records that have this keyword, then you must make sure that you have entered exactly the same keyword in all of the records. Keywords entered with typos, or in a slightly different form (e.g., historical), would not be found if you search for "history." By using the keyword list to enter keywords, you can make sure that you are entering the keywords consistently. The same keyword list is available in the search dialogs.

If you are writing a dissertation (or a book, a thesis. an article, a grant proposal, etc.), and you intend to have a bibliography that includes some works that are not cited in the paper, then you will need to use a keyword (e.g., "dissertation") to identify every record that you want to include in your dissertation's bibliography. You would then search for the keyword and create an automatically updating subset of all of the records in your database that have that keyword. This subset would be used to generate your bibliography.