[WIP] Convert abbreviation data to CSV and adapt JabRef accordingly

[davidemdot]

It is not a definitive version, but I would like to get some feedback before continuing!

Related issues: JabRef/abbrv.jabref.org#42 and koppor#360

• Add Python script for converting abbreviation files from TXT to CSV
• Convert abbreviation files to CSV format
• Update parser and writer for journal files and add 'SHORTEST abbreviation' support
• Add SHORTEST abbreviation to the menu bar
• Update abbreviation-related tests

There is already a CSV version of every data file of abbrv.jabref.org repository: https://github.com/JabRef/abbrv.jabref.org/tree/csv/journals

[koppor]

Thank you that your are on it.

I have many comments. Sorry about that. Even that are much comments, they should be easily doable. 😇

[tobiasdiez]

@koppor what is this "Shortest abbreviation" and why is it needed?

[koppor]

This is an idea of the original JabRef author: See https://github.com/JabRef/abbrv.jabref.org (Also described at JabRef/abbrv.jabref.org#42 (comment))

The data exists (partially)

We already have the data. Example (https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/blob/master/src/main/resources/journals/journalList.txt#L2063)

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Biophysics Including Photosynthesis = Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Biophys. Incl. Photosynth.;BBABER;

Seems to be used in Biology etc. I would also use it in my fields, to have short journal titles and very short journal titles.

In my publications, I would use

International Journal of Cooperative Information Systems; Int. J. Coop. Inf. Sys.; IJCIS

I very much like the idea of a tri-value. This helps to optimize BibTeX entries for papers. One can play around with the length.

[koppor]

@tobiasdiez After this functionality is in for journaltitle, it should be possible to do it for conferences (see koppor#360). I would then have following data:

International Conference on Service-oriented Computing; Int. Conf. Serv.-o. Comp.;ICSOC

(to be consistent with journals)

[koppor]

Thank you for the quick action taken. Some more nitpicks by me 😇

Maybe, yould you also provide screenshots how the functionality works? For help.jabref.org.

[tobiasdiez]

To be honest, I still don't see the additional value of the very short identifier. These seem to be some custom / non-standard abbreviations. So some users may profit from them, but most don't care. Thus, this seems to be yet another of these edge case features and personally I would vote to remove it based on maintenance, code, additional ui complexity vs user value.

[koppor]

Tobias and me discussed in a direct chat. This can go in. For the next steps, more release-affecting issues (see https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/projects/5) should be solved.

I personally am happy that this feature goes in. Code looks good and I merge to enable a proper review on follow-ups!