How to export to a .bib file in alphabetical order?

nickyang07

For example, if I export a collection into .bib file or other formats, the references are not output alphabetically. I don't know what is the order when it export the .bib file.

Could somebody tell me? And is there a way to export them in the order that I desire?

ajlyon

The export is usually pretty much unordered. Have you tried sorting the collection in the Zotero pane and exporting? It would be possible to add sorting to the exporter, but people usually don't need it, and it would just slow things down.

noksagt

The export is usually pretty much unordered.

Presumably you mean "as ordered in the middle pane"?

If you're unhappy with the sorting options these provide, you can use bibtool or another program to re-sort an existing .bib file.

ajlyon

Yes, I mean as ordered in the middle pane. I started writing before I starting thinking about this.

And noksagt is completely right about bibtool-- anyone working extensively with BibTeX-centered workflows should be using it already.

nickyang07

Hi， thanks guys.

The problem is the order in the .bib file is not as ordered as in the zotero pane. For example, in one collection, I let it ordered by the "year", but the output file is still random. I have no idea what's the order based on.

ajlyon

To get them exported in the order they are in the middle pane, you need to select them all (Ctrl-A), right click on the selected items, and select Export.

You're right that the sorting when exporting by right-clicking on the collection in the left pane is pretty hard to explain.

nickyang07

Thanks so much!!!!!

hkoizumi

Hi all,
>>To get them exported in the order they are in the middle pane, you need to select them all (Ctrl-A), right click on the selected items, and select Export.

I did this after sorting the files by "Creator" but the exported file is not sorted by alphabetical order and appears to be random...

I would very much appreciate your help!