Abbreviations for authors/editors after second use

Hello everyone,

I couldn't find any information on this:
I'm trying to find out, whether it's possible to use some Kind of abbreviation for the editor or author field content. Körperschaften (body) create books and pamphlets. I have to cite them with the full name and an abbreviation in [ ] the first time. In subsequent cites, I have to use the abbreviation only.
First use: (Kultusministerkonferenz [KMK], 2012, p. 12)
Supsequent use: (KMK, 2012, p. 12)

I thought about doing a wildcard if-clause for sharp brackets... but as there are only match types none, any and all this won't work.

Do you have any ideas?
  • There is an experimental CSL syntax for this that is recognized by the processor, but it's not yet available in the official client.
  • I'd like to give it a try. Where can I find a documentation for this - if there is one.
  • edited February 18, 2012
    For the syntax to work, single-field creators need to be flagged as institution names, which is not done by the official Zotero client (for good reasons). To make use of institutional names formatting, you would need to use the MLZ client, which is not an official Zotero distribution, is intended for testing purposes only, and is not supported by the core developers.

    With those caveats, the documentation on this and other CSL extensions is available here, and the MLZ client is available here. If you try it, be sure to back everything up first and exercise caution, because you'll be on your own. (That said, MLZ is compatible with official Zotero in the database layer, so you can reinstall with the official client at any time, with the same caveats about backing up etc.)
  • Thank you for the information. I'll have a look at it, when I'm done with my "serious" work here. I wouldn't want to fiddle around with unsupported clients and extensions unless it's absolutely neccessary. And in this case, I will stick to my "Search and Replace"-Tactics, which are my last step in writing essays/papers.
  • Is this still available? The links are all dead now. :(
  • The best approach is to enter the abbreviation as the author name and then add the full name as the publisher and as a prefix to the citation at first reference
Sign In or Register to comment.