Import filters are organized according to the data source. The table on the left in the following illustration shows different import filters. Each import filter can have multiple sub-filters for different reference types, because different reference types are imported into the Biblioscape database differently.
A default reference type has to be provided in case there is no import filter defined for a certain reference type. In such a case, the import filter designated as the default sub-filter would be used. The box at the bottom is for showing a sample import file and commenting about the current import filter.
Search
You can search import filters by entering part of an import filter name, and pressing the Enter key or clicking the Go button. You can use the combo box to search against other fields like "Based On", "Category", "Comments", "Favorite", and "Last Updated". "Based On" is the name of another import filter which is current one is derived from. "Category" can be used to store any term that divides import filters into groups. "Comments" is for adding comments about an import filter. The "Favorite" field will be "T" if an import filter is marked Favorite. "Last Updated" is for storing the date of last updates in 8 digit integers. For example: Jan 22, 2009 will be stored as 20090122.
All Filters
Clicking this button will retrieve all import filters. If you have run a search and want to list all the import filters again, you can click "All Filters" button.
Favorite
Click this button to only show import filters marked as Favorite.
Mark Favorites
Mark selected import filters as Favorites. If the import filter is already marked Favorite, it will be unmarked.
Select All
Select all import filters in the current list. For example, if you have already run a search, Select All will only select those import filters listed as your search hits.
New
Create a new import filter. After clicking this button, a new window will be shown. You can then enter properties for the current import filter that are common to all sub-filters. See detailed information in the next section.
BaseOn
If you find an import filter that is very similar to what you want but you don't want to make changes to it in case you need the original one later, you can click the BaseOn button to create a duplicate of the current import filter. You can then work on the duplicate. After clicking on this button, user will be prompted to enter a new name for the new import filter. All the field data will be duplicated except foe the "Comments" and "Example" fields. These two fields should be different for each import filter. Before clicking the BaseOn button, if the import filters list shows favorites only, click the "All Filters" button first.
Edit
Clicking "Edit" will open the current import filter in another window so you can edit its properties. Double clicking on an import filter has the same effect as clicking "Edit".
Delete
Clicking "Delete" will delete all selected import filters (hold down the Ctrl Key to select more than one record). You will be prompted first so that you can cancel the operation before deletion. When you delete an import filter, all the sub-filters under the import filter will be deleted as well.
Import
Biblioscape support staff keep a library of import filters at the Biblioscape support web site. They are updated regularly, so you may find some new import filters there. Although defining a new import filter is not very hard, downloading an existing one will save you time. Click "Import" button to bring up the open dialog, then select the *.bif file you downloaded from Biblioscape web site. The import filter as well as its sub-filters for different reference types will be imported into Biblioscape. You can share import filters among colleagues through exporting and importing.
Export
You can export selected import filters as a *.bif file. Biblioscape will prompt you to select a folder and enter a file name. Biblioscape encourages you to share the import filters you created with other users. The Biblioscape web site allows you to deposit your filters to be downloaded by other users. Select the import filter you want to export (hold down the Ctrl key to select more than one), click on the "Export" button to bring up the save dialog and provide a file name for the exported file. The resulting file is an encrypted ASCII file containing exported import filters as well as their sub-filters for different reference types. This file can be sent to your friend by e-mail, or you can email it as an attachment to support@biblioscape.com and Biblioscape support staff will make it available at the import filter library section on our support Web site.