Problem with Biblatex

libuz · Post by **libuz** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:26 pm

I am writing a report for my thesis. So, I started learning Lyx. But I am having trouble using Biblatex.
I carefully followed the instruction from http://wiki.lyx.org/BibTeX/Biblatex#toc2

Though there is no error, I am not able to get bibliography at all. I have attached the files, if anyone could check it.

About my files:
The main file is "Test.lyx" and citations are inserted in the file "Chapter 2". I want biblography to be shown in TOC.

NEW: TikZ book now 40% off at Amazon.com for a short time.

And: Currently, Packt sells ebooks for $4.99 each if you buy 5 of their over 1000 ebooks. If you choose only a single one, $9.99. How about combining 3 LaTeX books with Python, gnuplot, mathplotlib, Matlab, ChatGPT or other AI books? Epub and PDF. Bundle (3 books, add more for higher discount): https://packt.link/MDH5p

Post by **cgnieder** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:06 pm

The information on the website you linked is outdated. If you have a recent TeX distribution (which I hope) then the default backend for biblatex is not »bibtex« any more but »biber«. I suggest to set it specifically anyway. Also it seems you have to give a full path to the bib file, but as you have done that already all should be fine here. My preamble to your file looks as follows (my path is a different one, of course). With biblatex \addbibresource{<bib file>} is preferred to \bibliography{<bib file>} but that shouldn't really matter:

: lyx-biblatex1.png (23.85 KiB) Viewed 10880 times

You need to make sure that you're really using the tool you specified as backend:

: lyx-biblatex2.png (25.69 KiB) Viewed 10880 times

If that doesn't work check the bibtex/biber log via "Document -> LaTeX Log -> Log Type: BiBTeX"

Regards

libuz · Post by **libuz** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:35 am

Thank you.
It solved the problem.

And, for getting Bibliography in TOC, this worked: \printbibliography[heading=bibintoc]

libuz · Post by **libuz** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:26 pm

Hi,
Sorry to disturb you again. Last time it worked for me. But I don't know why it is not working anymore. The citations are not working and no bibliography anymore. I haven't done any changes in the bibliography and the processor is still biber.
I want to know if there is problem in my Lyx or inside the file. Could somebody check it?

abelle · Post by **abelle** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:46 am

Having the same sort of issues I checked out TestLyx.zip. It works fine on my Win7 LyX V2.1.2 after I added the .bib extension on the bibliographic file-spec eg: \addbibresource{C:/temp/A/ref.bib} and set <Documents><Settings...><Bibliography>Processor: to [biber].
It is unfortunate LyX/LaTeX does not report a faulty file spec for the .bib file, because a typo cost me days working out why BibLaTeX-biber wouldn't work

It works now, but it was unnecessarily painful given it actually was as simple as following wiki.lyx.org/BibTeX/Biblatex.

Post by **Johannes_B** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:18 am

LyX is a tool for experienced LaTeX users. That means knowing all the LaTeX basics.

Going to the base level, were every beginner can see and understand code, without hidden stuff, is much easier for debugging. Error messages are quite clear most of the times, sometimes, well not so clear to be honest.

Rule of thumb: If something with LyX isn't working quite well, go back to the ground for debugging and come back to LyX.

Post by **scottkosty** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:57 am

abelle wrote: It is unfortunate LyX/LaTeX does not report a faulty file spec for the .bib file,

I'm not sure if this is what you're talking about, but I'm trying hard to get a fix for the following issue into LyX 2.2:
http://www.lyx.org/trac/ticket/2757

Actually, the fix is done, but it relies on a different change that I'm working on that is necessary for the fix to go in.

abelle · Post by **abelle** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 3:48 am

Hi Scott,
I looked at http://www.lyx.org/trac/ticket/2757 and think my problem is simpler.
My observation was that the normal error messages that pop-up when type-setting a LyX document do not appear to notify that the .bib file does not exist (Which based on normal LyX behaviour I consider to be AN ERROR, not a warning level problem). From looking at posted example files (like this one in this thread), several had typos in the .bib filespec, so I suspect I am not alone.

I have found the LyX Progress/Debug Messages, and it does provide the following warnings like:

..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: Empty bibliography on input line 108.
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: There were undefined references.
along with lots of citation warings eg:
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: Citation 'Eco2003Wie-man-eine-wi' on page 2 undefined on input l
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (692): LaTeX Warning.

As Johanne's states LyX is a tool for experienced LaTeX users, which I am not: sorry

I have however managed to get LaTeX-biber working with classicthesis.sty, so it is possible newbies to use

- just time consuming and painful, which my posting aimed to help others avoid. Sorry I didn't know more earlier.

Post by **scottkosty** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 4:26 am

abelle wrote:Hi Scott,
I looked at http://www.lyx.org/trac/ticket/2757 and think my problem is simpler.
My observation was that the normal error messages that pop-up when type-setting a LyX document do not appear to notify that the .bib file does not exist (Which based on normal LyX behaviour I consider to be AN ERROR, not a warning level problem). From looking at posted example files (like this one in this thread), several had typos in the .bib filespec, so I suspect I am not alone.

I have found the LyX Progress/Debug Messages, and it does provide the following warnings like:
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: Empty bibliography on input line 108.
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: There were undefined references.
along with lots of citation warings eg:
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (656): Log line: LaTeX Warning: Citation 'Eco2003Wie-man-eine-wi' on page 2 undefined on input l
..\..\src\LaTeX.cpp (692): LaTeX Warning.
As Johanne's states LyX is a tool for experienced LaTeX users, which I am not: sorry I have however managed to get LaTeX-biber working with classicthesis.sty, so it is possible newbies to use - just time consuming and painful, which my posting aimed to help others avoid. Sorry I didn't know more earlier.

Well we would like to make LyX as user friendly as possible. If you have any ideas (including this one), please post bug reports or enhancement requests at http://www.lyx.org/trac

We really need this kind of feeback!

abelle · Post by **abelle** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:07 pm

I appreciate your commitment to improving LyX Scott,
LyX gets better all the time, but is suffers like all software developed by the goodwill of a diaspora (NO CRITCISM). @Johannes is correct that LyX is a tool for experienced LaTeX users

, if qualified by "if you want more than it provides as default". The way LyX trapped me was being so WYSIWIG like I got in way over my head

(expecting Word

level stupid user tolerance) and then realised mid PhD 'I just can't do it without LaTeX

' but then it was harder learning LaTeX through a LyX layer.

If the LyX site front page boasted a big flashing sign saying

Productivity enhancement for Experienced LaTeX users

and then a smaller one "Much Easier than MS-Word for non-LaTeX users when pre-configured (by expert) for the every document type and content you require", I believe all/most negative press would disappear

Of course, correctly set up, LaTeX typesetting is still the best (if it picks up the ball with Unicode and bibLateX), so I am still using LyX, but it continues to teach me LaTeX!

LaTeX.org

LyX ⇒ Problem with Biblatex