# Search Bibtex > Use when the user provides one or more academic PDF files or an existing BibTeX file and wants the search-bibtex binary to extract metadata, fuzzy-search bibliographic sources, refresh BibTeX, rank candidates with configurable source priority, load defaults from config.toml, and present an interactive Vim-key selection UI. Handles computer science preprints, conference papers, and journal papers through an independent CLI; does not depend on Paperlib. - Skill: `tomevault-io/search-bibtex` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/search-bibtex` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/search-bibtex/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Docs & Writing - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/search-bibtex --- # Search BibTeX Use this skill for the `search-bibtex` binary. The binary is independent of Paperlib. Grok search may be used while improving or debugging this project, but it must stay out of the CLI runtime and skill workflow. ## Workflow 1. Confirm the binary is available: ```bash search-bibtex --help ``` 2. Inspect PDF metadata and generated search queries: ```bash search-bibtex metadata ``` 3. Search and rank candidates. In a TTY, `search` opens the selector; when piped, it prints JSON: ```bash search-bibtex search --limit 10 --timeout 30 --source-priority dblp,arxiv,crossref,openalex,doi ``` Parallel source search is enabled by default. Use `--no-parallel` only when serial lookup is explicitly wanted. If the user has a config file, pass `--config ` and let CLI flags override it. 4. For title strings instead of PDFs, use `search-bibtex search-title`. Multiple titles in one input are split by `;` by default, and stdin is accepted when no title argument is provided. 5. Let the user choose a BibTeX entry: ```bash search-bibtex select --limit 10 --timeout 30 --source-priority dblp,arxiv,crossref,openalex,doi ``` 6. If the user already has a `.bib` file and wants refreshed fields without changing citation keys: ```bash search-bibtex update --in-place ``` 7. For non-interactive use, select by ranked index: ```bash search-bibtex select --select-index 0 --format bibtex ``` ## Source Priority The built-in default source order is: ```text dblp,arxiv,crossref,openalex,doi,semantic-scholar ``` For computer science papers, this order avoids Semantic Scholar's anonymous rate limits: ```bash --source-priority dblp,arxiv,crossref,openalex,doi ``` Include `semantic-scholar` only when the user wants it or the local environment can tolerate anonymous API rate limits: ```bash --source-priority dblp,arxiv,crossref,openalex,semantic-scholar,doi ``` Use `--weights` when ranking behavior should change: ```bash --weights title=0.5,author=0.2,year=0.1,identifier=0.15,source=0.05 ``` `search-bibtex config-template` prints a TOML starter file. Config files can add custom HTTP sources and include their names in `source_priority`. Full config docs are in `docs/CONFIGURATION.md`. ## Interaction The interactive selector supports: - `j` / `k` or arrow keys to move. - `g` / `G` to jump to first or last visible candidate. - `/` to filter candidates. - `Enter` to select. - `q`, `Esc`, or `Ctrl-C` to cancel. Render UI goes to stderr and selected BibTeX or JSON goes to stdout. When the user presses `Enter`, the screen shows formatted BibTeX and the tool attempts to copy it to the clipboard if a local clipboard command is available. ## Failure Handling Do not hide source failures. `search` returns explicit `sourceErrors`; `select` prints source errors to stderr before selection. If no candidates are returned, surface the CLI error instead of fabricating a BibTeX entry. --- > Source: [steeliron550-ui/search-bibtex](https://github.com/steeliron550-ui/search-bibtex) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).