Citation Toolkit

Citation Toolkit is a suite of tools designed to help Wikimedia users and editors manage citations on platforms such as Wikipedia. It supports the creation, validation, and formatting of citations, improving the efficiency and accuracy of reference management.

Access the Citation Toolkit: Citation Toolkit on Wikimedia Toolhub

Features of the Citation Toolkit

Automated Citation Generator Generates citations from URLs, DOIs, and ISBNs for quick and easy referencing.
Citation Validation Scans for incomplete or outdated citations in articles and suggests corrections.
Highlight Citations Highlights all inline citations in a Wikipedia article for easy identification.
Citation Style Selector Allows users to toggle between different citation styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Citation Templates Integration Integrates with Wikipedia citation templates (e.g., {{Cite web}}, {{Cite book}}) for consistent formatting.

Installation Guide

The Citation Toolkit is hosted on Toolforge, meaning no local installation is required. You can access and use it directly from your web browser.

Prerequisites:

A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
Internet connection
Wikimedia account (optional, but recommended for feedback and contributions)

Steps to Access the Tool:

Go to the Citation Toolkit page: Visit Citation Toolkit on Wikimedia Toolhub.
Select the tool you need: You can choose from the different tool options, such as the Highlight Citations tool.
Enter a Wikipedia article or citation source: Depending on the tool, you may need to provide a Wikipedia article URL or citation source (URL, DOI, ISBN).
Generate, validate, or format your citations: Follow the tool’s prompts to generate or validate citations. You can also copy and paste the generated citations into your Wikipedia edits using the appropriate citation template.

Troubleshooting Guide

Issue 1: Tool is not loading properly

Solution:
- Ensure your internet connection is stable.
- Try refreshing the page or clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.
- Make sure you are using an up-to-date browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended).

Issue 2: Citations are not generating

Solution:
- Double-check the input (URL, DOI, or ISBN) for errors.
- Ensure that the source is valid and accessible online.
- If issues persist, try a different browser or contact the tool maintainers.

Issue 3: Citation formatting is inconsistent

Solution:
- Ensure you have selected the correct citation style from the dropdown menu.
- Check for errors in the generated citation and manually adjust if necessary.
- Use Wikimedia’s built-in citation templates (e.g., {{Cite web}}, {{Cite book}}) for consistent formatting.

Issue 4: Highlight Citations tool not working

Solution:
- Verify that the URL of the Wikipedia article you’re working on is correct.
- Ensure that the page has citations for the tool to highlight.
- Refresh the page or clear the browser cache and try again.

Best Practices for Using the Citation Toolkit

Use Reliable Sources Always cite from credible, verifiable sources such as academic papers, books, or recognized news outlets.
Consistent Citation Style Use a consistent citation style throughout your article (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) to maintain uniformity.
Cite While You Write Insert citations as you write or edit to avoid forgetting them later.
Double-Check Generated Citations Even though the tool generates citations automatically, always verify the output for accuracy.
Follow Wikimedia Citation Guidelines Make sure your citations align with Wikimedia’s citation guidelines.

Additional Resources

Wikimedia Citation Help: Wikipedia: Citing sources
Wikimedia Citation Templates: Wikipedia: Citation templates
Citation Toolkit GitHub Repository: GitHub Repository

Feedback and Contributions

If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvements, please reach out via:

Toolforge Talk Page: Citation Toolkit Talk
GitHub Issues: GitHub Issue Tracker

Your feedback will help improve the tool and ensure it meets the needs of Wikimedia editors.