# csl editor updates, strategy

**URL:** <https://discourse.citationstyles.org/t/csl-editor-updates-strategy/965>\
**Category:** CSL Development\
**Created:** [March 3, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/t/csl-editor-updates-strategy/965 "2011-03-03T17:37:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/u/Bruce_D_Arcus1)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/t/csl-editor-updates-strategy/965/1 "2011-03-03T17:37:43Z")

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I see via twitter Tom has started up work again on the csl editor?

[http://csleditor.quist.de/csleditor/show/1/example-citation-style](http://csleditor.quist.de/csleditor/show/1/example-citation-style)

I think it’s evolving nicely.

Can we perhaps get an update from the Mendeley crew, and others, on  
what we see as “must have” features  
that need to be complete before ready for deployment, and also some  
idea of how we might initially deploy it?

I’m also curious about the how the decision gets made that it’s ready  
for a) wider testing, and b) deployment?

In terms of missing features, from my sense, in order of rough priority:

1. macros
2. substitute
3. positional (first/subsequent, ibid) support
4. higher-level, at least the start of a wizard interface; initial  
stab could just  
involve some basic questions like:

- field
- author
- publisher

… with choices, and then the complete style (maybe just the "default"  
pane?) would be pre-populated  
for modification. We could then evolve it based on feedback and  
practical experience. I really think this part is important.

1. persistence (via gitbhub?) and editing of existing styles

Does that seem right? Am I missing anything?

On deployment, if I’m satisfied with the progress, of course, I’d love  
to see it deployed on the web at [citationstyles.org](http://citationstyles.org).

We could put a “Mendeley” logo on it to reward the work, and include  
links to other CSL projects that are 1.0 compliant and either:

a) open source, or …

b) commercial, but commit some resources to CSL-related  
developments?

In other words, everyone that contributes to CSL gets benefit;  
projects that don’t, don’t.

I’d also like to see if we can figure out how to get the github style  
editing stuff working now, so that it can be the practical basis on  
decisions with the WYWSIWG editor.

So I see a lot promise here. But I’m a little worried about how we  
move forward from here, so that we avoid a situation of fragmented  
effort, frustrated users (because their styles don’t do what they  
need), and a vast expansion of CSL styles that don’t work very well,  
etc.

Bruce

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**Author:** ![Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/u/Bruce_D_Arcus1)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/t/csl-editor-updates-strategy/965/2 "2011-03-04T13:48:01Z")

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BTW …On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Bruce D’Arcus \<@Bruce\_D\_Arcus1\> wrote:

> I see via twitter Tom has started up work again on the csl editor?
> 
> [http://csleditor.quist.de/csleditor/show/1/example-citation-style](http://csleditor.quist.de/csleditor/show/1/example-citation-style)
> 
> I think it’s evolving nicely.

I just added a couple of comment issues, based on my expectations of  
how the average user might respond, coupled with my own explanation:

[https://bitbucket.org/csledit/csl-wysiwyg-editor/issue/10/citation-editing](https://bitbucket.org/csledit/csl-wysiwyg-editor/issue/10/citation-editing)  
[https://bitbucket.org/csledit/csl-wysiwyg-editor/issue/9/groups-and-tokens](https://bitbucket.org/csledit/csl-wysiwyg-editor/issue/9/groups-and-tokens)

Bruce

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**Author:** ![Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Bruce\_D\_Arcus1](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/u/Bruce_D_Arcus1)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://discourse.citationstyles.org/t/csl-editor-updates-strategy/965/3 "2011-03-25T13:07:52Z")

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Bumping this from earlier in the month. Ian?