Citation key cleaner
Replace messy keys like Smith:2020:ABC or 10.1145/3290605 with consistent ones such as smith2020, and update every \cite in your document in the same step.
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Citation key cleaner
How to clean up citation keys
- Paste your .bib file, and your .tex file if you want its citations updated.
- Choose a key style.
- Copy or save the updated .bib and .tex files.
Consistent keys
Keys are made from the first author's family name, the year and, if you like, the first important word of the title. Accents are simplified, and two entries that would get the same key become smith2020a and smith2020b.
Your document updated too
Every \cite, \citep, \citet, \parencite, \textcite, \autocite and \nocite in your .tex file is rewritten to the new keys, including optional arguments such as page numbers.
Citation key cleaner: questions and answers
Is anything else in my .bib changed?
No. Only the keys change; every field stays exactly as written.
Can I keep the keys I already like?
Yes. Choose Keep keys that are already clean, and only messy keys are replaced.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser.