This page created 20 Jan 2002
Version note: Applies to TMG 4; for TMG 5 and later see here
TMG's system for handling sources is designed to require minimum data input, while having the program construct source notes the formats suggested for initial citation, subsequent citations, and bibliography entries. But using this automated feature does require entering the source data in a specific format to enable the program to understand it. Some users find that some sources do not fit the supplied templates readily, and others find the whole process to be more than they care to deal with.
The simplified source template described here was designed in response to requests on TMG-List for an easier way to enter data in sources.
1. If You Find the Whole Process More Complicated than You Need:
- If you just want to enter your source descriptions exactly as they will print
- If you don't care about Full Footnotes for the first citation in a report, and Short Footnotes for subsequent citations
- If you don't want to keep track of Repositories
Then you may find my Simplified Source Type, described below, is just what you are looking for.
2. If You Use TMG's Source Templates, But Occasionally Find a Source that Doesn't Fit Well:
- If you find TMG's supplied Source Templates, or your own Custom templates work for you most of the time
- But occasionally find an unusual source that seems more trouble than it's worth to fit in a regular Source Template
Then you may find my Simplified Source Type, described below, a useful solution, provided you can live without a separate format for initial and subsequent citations, and for the Bibliography.
If you need the ability to specify separate Full and Short form footnotes, you could adapt this model, perhaps by placing the short form entry in the Comment field, but you may be better off just entering your desired text directly in the Output Form tab of the Source Definition screen.
The idea here is to create a custom Source Type that allows you to enter your source description exactly as you want it to print out, rather than entering various elements in their fields and having the program create the text. This requires a little effort to create the custom template, but once that's done, entering individual Sources may be a simpler process. Here's what is required:
The first step is to create the new Source template. There is a detailed description of creating custom Source Templates in my article here. But that may well tell you more than you want to know about the subject, so the short version is here:
1. First, you have to set your system to allow custom sources. To do that, open the System Configuration menu by using Tool > Options on the main menu. Then, on the General tab, choose Custom under Source Categories.
2. Next, create your custom Source Type itself. Starting from that same screen, click the Configure Button. Click the Add button to open the Custom Source Categories - Templates screen. In that screen:
a. In the Custom Source Type field, enter a name you will recognize. I'd suggest:
.Simple Sources
Note the period at the beginning; that will make it appear first in the list of Source Types when you create any new Source.
b. In the is most similar to choose anything - it doesn't really matter but an entry is required.
c. Click the Full footnote button and enter in the box that opens:
[TITLE]<, [CD]>
Click anywhere outside the box to close it.
d. Do the same for the Short Footnote.
e. Do the same for Bibliography, except just enter:
[TITLE]
f. Click OK three times to exit those screens and get back to the main screen.
Your custom simple Source Type is done! You never have to do this part again -- from now on you just do the following each time you create a new source.
Open the Master Source List by clicking on Tools/Master Source List. Click New, and select your custom Source Type - if you put the period as the first character of it's name it will be the first one on the list. Click Select to open the Source Definition Screen. Now enter the information for the new Source:
a. Enter a name for it in the Abbreviation field - that's the name you will see in the Master Source List, and in the Citation box of any tag where you cite this source.
b. Click the Title button, and enter in the box that appears exactly the words you want to appear in your source notes. When done, click outside the box to close it.
c. Click OK and then Exit to get back to the main screen.
That's all! your new Source is created.
You can easily convert existing Sources to this new type. Open the Master Source list as above, and select the Source you want convert, and click Edit to open the Source Definition Screen. Then do the following:
a. Click the Source Type button, and in the Source Types screen, scroll to the top and select your custom Source Type, then click Select.
b. Change the Abbreviation if you like.
c. Enter the wording you want in the Title field, as above. You can use Windows cut and paste feature to transfer the wording from another field if you want.
d. You can remove any wording in the other Source Element fields if you want, but it doesn't matter as they will be ignored.
e. Click OK to close, and then move to the next source if you want.
Open the Citation Entry screen of the Tag where you want to cite your Source, and enter it like any other TMG Source. The Citation Detail feature will work if you want to use it for such things as page numbers or other special notes for a particular citation, but you can ignore them if you want.