Question 1

Do I need to create an account to use Bibforge?

Accepted Answer

No. Bibforge works without any account or login. Your workspace is identified by a unique link — bookmark it or save it somewhere safe.

Question 2

How do I start a new workspace?

Accepted Answer

Visit bibforge.com, name your workspace in the top banner and click "Create workspace". A unique workspace link is generated immediately — no sign-up required.

Question 3

Is there an onboarding tour?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The first time you open a workspace, a short guided tour walks you through the key features.

Question 4

Is Bibforge free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Bibforge is free to use. There are no hidden costs and no credit card required.

Question 5

How do I add a reference?

Accepted Answer

Paste a reference ID or title into the search bar. Bibforge resolves all metadata automatically via OpenAlex. You can also extract the title from a PDF via drag & drop.

Question 6

What identifier formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

Bibforge supports DOI (e.g. 10.1088/1367-2630/ad8675), PubMed IDs, and OpenAlex IDs.

Question 7

Why is some metadata missing from my reference?

Accepted Answer

Metadata completeness depends on the source. DOIs resolved via OpenAlex tend to have the most complete records. For older papers or conference proceedings, some fields like abstract or page numbers may not be available from any provider.

Question 8

Can I edit reference metadata manually?

Accepted Answer

Editing of reference metadata is on the roadmap, however, you cannot change them at this stage.

Question 9

How do I open the PDF for a reference?

Accepted Answer

If an open-access PDF is available, a PDF icon appears in the reference row. Click it to open the PDF directly — it will not trigger the detail card.

Question 10

How is the citation key generated?

Accepted Answer

Citation keys follow the AuthorYear convention by default — e.g. Lastname2026. If a conflict exists (two papers by the same author in the same year), Bibforge appends a letter suffix: Lastname2026a, Lastname2026b.

Question 11

Can I customise citation keys?

Accepted Answer

Customisation of citation keys is on the roadmap, however, you cannot change them at this stage.

Question 12

How do I export my library as a .bib file?

Accepted Answer

Click the Export button in the toolbar and select "Download .bib". The file contains all references in your current workspace, compile-ready.

Question 13

Why does my BibTeX fail to compile?

Accepted Answer

The most common causes are special characters in titles (e.g. &, %, $) that are not escaped, or missing required fields. % Common fix: wrap titles with special chars
title = {{Proteins & Proteomics}}

Question 14

Can I copy a single BibTeX entry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Open the detail card for any reference and click "Copy BibTeX". The formatted entry is copied to your clipboard instantly.

Question 15

How do I recover my workspace if I lose the link?

Accepted Answer

If you set up workspace recovery (recommended), you can re-access your workspace via your email address. Without recovery set up, the workspace link is the only way to access your data. Store it safely.

Question 16

Is my data stored in the cloud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your workspace is stored securely on our servers and accessible from any device via your workspace link.

Question 17

How do I delete my workspace?

Accepted Answer

Go to Workspace Settings and scroll down to the last section. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

Question 18

Can I share my workspace with collaborators?

Accepted Answer

Sharing is on the roadmap. Currently, anyone with the workspace link can view and edit it — treat it like a password.

Question 19

I set up recovery but never received the email.

Accepted Answer

Check your spam folder first. If the email is not there, try re-submitting your recovery email from Workspace Settings. If you still have issues, contact us via the contact form and include your workspace URL.

Question 20

How do I change my recovery email?

Accepted Answer

Go to Workspace Settings → Recovery. Enter your new email and confirm. A verification email will be sent to the new address.

Question 21

How is my data protected?

Accepted Answer

All data is transmitted over HTTPS. Workspaces are isolated by UUID — without your link, no one can access your data. We do not sell or share your data with third parties.

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