Michael Jones, PhD

Here's the quick overview:

1. Create a .bib file. This is a text database of all your references. I have been using the same .bib file since 1996. It still contains every paper I've ever cited or thought about citing.

2. Add your entries to your .bib file. An entry has three main parts: a type, a label and the data. The label is what you'll use in your \cite{ } commands in your paper. The data is, well, the data. The easiest way to create bibtex entries is to use the bib mode in emacs.

3. Add a \bibliographystyle{alpha|plain|ieeetr} and \bibliography{bib-file-name-without-extension} to the end of your latex document just before \end{document}

4. When you want to cite something in your paper, simply add \cite{label}.

5. To build the bibliography do:
- latex paper.tex
- bibtex paper
- latex paper.tex
- latex paper.tex
Both latex and bibtex are very good about complaining when something isn't defined. Most people use a make file to build their papers.