Format your references in a click: The free Citation Style Constructor

Abstract

The variety of citation styles used in academic publications poses a significant formatting challenge for authors. Although reference managers (EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, Citavi, and etc.) are essential for organizing references and creating bibliographies, they often have difficulty handling textual nuances when reformatting existing bibliographies automatically. To address this specific issue, the editorial board of Chimica Techno Acta introduces the Citation Style Constructor as a free web application designed for reformatting tasks. This tool allows users to either select a predefined citation style (GOST, ACS, RSC, or CTA) or create a completely custom format, customizing the sequence, punctuation, and typography of each bibliographic element. The program processes uploaded reference lists using advanced DOI searching and intelligent metadata analysis from Crossref, including accurate processing of journal title abbreviations, author names, manuscript titles, and page ranges. A key advantage over simple converters is the ability to export and reuse custom style settings. The output is a formatted DOCX file with preserved hyperlinks and includes integrated bibliographic analysis, providing information on the composition of the reference list. While the effectiveness of the tool depends on the quality of the source metadata, it offers a powerful and accessible solution that complements traditional reference managers. It simplifies the critical step of reformatting references for journal publications and promotes stylistic consistency and efficiency in manuscript preparation.