An import filter directs Biblioscape how to import a tagged file into a database. Import filter acts as a text parser. It matches tagged field in your text file to a data field in your database table.
There are a few import filters for popular tagged format like UNIX Refer, EndNote Refer, and RIS, but most import filters that come with Biblioscape are for tagged files from commercial database providers. Large information companies provide lots of databases for different disciplines. Each of these databases has its own way of using tags for its output file. The user, after completing a search, can save the result in an text file, and later import it into Biblioscape database using the right import filter. If an import filter is not available, user can easily create a new import filter. Biblioscape encourages users to share import filters. If you want to make a contribution to the shared import filters library, please export your import filter as an ASCII file by clicking the Export button on the import filters manager window. Click here to access the import filters that are included in Biblioscape 6 online library.
Import filters are usually named after the data source. Each "Import Filter" could have multiple sub filters for different reference types. A certain amount of parsing information is common to all reference types. This is defined in the window "Defining Import Filter Type". Parsing information for each reference type is defined in the window "Defining Reference Type Specific Import Filter Parameters".