2. What is a formatted database?

A formatted database is one in which all the data (references) contained in the database have an identical format. In other words, not only are the references clearly delimited from one another, but the fields contained in each reference are also delimited from one another, and the contents of the fields can also contain distinctive signs enabling you to "work" on the particular contents of a field (for example, the date in the field describing the journal, the number of pages, the date).

Tool

Bibliographic references obtained by querying databases, especially commercial ones, are generally not formatted for "direct output", i.e. as they appear on screen or in print. On...