Re: reftex-citation is not able to deal with several databases

[Colin Baxter]

>>>>> Uwe Brauer via Discussion list for AUCTeX developers 
>>>>> <auctex-devel@gnu.org> writes:

    > --=-=-= Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
    > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

    >>>> "AE" =3D=3D Arash Esbati <arash@gnu.org> writes:

    >> Uwe Brauer via Discussion list for AUCTeX developers
    >> <auctex-devel@gnu.or=
    g> writes:
    >>> Thanks for your answer. I found a solution that I posted, but it
    >>> did not land in the same thread sorry.

    >> Ah, Ok, I must have missed that, sorry.

    >>> So the solution I found in=20
    >>> 
https://bug-auctex.gnu.narkive.com/s2Oz8HpC/24-3-1-reftex-fails-to-find-=
    > multiple-bib-files-in-bibliography-with-commas
    >>> =20 I had to set (setq reftex-use-external-file-finders t) =20
    >>> and everything worked as expected.

    >> So you have your .bib files somewhere not next to your .tex file?
    >> This was the case for me.


    > My main bib file dwells in a (mercurial) repository somewhere on
    > my disk, the other bib file I don't remember


    >>> Maybe one should set this variable to t per default.

    >> I don't think this is a good idea:

    >> ,----[ C-h v reftex-use-external-file-finders RET ] |
    >> reftex-use-external-file-finders is a variable defined in
    >> =E2=80=98reft=
    > ex-vars.el=E2=80=99.
    >> |=20 | Its value is nil |=20 | Non-nil means, use external
    >> programs to find files.  | Normally, RefTeX searches the paths
    >> given in the environment variables | TEXINPUTS and BIBINPUTS to
    >> find TeX files and BibTeX database files.  | With this option
    >> turned on, it calls an external program specified in t=
    > he
    >> | option =E2=80=98reftex-external-file-finders=E2=80=99 instead.
    >> As a si=
    > de effect,
    >> | the variables
    >> =E2=80=98reftex-texpath-environment-variables=E2=80=99 and |
    >> =E2=80=98reftex-bibpath-environment-variables=E2=80=99 will be
    >> ignored.  |=20 `----

    >> Changing the default of `reftex-use-external-file-finders' will
    >> break for people who have set
    >> `reftex-texpath-environment-variables' and/or
    >> `reftex-bibpath-environment-variables'.

    > Aha, I did not change the default behavior ,---- |
    > reftex-texpath-environment-variables is a variable defined in
    > =E2=80=98re= ftex-vars.el=E2=80=99.  |=20 | Its value is
    > ("TEXINPUTS") `----

    > ,---- | reftex-bibpath-environment-variables is a variable defined
    > in =E2=80=98re= ftex-vars.el=E2=80=99.  |=20 | Its value is
    > ("BIBINPUTS" "TEXBIB") `----

    > But I see your point. Thanks

I have 10+ bibtex files in ~/texmf and my tex files elsewhere. I've
never had problems using reftex to find bib entries. I have
reftex-bibpath-environment-variables set to ("BIBINPUTS" "TEXBIB");
reftex-texpath-environment-variables set to ("TEXINPUTS") and
reftex-use-external-file-finders set to t.

I assume you are using reftex to find bib entries in auctex and not in
org-mode.

Best wishes,