Help:Cite errors/Cite error references missing key
 | This help page is a how-to guide. It details processes or procedures of some aspect(s) of our norms and practices. |
Overview
A footnote used multiple times may be defined with a name:
<ref name="foo">content</ref>
To invoke a named footnote:
<ref name="foo" />
References may also be defined within the reference list:
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=rename1>refcontent1</ref>
<ref name=rename2>refcontent2</ref>
<ref name=rename3>refcontent3</ref>
<ref name=rename4>refcontent4</ref>
}}
List-defined references may be invoked by the standard markup or by use of {{r}}.
Issues and resolution
All references defined in the reference list must be invoked in the content. Unused references must be removed or commented out.
Including more than one nested reference in List-defined references will cause a Cite error.
Misusing a template that was never intended as a citation template and placing it in <ref> tags may cause this issue.
A template that creates <ref> tags; known instances:
- {{Certification Cite Ref}}
- {{sfn}} and variants
- {{Single chart}}
A template that includes table markup; known instances:
Examples
Help:Cite errors/lang Ex. 1) There are three references defined in the list, but none are invoked in the content. Note the spurious error for the first reference named ipsum:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=ipsum>Reference1</ref>
<ref name=minim>Reference2</ref>
<ref name=dolor>Reference3</ref>
}}
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "ipsum" defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text.
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "minim" defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text.
<ref> tag with name "dolor" defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text.Ex. 2) If only one reference is defined but not invoked, then only the spurious error is shown:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=ipsum>Reference1</ref>
}}
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
<ref> tag with name "ipsum" defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text.Ex. 3) Not so obvious case. If you mistakenly nest an {{sfn}} type template inside <ref></ref> as in the second footnote below, an error message will show:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.<ref>{{harvp|foo|1999|p=123}}</ref> Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.<ref>{{sfnp|Foo|1999|p=123}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{citation|last=foo|title=foobar|year=1999}}
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.[1] Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.[2]
- ^ Foo (1999), p. 123
- ^
<ref> tag with name "FOOTNOTEFoo1999123" defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text.- Foo (1999), Foobar
Technical
Bugs
- Multiple problems with refs inside
<references>...</references>blocks. - The first defined reference that is not invoked will show an incorrect error message.
- Nested refs fail inside references block