mendeley_bib_fixer.py

#!/usr/bin/python
import sys

def fix_mendeley_bib_file(infile, outfile):
	total_processed = 0
	misc_changed = 0
	notes_added = 0
	with open(infile, "r") as b:
		with open(outfile, "w+") as new:	
			for line in b:
				total_processed += 1
				# If it's an entry of type misc, which Mendeley uses for webapges,
				# replace it with @electronic which is a more suitable type.
				if line.startswith("@misc"):
					line = line.replace("@misc", "@electronic")
					misc_changed += 1
					new.write(line)
					continue

				parts = line.split(' = ')
				if len(parts) == 2:
					if parts[0] == 'urldate':						
						date = parts[1]
						date = date.rstrip()
						note_line = "note = {Last accessed: %s}"
						# If the last character is a , it means there is another element..					
						if date[-1] == ',':
							# Write out the oringal line first.
							new.write(line)					
							# Now take '{yyyy-mm-dd},' date string into just yyyy-mm-dd
							date = date[1:-2]
							note_line = note_line % (date) 
							# Add the needed trailing comma
							note_line += ","
						else:
							# If it doesn't end in a comma, need to add one to orig line.
							# First remove the trailing newline and 
							updated_line = line.rstrip()
							# Now write the original line, with a comman and newline added.
							new.write(updated_line + ",\n")
							date = date[1:-1]			
							note_line = note_line % (date)
						# Write out the new line for the 'note' field.
						new.write(note_line + '\n')
						notes_added += 1
					else:
						new.write(line)
				else:
					new.write(line)
	print("Total lines processed %s" % total_processed)	
	print("Misc entries changed to electronic %s" % misc_changed)
	print("Note fields added %s" % notes_added)

# If its run as a script, use the appropriate method.
if __name__ == "__main__":
	
	if len(sys.argv) == 3:
		print("Starting")
		infile = sys.argv[1]
		outfile = sys.argv[2]
		fix_mendeley_bib_file(infile, outfile)
		print("Done")
	else:
		print("Usage: %s <input_file> <output file>" % (sys.argv[0]))