Changes in biblatex 3.3

[moewew]

With biblatex 3.3 the name formatting macros have been changed drastically, see https://github.com/plk/biblatex/issues/372.

The format abbrv probably needs to be something like

\DeclareNameFormat{abbrv}{%
  \nameparts{#1}%
  \usebibmacro{name:given-family}
      {\namepartfamily}
      {\namepartgiveni}
      {\namepartprefixi}
      {\namepartsuffixi}%
  \usebibmacro{name:andothers}}

[russella]

Dear Moewew, Is this still an issue with 3.4? If so, it seems important to fix it. If you could give me some instructions on fixing it, I'll give it a try. Thanks! Alex

[moewew]

The style has aged quite well, so the only thing that really needs changing for v. 3.3 - as far as I can see - is

\DeclareNameFormat{abbrv}{%
  \usebibmacro{name:first-last}{#1}{#4}{#6}{#8}%
  \usebibmacro{name:andothers}}

in trad-abbrv.bbx, and the code above should be the correct code to replace this.

For version 3.4 we need to change all occurrences of prefixnumber to labelprefix, that will need changes in more files, though. The general work that needs to be done is quite straightforward.

[larseggert]

Will this get fixed? At the moment, trad-abbrv is still broken. Alternatively, is it possible to include the fix by @moewew in my latex source?

[russella]

I've just make a pull request that implements moewew's suggested fix. It seems to work with the original test cases, so I hope this makes the package compatible with biblatex 3.3. (I did not make the suggested changes for 3.4, but I can revisit this if 3.4 ships with TeXLive 2016.)

@larseggert , it would be great if you could pull down my repo and see that it works with your examples as well.

Hmm...it appears that there was already a pull request that fixed this! If you look on the pull-requests page, you can download one of the repos there that implements the fix.

[moewew]

As you noted, a similar pull request has already been started by @gvdgdo (https://github.com/marcodaniel/trad-biblatex/pull/26). The solution there even retains backwards compatibility, so I would say it is preferable.

[russella]

Moewew, I'm worried that Marco Daniel may not be part of the github community anymore. It seems his account has been inactive for over a year. Would it make sense for one of us to merge in the pulls above--just to bring the package up to compatibility with 3.3--and make it available as a comprehensive fork? If you are willing to host the new repository on your github site, I am willing to merge the pull req.'s and get it ready for you. If M. Daniel returns to lead the project, of course we can hand leadership back to him. Best, Alex

[gvdgdo]

I have the same fear (that Marco is no longer maintaining the package). To me, it would make sense to merge the pull request, and upload the revised package to CTAN, so it can make the cutoff for TeXLive 2016.

Guido

[moewew]

On TeX.SX Marco Daniel was last seen in October 2015. I don't know if there has been any significant attempts to try to get into contact with him.

I think it would be problematic from a license point of view to just upload the package with a fix to CTAN (at least if the name is not changed). The LPPL allows for change of maintainers, but even if that procedure is started now and a volunteer is found to take over maintainership of the package, I don't think the update can make it to TeX live 2016 in time for the cut-off.

[josephwright]

Note that the LPPL doesn't directly impact here: CTAN have their own rules to avoid 'helpful' uploads by people other than the maintainers. The LPPL requires that notice is given before taking over as maintainer, though it is possible of course to fork at any stage. CTAN are pretty unlikely to take a fork without a rename, though this can be achieved where there is good reason (see e.g. biblatex situation).

I'd suggest that if someone is willing to 'pick up' then notice is given in the usual places (c.t.t., TeXhax, ...) and CTAN are informed. It will be a while before that can 'bite' though (the assumption has always been three months after giving notice).

[josephwright]

Checking, the 3 month requirement is in the LPPL: http://www.latex-project.org/lppl.txt, MAINTENANCE OF THE WORK, item 4.

[russella]

I guess the most attractive possibility would be to raise Marco himself; I'll see if I can communicate with him somehow on TeX.SX or find him some other way, perhaps just via a google search. If any of you know of other online presences of his, please do reach out (or let me know).

About TL2016, I thought that various levels of package/system freeze were long since behind us. Even if the package were to miss the deadline, I suppose it could be shipped as an update, right?

Finally, if we can't reach Marco, I do think it would be useful to have an updated repository somewhere (especially since the changes in the current pull requests are so minimal).

[moewew]

You could try to reach him on the mail address from the documentations of his packages http://mirrors.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/biblatex-contrib/biblatex-trad/biblatex-trad.pdf

[russella]

Good idea...it seems that is the same e-mail attached to his git commits. There seems to be no way to message users on TeX.SX, so I have given up on that.

[moewew]

Marco has handed over maintenance of the package to me. I intend to publish an updated version of the package that works with biblatex 3.3 and 3.4 as soon as possible.

[moewew]

A first attempt to get the name format on track again is in 8753f52. Testing (especially from those who are still on version 3.3 of biblatex) would be highly appreciated.

[moewew]

The code now uses labelprefix instead of prefixnumber with biblatex >= 3.4.

Again, testing would be highly appreciated, so we can try to ship the update to CTAN in a few days.

[moewew]

This should be fixed in version 0.3 which has been on CTAN for a bit now. Testing is, of course, still very much appreciated.