Convert hyperlinked citations in a Word document (.docx) to Bluebook-formatted footnotes or endnotes. Use when the user mentions bluebook, footnote, endnote, citation conversion, or asks to convert citations.
Convert citations (hyperlinked, parenthetical, inline author-date) in a .docx document to Bluebook-formatted footnotes or endnotes.
When the user provides a .docx file and asks to convert citations to Bluebook footnotes/endnotes, or mentions "bluebook", "footnote", "endnote", or "citation conversion".
The cite2fn Python package must be installed. If python3 -m cite2fn.cli detect --help fails, install it first:
pip install -e <plugin_directory>
Where <plugin_directory> is the root of the cite2fn plugin (the directory containing pyproject.toml). You can find it by looking for the cite2fn package in the plugin's install location.
Run citation detection on the input document:
python3 -m cite2fn.cli detect "<input.docx>"
This outputs JSON with all detected citations. Present a summary to the user:
If the document has internal-anchor hyperlinks or parenthetical citations without URLs, parse the references section:
python3 -m cite2fn.cli parse-references "<input.docx>"
Match citations to reference entries to get full bibliographic information.
For citations with external URLs, fetch metadata:
python3 -m cite2fn.cli fetch-urls <urls.json>For each citation, use ALL available information to generate proper Bluebook formatting. You have:
Apply these Bluebook 21st edition rules:
CRITICAL — Formatting markers for the bluebook_text field:
*asterisks* (e.g., *The Role of AI in Law*, *Id.* at 5, *supra* note 3).~tildes~ using title case (e.g., ~Harv. L. Rev.~, ~Google Developers Blog~, ~Tech Pol'y Press~). Title case is required because Word's small caps formatting only transforms lowercase letters into smaller capitals — all-caps input renders with no visible size variation.~tildes~ for acronyms or initialisms. Terms that are naturally all-caps in normal prose (SEC, CFTC, NIST, W3C, IMDA, ACLU, etc.) should be written as plain uppercase text with no tilde markers. Small caps are only for source names composed of words or word abbreviations. Examples: SEC, *Algorithmic Trading...* (no tildes on SEC), NIST, *Announcing...* (no tildes on NIST), but ~Harv. L. Rev.~ and ~Nat'l Cybersecurity Ctr. of Excellence~ use tildes because they are words.Set confidence to "needs_review" if information is insufficient. Prefix with [NEEDS MANUAL FORMATTING] if you can't confidently format.
Output the citations as a JSON list with bluebook_text and confidence filled in for each.
Present the formatted citations to the user in a clear table:
Write the final citations JSON and run assembly:
python3 -m cite2fn.cli assemble "<input.docx>" <citations.json> -o "<output.docx>" [--endnotes] [--keep-references]
This will:
Show the user:
Print this warning:
IMPORTANT: This tool provides a strong first pass, but human verification is still required.
Check: all Word comments, author name retention, italicization/small caps, pin cites, supra/id. cross-references.