named references must have content

Question

When I enter a reference <ref name="a">XYZ</ref> followed by <ref name="a" />

I am often but not always getting the message that the second must have content. Retyping both usually fixes it, but it is a nuisance and time waster.

Answer 1

I don't have an answer for why retyping it usually fixes. However, I have found that the quote marks aren't necessary. Figured I'd pass that along in case, like for me, getting fingers to cooperate with shift+' is difficult for you.

Comments

Thanks. Interesting. Must try it.

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Interestingly, I've never used the quotes as I figured it was just for cases when you might have a space in the "name" you've chosen but since there's no need to have spaces I just put it in without spaces and let it go at that.

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Yep. If you don't put spaces in the name, you don't need to put the name in quotes.

Answer 2

There's

Cite error 2; Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no content must have a name

and there's also Cite error 4, which says the same thing a different way.

Cite error 2 can be caused by a variety of typos around the name="a" bit, unmatched quotation marks etc.

Comments

Ah but it happens sometimes even when I'm sure and have checked that the typing is correct.

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After I create a reference with "ref name", I often copy that entire reference (including ref name and all the details) into the other slots where I want to use it. That way, the citations will be consolidated in the public display of the page, but stupid errors on my part won't result in citation errors. And I can go back and trim the subsequent citations back to the <ref name=NAME/> format once I'm done working on the biography.

Answer 3

I made a small text file with variations i.e. <ref name="death certificate"> (which i then follow by the reference information</ref>). I can then copy & paste it also in the alternate reference adding the /. However if you forget the / on the alternate reference it will not show any following information.

It works for me because I am not a very good typist.

Comments

Thanks. Yes, I think that may be a good way of enduring it. I'll give it a go and let you know if I have any more problems.