Thanks - I sorted it out by using a standard BibTeX .bib file.  I was
trying to do it all in one file, and finding the bib module documentation
quite confusing.  And for what it's worth, I'm using mkii.

-Alasdair

On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 4:09 PM, Andy Thomas <andythomas@web.de> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am not sure if I understand you correctly, but do you directly edit a
> bbl file? Normally, a .bib file is made by the user and ConTeXt (and LaTeX
> as well) generate the .bbl file for you. Your example works for me using
> the following code
>
>
> \setupbibtex[database={library}]
> \setuppublications[alternative=ams]
>
>
> \starttext
> Bla\cite{birn06}
>
> \placepublications[criterium=all]
> \stoptext
>
> with a .bib file containing
>
> @article{birn06,
>   author = {Dieter Birnbache},
>   title = {The Socratic method in teaching medical ethics: Potentials and
> limitations},
>   year = {1999},
>   journal = {Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy},
>   volume = {2},
>   issue = {3},
>   pages = {219-224}
> }
>
> More information is on the wiki page:
> http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Bibliography, e.g. why you do not need to
> use a module any more.
>
>
>
> On May 30, 2012, at 6:58 AM, Alasdair McAndrew wrote:
>
> In my list of references, I can't get the author or title (of journal
> article) to print.  In my .tex file, I have the following lines:
>
> \usemodule[bib]
> \setuppublications[alternative=ams,refcommand=num,numbering=yes]
>
> and in my .bbl file the (so far) only reference is:
>
> \startpublication[k=birn06,
>   t=article,
>   a=D.~Birnbache,
>   y=1999]
>   \author{Dieter}{}{Birnbache}
>   \title{The Socratic method in teaching medical ethics: Potentials and
> limitations}
>   \pubyear{1999}
>   \journal{Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy}
>   \volume{2}
>   \issue{3}
>   \pages{219-224}
> \stoppublication
>
> However, when I typeset the file, the reference list consists of
>
> [1] , Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 2, 219 (1999).
>
> I'm a little confused about all the variables, commands and parameters.
>  So - first, what am I doing wrong?  Second, are there somewhere out there
> some example files of bibliography usage (I learn best by seeing what other
> people have done, and adapting that to my own ends)?  Third: can I include
> the references in the body of the .tex file (as you can do with LaTeX and
> the thebibliography environment)?
>
> Thanks,
> Alasdair
>
> --
> Blog: http://amca01.wordpress.com
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> ___________________________________________________________________________________
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>
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>
> ___________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________________
> If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to
> the Wiki!
>
> maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl /
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>
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