# Source templates - Use of source name

**URL:** <https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/source-templates-use-of-source-name/9879>\
**Category:** RootsMagic\
**Tags:** feature-request\
**Created:** [February 2, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/source-templates-use-of-source-name/9879 "2024-02-02T22:24:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AndyNZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7feea3/32.png) [@AndyNZ](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/AndyNZ)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/source-templates-use-of-source-name/9879/1 "2024-02-02T22:24:18Z")

</div>

I use a single custom source template for all sources.  
When I add a new source, I am required to give it a name, e.g. Birth of John Fowler.  
This appears in the drop-down list for selecting a source.  
However, it appears that the source name cannot be used as a field when constructing the footnote and bibliography for the source.  
This means that, if I want ‘Birth of John Fowler’ to appear in the footnote, I have to include an additional field in the template (e.g. Title’) and add this to the footnote structure.  
I then enter ‘Birth of John Fowler’ twice - as both the source name and the title.

It would be helpful if the source name could be defined as a field in the template language.

Andy

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rzamor1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/rzamor1/32/8_2.png) [@rzamor1](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/rzamor1)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/source-templates-use-of-source-name/9879/2 "2024-02-02T22:37:46Z")

</div>

The source name and citation name are for organization purposes only. They will not be added as part of the footnote.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/source-templates-use-of-source-name/9879/3 "2024-02-03T01:48:01Z")

</div>

The organization of Sources, Citations, Citation tags. and source templates is little confusing.  
Seeing the table structure might help connect those dots. Personally, I just started using template so I can get things the way I want and tweak as needed.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/2/26d742a36a1e845337df354cc4d0d89ce414b185.png)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/7/706ab6859caaaea543da4999e34fbd63094f127e.png)