> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/questions-and-answers/80-the-journal-says-don-t-use-bibtex-paste-the-contents-of-the-.bbl-file-into-the-.tex-file-.-how-do.md).

# The journal says "don't use BibTeX; paste the contents of the .bbl file into the .tex file". How do

Some publishers use article-submission systems that only compile the submitted `.tex` file(s) in a single `pdflatex` or `latex` run—i.e., they don’t run `BibTeX`. In such cases, the publisher’s guidelines might ask authors (whose manuscripts use BibTeX) to paste the contents of the `.bbl` file into the article’s main `.tex` file.

This article shows two ways to access the generated `.bbl` file contained in your Overleaf project and provides [a short video](#video) demonstrating downloading a `.bbl` file and pasting its content into the project’s main .tex file.

## Downloading files from the cache

Files created during compilation are stored in the project’s cache, including any `.bbl` files.

Follow these steps to download a file contained in the cache:

1. click the file icon (![Accesslogs.png](/files/5ef8MajEP1VMt4Zo13pG)) beside the **Recompile** button;
2. scroll down and select **Other logs and files**;
3. a list of files in the cache is presented;
4. select **output.bbl** to download it.

![Image showing how to download a cached file](/files/oAtPPY6J9VSckGoxkrF3)

As demonstrated in the [short video](#video), comment out the line `\bibliography{...}` within your `.tex` file on Overleaf, then paste the contents of the `.bbl` file downloaded from the cache.

## Downloading the source, including the .bbl file

It’s also possible to download the source code with the `.bbl` included. Use the following steps to do that:

1. select **Submit** from the menu above the PDF preview window;
2. scroll down to **Online Repositories**;
3. locate **arXiv**;
4. select **Submit your paper to the arXiv**

   ![Submit to arXiv from Overleaf](/files/ZY1aRq6XR63N9lpoDWm5)
5. within the pop-up window select **Download project ZIP with submission files (e.g. .bbl)**;

   ![Submit to arXiv from Overleaf](/files/CnM69EK7CEDweTfFO97r)
6. extract the `.bbl` file from the downloaded ZIP file;
7. (see video) comment out the line `\bibliography{...}` within your `.tex` file on Overleaf, then paste the contents of the `.bbl` file.

The project is now ready to be submitted to the journal, complying with any requirements for the contents of the `.bbl` file to be pasted into the article’s main `.tex` file.

## Video

The following video demonstrates downloading a `.bbl` file and pasting its contents into the project’s main `.tex` file.

{% embed url="<https://videos.ctfassets.net/nrgyaltdicpt/65uUq86OvB2xwj1yhGbcAG/b0bcf7e169f2185ce1ef1dc9bce651ff/GettingBBLfileVideo.mp4>" %}


---

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