citation macro with ConTeXt

Question

Consider the following example (background in this question).

\setupbibtex[database={library},sort=author]
\setuppublications[alternative=apa]

%\define[1]\reference{\cite[data][#1]}

\starttext
\cite[data][Bohr:1923tl]
%\reference{Bohr:1923tl}

\section{References}
\placepublications[criterium=all]

\stoptext

after running it through Mk-IV is shows the expected behavior:

Simply defining a macros by uncommenting define – without even using it – breaks it. (def does not help either).

How to define citation macros?

Answer 1

To elaborate a bit on my comment: \reference is the Context user interface macro to the pdf hyperlink facility (for the curious: it is defined among similar commands in strc-ref.mkvi). It is used internally as well, for instance in the macro \thebibtexpublicationlistelement, which typesets a single entry of the bibliography list (cf. bibl-bib.mkiv).

For this reason, redefining \reference is a Bad Idea™: It will definitely break automatically generated references, the corrupted bibliography being collateral damage. If you use \define, Context will kindly give you a hint in the log file:

system          > command \reference is already defined

Choose a harmless macro identifier instead: Capitalization for instance will ensure that a macro never conflicts with any of the internals. Thus, \Reference is the preferable choice.