diff --git a/src/Citation.h b/src/Citation.h
index fed47a5aef..c48e3c432b 100644
--- a/src/Citation.h
+++ b/src/Citation.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #ifndef CITATION_H
 #define CITATION_H
 
+#include "support/docstring.h"
 #include <string>
 
 namespace lyx {
@@ -51,6 +52,44 @@ public:
 	bool textBefore;
 };
 
+
+/**
+ * Class for storing information about a given citation item in a given context.
+ * This is used in the label and menu string generation process.
+ */
+class CiteItem
+{
+public:
+	/// The context this citation is displayed
+	enum CiteContext{
+		Everywhere,
+		Dialog,
+		Export
+	};
+	///
+	CiteItem() : forceUpperCase(false), Starred(false),
+		context(CiteItem::Everywhere), textAfter(docstring()),
+		textBefore(docstring()), max_size(128), max_key_size(128),
+		richtext(false) {}
+	/// requests upper casing author prefixes (van -> Van)
+	bool forceUpperCase;
+	/// is starred version (full author list by default)
+	bool Starred;
+	/// where this to be displayed?
+	CiteItem::CiteContext context;
+	/// text after the citation
+	docstring textAfter;
+	/// text before the citation
+	docstring textBefore;
+	/// the maximum display size as a label
+	size_t max_size;
+	/// the maximum size of the processed keys
+	/// (limited for performance reasons)
+	size_t max_key_size;
+	/// output richtext information?
+	bool richtext;
+};
+
 } // namespace lyx
 
 #endif