Latex compilation ↔ bibliography style change: rollback safety

Latex compilation ↔ bibliography style change

When a user switches the bibliography style by replacing the .bst file and recompiles the document, the resulting PDF may have broken citations, changed reference numbering, or missing fields. The goal is to determine whether LaTeX offers a documented rollback mechanism that restores the original style and cross‑reference state without manual file replacement.

Constraints include the lack of a native undo feature for package or style changes, the need to preserve the integrity of cross‑references, and the fact that tools such as latexdiff require manual conflict resolution when package versions differ.

Unresolved questions:

• Does LaTeX provide any built‑in way to revert to a previous .bst file after recompilation?
• Can latexdiff or similar tools reliably generate a diff that can be applied to roll back a bibliography style change, and what are the pitfalls?
• What is the recommended workflow to ensure that cross‑references remain valid when switching bibliography styles?