AppleScripts: Zotpick

[@GerriDad]

Dr. Cifuentes, this is a great video, thank you for putting it together. I’m running the latest version of Zotero and the interface is a bit different, but all the options you mentioned seem to still be there. The new version of Automator is also a bit different. I don’t think I’ve missed anything, but I’m running into a snag. My keyboard command triggers, causing me to be prompted to open Zotero (when it’s closed), but when I open the program and hit the command again, nothing. The window that pops up in your demo is not showing up. This may be a question for a forum or email, but I figured I’d try here to see if you might have any insight. Any help is appreciated.

[@patho977]

Yep, the interface changed, I just get a red bar.

[@eslinc]

+Nicholas Cifuentes-Goodbody Thank you very much for your clear and enthusiastic presentation. May I ask your advice? I created the keyboard shortcut Command-Y successfully. I use Scrivener for Mac (2.8.1.2) and Zotero Standalone (5.0.7) set to Scannable Cite as the Default Format [Zotero>Preferences>Export>Default Format]. I did not install BetterBibTex, but BibLaTeX and BibTex are the other options in the Default Format window. After I place the cursor where I want the citation and press the shortcut command, I'm taken to the screen in Zotero where I can see the entire library. However, this screen is different from the one seen in your video. The top of the Zotero screen in your video says "Add/Edit Citation" and has options like "Prefix," "Suffix," "Show Editor," "Multiple Sources," "Page," "Cancel," and "OK." I cannot add the citations. How do I get to your screen? What's your advice? Big Thanks.

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Could you post a few screen shots?

[@gnosos9812]

I can't address most of your issues, but I recommend installing Better BibTeX or Better BibLaTeX. Then when you begin a writing project, create a special collection for it, and use BibLaTeX to attach the collection to the .bib file in the folder where your writing is going. As you write and need an additional reference, add it to the collection. This will automatically update the .bib file. You only have to do this once per reference. Then as you write, simply use the Cmd-Y command to insert citations where you want them. Doing things this way keeps down the size of the collection you have to deal with and the script has to search. Also, make sure you've copied Zotero's .csl file(s) for the citation style(s) you're using to the folder in which you're writing.

[@eslinc]

@@gnosos9812 Your explanation is much appreciated. Have a great day wherever you are.

[@RishabhKhare]

Any suggestions on using it with a LaTeX document?

[@gnosos9812]

I think BibTeX and BibLaTeX use the same conventions. So this should work with LaTeX.

[@vishalkumar040393]

Will this work in Windows and Linux?

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Sorry! AppleScript works on Mac OS only.

[@matm8953]

Hi, thanks a lot for the great presentation. I am using RStudio to do Rmarkdown documents and I do not fulfill to make it work :( Could you help me with this please? On my mac, Zotpick works with firefox, textmaker, word, etc but not with Rstudio (I have check and there is no shortcut conflict).

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Thanks! When you say it's not working, what exactly is not working? If the script isn't typing the cite key into your document, I'm not sure what the problem is. You might try opening the Rmarkdown file in TextEdit and trying there. If you are adding the cite keys but you're not getting the references when you knit the document, make sure you're including your bib file in the YAML header for the document. So the start of your Rmarkdown document should be something like: --- title: Habits author: John Doe date: March 22, 2005 output: html_document bibliography: bibliography.bib --- See more here: rmarkdown.rstudio.com/authoring_bibliographies_and_citations.html Happy writing!

[@matm8953]

@@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody thanks a lot for your answer ! I did exactly what you told in the video. The script is amazing for Word, textmaker, firefox, it works like a charm. In Rmarkdown, I am currently using the citr package and I have no problem compiling my bibliography, but the Zotpick script could make things sooo much easier and fast. The problem is, in Rmarkdown, the script is not starting, I have an error sound instead, and for all the .R and .Rmd files. As you advised, I open the .R or .Rmd files in textedit, and ... Zotpick works on these files in textedit. Did you already use Zotpick with Rmakdown ?

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

@@matm8953 OK, I think I know what the problem is. RStudio only let's you use keyboard shortcuts that are defined in the application itself. So I suggest you use a package like citr (github.com/crsh/citr) and then assign the same keyboard shortcut in RStudio in tools > modify keyboard shortcuts. Let me know how it goes!

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Actually, it looks like citr integrates directly with BetterBibTex. Awesome!

[@gnosos9812]

I like the rbbt plugin for RStudio better than the citr plugin. It's faster and it uses the standard Zotero dialog for inserting citations (in Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.) The latest production version of RStudio is 1.3, but I've heard that 1.4 will have Zotero support built-in.

[@lfriedla]

Nicholas, I tried to install and got the following error message: "Better BibTeX not installed, This script will not work unless Better BibTeX is installed. Please make sure that Better BibTeX is installed in the running instance of Zotero." Is there an intermediate step missing? Thanks.

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Hi Lewis. Yes, you need to install BBT first. I have a video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXK5iYmhmNWVfZI. However, BBT is currently being updated to be compatible with Zotero 5.0. So if you're using Zotero 5.0, you'll need to wait for the update.

[@lfriedla]

Nicholas, I don't use BibTex, I just write in Scrivener, RTF export to Word, Scan and format. Not ideal but it works. What is the advantage of using this system? (Apology, I realize this a large, very general question).

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Hi Lewis. The workflow you describe is one I've used, too, and I like. In the end, I think the most important thing is that it work for you --- anything to keep us focused on writing, right? For me, there are three advantages to writing in plain text. First, I don't need to worry about formatting. Second, I can writing in any text-editing program --- whether it's my own notes, outline, or final draft. Finally, I can export to any format. Good luck with your writing!

[@lfriedla]

Thanks Nicholas, very kind.

[@KeithDvorak]

Something might be wrong with the video? It goes to just after you try to test the script. Then the Thanks slide appears. You continue to talk for a few seconds and then it freezes. Is it just me?

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Strange. I'm not seeing that problem on my end. Maybe give it a try later. If you still can't watch the whole thing, let me know.

[@JBzle-ol6yc]

THANK YOU !!!

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Julien Bazile Rock on!

[@JBzle-ol6yc]

I was trying to figure out for weeks how to use Zotero with Scrivener. I use the exact same method as you show, but instead of the BibTex export format i choose the scannable cite format. This saved me a lot of time ! I figure it out with a fellow PhD student. Now I can use Scrivener, hit a key (that I can configure), chose a Zotero reference within the dedicated panel, integrate the citation formatted in my document and then export (ODT), scan ODT to citations with Zotero and there I have my document with Zotero citations that I can configure. Great !

[@NicholasCifuentesGoodbody]

Julien Bazile Great to hear! Anything to make writing that dissertation easier 🤓

[@labellavitadiveronique]

Hi Julien, Would you be so kind to share with me this information? I am currently writing a mastes' (LLM) dissertation and would like to use Scrivener as it looks like a great tool. I have been using Zotero for two years now, and I would like to integrate it with Scrivener for best results. I would be most grateful if you could share with me your solution. P.s. I don't have any prior technical knowledge and skills, so plain English would be a plus :)

[@JBzle-ol6yc]

Hi Valerie, I tried to explain it a bit in detail here : forums.zotero.org/discussion/65869/towards-a-better-integration-between-zotero-and-scrivener Hope it helps

[@tommisaltiola]

I made macro to make those brackets automatically

[@olivegys2093]

You could have simply added "brackets=true" to the line "/usr/bin/curl 'localhost:23119/better-bibtex/cayw?format=pandoc&brackets=true' 2>/dev/null; exit 0">