Workaround for "chain" link removal allowing quick linking to Web sites

toddneff
This is a great product, but I'm a bit alarmed with the absence of "chain link" icon to capture links to Web sites in Zotero 2.0.x.

I don't need to save entire Web pages much of the time and would like to open a folder and add a file link with a simple click. Is there still a way to do this? I've read previous postings and the answer seems to be "no," but I'm not completely clear it is. Seems silly to remove one of the most simple and elegant features of the software for basic users. I'm sure it was done for some good reasons, but I'm hoping to preserve my primary use of this tool.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    http://zotero.org/support/kb/missing_link_and_snapshot_buttons
  • ajlyon
    To summarize the link Dan posted, there is no change in functionality.

    Standalone links and snapshots just don't make a lot of sense in terms of bibliographic data management. Any robust metadata and note-taking will require a full-fledged item, and there are no drawbacks that I can see to creating full-fledged items.
  • toddneff
    Dan, thanks for this -- sorry not to have drummed that up.

    They key part is here, then:

    "If “Automatically take snapshots when creating items from web pages” is enabled in the General pane of the Zotero preferences, the Create New Item from Current page button will create a child snapshot under the web page item. Shift-clicking the button will temporarily toggle the setting, allowing you to create a web page item with no snapshot even if the snapshot preference is enabled (or vice versa). "

    So in short, clicking on the "Create New Item" page while holding the shift key does just what the chain link-to button used to.

    Thanks again.
    Todd
  • ajlyon
    edited March 16, 2010
    So in short, clicking on the "Create New Item" page while holding the shift key does just what the chain link-to button used to.
    Except that it's even better, since it lets you add more metadata (author, publication, etc.), if you want to.
    And if you prefer the no-snapshot behavior, you can disable "Automatically take snapshots when creating items from web pages" in the preferences.
  • toddneff
    Ok, got it -- I'd not taken the metadata into account, which is a big deal. I'm much clearer on this now. Thanks to both.

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