Watched folder” functionality to automatically import PDFs (like Mendeley used to do)

eteixidor

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask if there’s any plugin compatible with Zotero 7 that allows you to watch a local folder (e.g. ~/Bibliography) and automatically import any new PDF added to it—detecting metadata and adding it to the Zotero library.

I know Mendeley had this feature years ago, and ZotFile offered something similar in a semi-automated way, but as far as I understand, ZotFile is not compatible with Zotero 7.

I’ve reviewed the available plugins (Zotero Storage Scanner, Zowie, Open-PDF, etc.), and none seem to offer this functionality. Is there any current alternative? Or any ongoing project planning to include it?

I believe this would be a very useful feature for many users who manage large bibliographic collections.

Thanks in advance!

dstillman

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/watch_folder

dougwyu

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u134673/nktmm3tl965tywwq8xlh.png

I see why you philosophically don't want to add a Watch folder, but PDF downloads regularly fail for me, and I have to go through extra login steps to be able to download PDFs into my Downloads folder. A Watch folder would be very helpful.

tim820

There are other ways to easily add a PDF from a designated folder, for 'stored' files (a zotero-actions-tags script) or 'linked' files (Zotmoov) ...
https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/513365/#Comment_513365
https://github.com/wileyyugioh/zotmoov/blob/master/docs/SETTINGS_INFO.md#search-folder-for-attaching-new-files

dougwyu

thanks tim820. i have installed the plugin, added the script, and pasted in the link to my watched folder, but nothing is happening. Is there another step I should do?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u134673/go3qpv9p29j2vvc5a4bx.png

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u134673/o590nho2ci4j4fv30vmt.png

tim820

@dougwyu maybe the script's developer @RamonMi can advise.

RamonMi

@dougwyu The typical workflow for this script is:

1. Save an item to your library via the Zotero connector in your browser. However, due to network or subscription/permission issues, the PDF/EPUB attachment may not be automatically saved to Zotero.

2. Manually download the attachment for that item to the directory you have configured in the script.

3. Navigate to your Zotero library, select the corresponding item, and trigger the script using a shortcut (or as shown in your screenshot: click Tools → trigger Actions → Add Attachment (FilePicker or Auto‑Latest) to run the script).

4. The script will automatically attach the latest file with the specified suffix (default: *.pdf and *.epub) from your configured folder to the currently selected single item.

Note: As mentioned in https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/watch_folder:

If you already have a local file on disk (say, from an email), you can drag it to the Zotero app, but that’s not the primary way of adding items.

This script is just a shortcut replacement for dragging an attachment or using the context menu (Add Attachment → File).