Add/Remove Fields

chrisriser

I think it would be great if we could add or remove fields to the info section of a given Zotero item.

So, if I want to add a "place of publication" field to the generic "Document" item, I can simply click on an "add field" button/menu item, select the field type, and then enter the relevant data.

Also, this "add field" menu could have a list of "recently used" and/or "frequently used" fields to make adding fields more efficient.

adamsmith

I don't think that's a good idea, no:
Many citation styles rely on the fact that some fields don't exist for certain item types - it'd be a bad idea to mess with that.
(Also, avoid the "Document" item type as much as you can - it doesn't work well with citation styles).

chrisriser

Well, "Document" has worked splendidly for my Honors thesis, and I think it would make sense to be able to make modifications to generic items such as "Dcument," "Report," and "Manuscript," for example.

adamsmith

It's not going to happen any time soon. Apart from the issue with citation styles - which is significant - allowing customization also complicates syncing and - even more so - groups. I don't know if it's ever going to happen, but certainly not in the next year or so.

If you need a field for an item type it doesn't exist for, provide a use case (style guide and citation) and if it's compelling there's a good chance we'll add it.