How to manage files (PDFs) between Zotero and Scrivener
A newbie to both programs. When I add a resource to Zotero (a PDF, say), Zotero keeps track of it. But Scrivener has a way to keep track of research materials as well, and stores added PDFs internal to your Scrivener project. How do I get both programs to reference the same physical file? Do I add the file to Zotero (either a downloaded PDF, or directly from a web page) and then drag that file that Zotero is keeping track of to Scrivener? But will Scrivener make its own separate copy?
I'm interested in the correct workflow when using the two programs and to not duplicate the files that they are keeping track of. Thanks!
I'm interested in the correct workflow when using the two programs and to not duplicate the files that they are keeping track of. Thanks!
You can use the Zutilo plugin (follow the link from http://zotero.org/support/plugins) to add a "Copy select item links" option to Zotero's right-click menu. This will copy a link to the item in your Zotero library (e.g., zotero://select/items/1_FM4LRKVJ) that you can paste into Scrivener to quickly access a relevant file for a particular section in your manuscript.
To add citations from Zotero to Scrivener, you will want to install the ODF Scan plugin into Zotero (also follow the link from http://zotero.org/support/plugins). The workflow you will use is this:
(1) As you write in Scrivener, copy citations from Zotero in the "Scannable Cite" format and paste into Scrivener.
(2) Once you are done writing, export from Scrivener to .odt format.
(3) Scan the file with Zotero's RTF/ODF Scan function to convert the placeholder citations into live Zotero citations.
(4) Open the file in LibreOffice for final formatting.
(By the way, when you are adding items to Zotero, you always want to attach PDFs to a proper Zotero bibliographic item—that opens up most of Zotero's functionality. See here for more details: http://zotero.org/support/getting_stuff_into_your_library)
However, whenever I want to copy the citation (using command + shift + c for Mac or do it manually) it gives me this error
>>>"An error occurred while trying to export the selected file."<<<
I have tried with all my PDF files I have in Zotero and it always shows me this error. How can I overcome this problem?