Scannable Cite problems - using Zotero with Scrivener
I am trying to use Zotero and Scrivener together so that I can paste citations from Zotero into my Scrivener project and when I've exported it, create the bibliography.
I've found plenty of relevant information on this forum, but am still stuck. I have downloaded the RTF/ODF scan for Zotero, but like many other users, Scannable Cite doesn't show up in my Export list under Preferences Default Copy Format.
Other messages have sent me to this GitHub page: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Juris-M/zotero-odf-scan-plugin/master/resource/translators/Scannable Cite.js
But I'm not a programmer at all and have no idea what to do with that page. I seem to be able to download it only as a webarchive page, or copy it into a text editor in which case it needs to be called .rtf or .txt. How do I download it as a .js file in the Zotero Translators folder (which I have located)?
I am using a MacBook OS 10.13.6, Zotero standalone 5.0.54 and Scrivener 2.8.1.2.
Any advice much appreciated! Thanks.
Philip
I've found plenty of relevant information on this forum, but am still stuck. I have downloaded the RTF/ODF scan for Zotero, but like many other users, Scannable Cite doesn't show up in my Export list under Preferences Default Copy Format.
Other messages have sent me to this GitHub page: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Juris-M/zotero-odf-scan-plugin/master/resource/translators/Scannable Cite.js
But I'm not a programmer at all and have no idea what to do with that page. I seem to be able to download it only as a webarchive page, or copy it into a text editor in which case it needs to be called .rtf or .txt. How do I download it as a .js file in the Zotero Translators folder (which I have located)?
I am using a MacBook OS 10.13.6, Zotero standalone 5.0.54 and Scrivener 2.8.1.2.
Any advice much appreciated! Thanks.
Philip
1. I was using the Zotero beta version, so I uninstalled it before reinstalling Zotero 5.0.55 for Windows. That seemed to work.
2. I installed the RTF/ODF Plugin from Github: https://zotero-odf-scan.github.io/zotero-odf-scan/ The RTF/ODF Scan for Zotero now appears under Extensions in the Add-on Manager window (so, I think I've done that correctly).
4. Under Zotero Preferences, I found RTF Scan, but not Scannable Cite. Therefore, I followed the directions above for downloading the JavaScript: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Juris-M/zotero-odf-scan-plugin/master/resource/translators/Scannable Cite.js
(It appears with the JavaScript icon, so I think I did it correctly).
5. In Zotero Preferences under the Cite Tab, I clicked on the '+' sign before navigating to where I downloaded the JavaScript file-- I only see one option for viewing files: CSL Style. Now that I've downloaded it, I'm not sure how to install it, link it, or whatever I need to do. (I saved the file in 'Extensions' folder because I could not find the 'data' or 'translation' folders like others suggested.)
6. I can now drag-and-drop citations from Zotero into Scrivener, but I believe this is because I selected the RTF Scan. However, it's not doing it properly. The citation should look like this: { | Cassé, & Lyle, 2003 | | |zu:1521059:TBIESI54} but instead it looks like this: {Taylor, "Solar System Evolution: A New Perspective", 2005}. This is an older project, so this process has worked for me in the past. I worry that having two different citations styles in the same document will not work once it comes time to compile and export.
7. I just seem to know enough about technology to get it to a place that it does not work, so please help. Thank you.
Todd
I've been trying to troubleshoot things:
If the JS file is in the Zotero 'Program File (x86)' does it automatically detect it, or do I have to link it? If so, how? Also, does it matter where the JS file is saved? I placed it in the 'poppler-data' and the 'extension' files, but those didn't work. Now I've moved it to the root Zotero folder, but still no luck.
Also, under 'Tools' > 'RTF/ODF Scan' I've tried 'RTF; ODF (to citation); and ODF (to markers)' with no change. The input/output files are not set up. Does this make a difference?
Finally, I've tried using 'Alt+Ctrl+C' on the citation in Zotero and then 'Alt+Ctrl+V' in Scrivener-- all that does is type a 'V' in my Scrivener document.
Thank you.
2. For scanning you need to set up an input file, otherwise it doesn't do anything.
3. Since this isn't a citation (as per above), you need Alt+Ctrl+a in Zotero. That copies the item to the clipboard, so you'd just use Ctrl+v in Scrivener.
I resaved the JS file in the Program File (x86): Zotero root folder (it is 3KB JavaScript file named Scannable Cite) using the link above. Then I opened Zotero. Under 'Preferences > Export tab > Default Format drop-down menu' it is still not appearing. Then I restarted the computer and Zotero, but it is still not appearing.
Based on this posting, I was thinking about uninstalling Zotero 5 and down-grading to Zotero 4: https://catherinepope.com/how-to-use-zotero-with-scrivener-part-2/
However, as I was in the process of doing this, I received a message that I would lose bibliographic data/fields that I created in the newer version. I have more than 1400 items, so I don't want to mess things up. I don't have anything too complicated: books, chapters, and articles all in English.
Would I lose data if I downgraded? Also, is Zotero 4 still being supported? This process (bringing scannable citations into Scrivener) has worked for me in the past (on this same computer)-- the only thing I can think that might be different was upgrading Zotero.
I've been getting up every morning at 4:30 to write, but this week I've spent that time trying to get this to work. I don't need anything fancy, so if I can safely downgrade to get this to work, I'm ready to do that.
Ultimately, it would not surprise me if this is an operator error, but I'm not sure what I am or am not doing wrong. Thanks for your responses.
Todd
(And no, downgrading isn't safe, no, Zotero 4 is no longer supported, and this works exactly the same in Zotero 4 and 5)
I export the text (with properly formatted {citations}) from Scrivener as an RTF file. I open Zotero, select Tools RTF/ODF scan and select the RTF file and a similarly named output file (with 'scanned' at the end of it automatically added to the filename).
I click on Continue and then get the screen saying 'Zotero is scanning for citations. Please be patient'. And there it hangs. It used to spend perhaps 5-30 seconds on that page depending on the length of the RTF file. Now it sits there indefinitely, even for a single paragraph.
I'm using Scrivener 2.8.1.2, Zotero 5.0.65 and Mac OS Mojave 10.14.4. Can anyone help? Thanks.
Philip
There are two flavors of citation marker. The old-school marker is the "RTF Scan" format, and support for that is built into Zotero. The "ODF Scan" marker has a different format, it works only with ODT documents (not RTF), and you need to have a plugin installed in Zotero in order for it to work.
From your description, it sounds like you are processing the citations using RTF Scan, which is built into Zotero. I just tried processing an RTF document with ODF Scan markers in it, and it behaved exactly as you describe -- it tells me to be patient, and then gives meaning to the admonition by cycling endlessly until I terminate the window. But that's kind of expected, since RTF Scan isn't meant to handle the ODF Scan citation markers.
I've tried the ODT version and that seems to work just fine. But I would prefer to use the RTF citation markers. Any ideas?
If this happens without the plugin installed, we'd want to see a Report ID after triggering the error.