Breaking the Link between zotero and MS Word

washy21

Hi

The journal that I am attempting to write for requires that your MS Word document should not contain any automated referencing or citation features. Is there any way that once a document has been created using zotero the link between zotero and MS Word can be broken whilst rendering the text editable.

Simon

If you're using Zotero 2.0, click the link button in the toolbar and confirm that you want to remove field codes. If you're using Zotero 1.0, you can perform the equivalent action by selecting your entire document (Control-A) and then press Control-Shift-F9 to remove the field codes. You'll probably want to save a backup copy of your document first.

washy21

Hi Simon

Thanks. I'm using Zotero 2.0 on a Mac with MS Word 2008.

I tried your solution which works, but it does not remove the link between the citation marker, e.g. [1] and the reference/bibliography: if you then delete the [1] the reference goes as well.

Is this an MS Word issue? I would have thought that removing field codes would have solved that.

Best, JW

Simon

On a Mac, you should be able to choose "Remove Field Codes" from the script menu. Alternatively, you can follow the Zotero 1.0 instructions above, but press the Command (Apple) key where you would otherwise press the Control key.

If all goes well, if you choose "Refresh" from the script menu after removing the codes, you should get an error message stating that you must insert a citation (since the codes have been removed). If you don't get an error, then something has gone wrong.

washy21

Hi Simon

I think this might be an MS Word issue?

When I remove the field codes using the techniques described it does free up the notes thereby allowing them to be edited etc, but it does not break the association with the citation in the text - so, essentially the footnote automation in MS Word is still 'live' and is very much still linked to the footnotes regardless of whether or not you have removed field codes.

I suspect that for some this is not an issue, but there will be many publications who might stipulate that this automation causes them major layout headaches.

Hope I'm getting this right - I'm new to referencing software which is perhaps not helping.

mark

there will be many publications who might stipulate that this automation causes them major layout headaches.

I don't think this is the case. I've never heard a publisher complain about footnote automation. To the contrary, it usually makes editing easier for them (ever edited a document in which the end- or footnotes were hand-coded?). The reason they ask for the delinking of citations and bibliography is that these links often are valid on the authors system only, so if they break there is no way of fixing them.

washy21

Thanks Mark

I take your point on this: I will stop worrying about it.

JW