Last name + Bibtex import

tutone · March 28, 2012

Just started using Zotero- overall, I like it but have run into a few glitches. Any help/suggestions are much appreciated.

1) Certain last names dont show up correctly. For example, 'JC van Damme' from Bibtex becomes as 'Damme JC van' in Zotero.

2) Each time I update Bibtex file (text), zotero does not update/refresh automatically.

3) Updating citations is not always smooth. If I add/delete a citation mid-document, the existing citation numbers do not get updated (increase or decrease).

Thanks

adamsmith · March 28, 2012

I don't quite understand the role of Bibdesk in your set-up. Zotero isn't designed to update with bibdesk, so you'll need to describe in more detail what you're doing, if you're using any additional plugins etc.

tutone · March 29, 2012

I initially created my references in Bibtex. I am now using Zotero and integrating it with OpenOffice.

Depending on the style format 'Chicago style, Vancouver', the references are displayed differently. I noticed that in Vancouver format 'JC van Damme' became 'Damme JC van'.

I edited this directly in Zotero - I did not see any refresh button in Zotero. So I utilized the refresh button in OpenOffice.

The error messages in OpenOffice complain that the files do not exist for all references in my document. These references do exist in Bibtex as well as Zotero.

Basically, I want to change the way the authors last name is displayed. I dont know how to do this. Thanks a bunch.

adamsmith · March 29, 2012

How should the this look in Vancouver style in your opinion?
van Damme JC?
Can you track down any documentation on this for NLM/Vancouver? - in that case we could change this for the style on the repository.
Otherwise this is changed by setting
demote-non-dropping-particle="sort-only" to demote-non-dropping-particle="never" in the first line of the csl style.
http://www.zotero.org/support/dev/citation_styles/style_editing_step-by-step

tutone · March 29, 2012

Thanks. However, changing setting from demote-non-dropping-particle="sort-only" to demote-non-dropping-particle="never" in the first line of the csl style did not work for me. When I changed to 'never', the bottom part of the screen (containing the citation) did not update automatically.

Here is how the Vancouver style should look:
example1: JC van Damme -> van Damme JC (last name = van Damme)
example2: Antonio da Silva -> da Silva Antonio (last name = da Silva)

What I am seeing is this:
example1: JeanClaude van Damme is-> Damme JC van (last name incorrect)
example2: Antonio da Silva is-> Silva Antonio da (last name incorrect)

It appears that only the last bit of the last name is considered as the 'last name' in the current style on the repository.

DWL-SDCA · March 30, 2012

The alphabetization of name particles isn't straightforward. Different journals / styles follow different conventions and can have different exceptions to the rules. This has been discussed several times over the years. See:

http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/8425/

http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/20926/

http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/21213/

Please be specific about your needs and document your requirements if you can by a link to the journal's style sheet.

This is one of those "one size doesn't even fit one much less all" things that can be frustrating...especially so because of the exceptions.

adamsmith · March 30, 2012

I double checked: Vancouver style (and most other styles) will already display data input as van Damme, Jean Claude as van Damme JC (same for da Silva)
If that's not the case for you, there is almost certainly something wrong with the way those names are input in Zotero for you.
If you're sure you have them in the correct format in Zotero, please export a relevant item in Zotero RDF, open the file with an text editor and copy the entire content somewhere we can see it (not this forum) - patebin.com or gist.github.com work well, e.g.

tutone · April 2, 2012

Thanks. Will give it another try.