Zotero mixes between lastname og firstname

marcn31
Hello (sorry for bad grammar)

My zotero switches between firstname and lastname with some books.

Here is what I have tried os far:
downloading new style - no solution

Editing between lastname and firstname - just mixes it even more and no solution.

Downloading the books again - no solution

Trying to switch between author and editor - no solution.

I does it with only some books (at the moment, though I think its all books now that I put in).

Can someone help? Im not good with computers and zotero, so I need simpled described help :) (sorry)

Best regards
  • adamsmith
    could we get some examples?
    Also, we read French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and if need be Italian and Dutch, so if writing in any of those helps, go ahead and do that.
  • RintzeRintze
    @adamsmith, hey, no need to list Dutch as a second-choice language :P.

    @marcn31, are the names for the problematic books stored in the "two field" format in your Zotero library? And as @adamsmith already pointed out, providing some examples would help us figure out what's exactly going wrong.
  • marcn31
    Here are some examples: It is a little hard to explain probaly since I have tried some new things since I put up this discussion, I hope you will understand :)

    Zotero is put in two fields yes. "Lastname, firstname" with all the books yes.

    So if I put a reference it will be "firstname lastname" in word (No , in between).
    But in zotero it is "lastname, Firstname"

    Ex. " John Dewey, Experience and Education, 17. printing, Kappa Delta Pi Lecture Series (Collier Books, 1974), 21."

    But If i try and reverse the names in the books in zotero itself so I put the firstname in the box that says "lastname" so it goes "firstname, lastname", it will (of course) in word stand like "lastname, firstname" BUT, only the first time, the second time i make a reference it will show the first name again - which is incorrect way to do it.

    ex:
    1th "Dewey John , Experience and Education, 17. printing, Kappa Delta Pi Lecture Series (Collier Books, 1974), 21."
    2th John, Experience and Education, 17. printing, Kappa Delta Pi Lecture Series (Collier Books, 1974), 21.

    Since i deliberately reversed the names in zotero, I changed them back. And then zotero noticed it and popped up a window that said something about that I had made some changes and would I accept it or not. I pressed yes.

    THEN, zotero updated the document and made the refence "lastname, first". Perfect I thought! until i again made a reference, and then i was back to "firstname, lastname"

    So all in all. I have no idea whats going on. So basicly thats the examples I can give you :/

    I cant find a connection between the books lastname and firsname has been switched.

    Thank you so much for helping!
  • adamsmith
    this looks exactly right:
    you enter names as lastname, firstname in Zotero.
    Chicago Manual, in notes, prints firstname lastname.
    There probably is a footnote style that does lastname, firstname--though it'd be unusual, but you have to try some out to see.
  • marcn31
    Thank you. But I dont think its just a matter note.

    I have tried chicago manual, in notes, and in full notes. I still the same.

    I want all my notes to be shown i word "lastname, firstname, titel.. and so on" and then second time I make a reference its "lastname, titel..."

    Zotero is just not consistent in its way of showing references.
  • DWL-SDCA
    Zotero is exactly consistent in showing references according to the style that was selected. That appears to be the basis of your difficulty

    As I understand your problem, you want to use a Chicago-like style but with a non-standard way of displaying author names.

    There may already be a Zotero citation style that meets your needs. However, finding that style so that you can add it to your Zotero system will require you to search for it.

    Start out by reviewing the documentation on Zotero styles:
    https://www.zotero.org/support/styles

    That web page is available in several language translations.

    Strongly implied by @adamsmith and Rintze above but perhaps not understood:
    You can ask your question here in a language other than English.

    Is the particular name display pattern something that is required by an institution or a publisher? Is there a printed document or web page that lists the style requirements and standards?

This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Before commenting here, you should strongly consider starting a new discussion instead. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.

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