.bib file with repeated entries/not distinguishing similar items

adamrb · May 9, 2018

In my bibliography I have two different items which happen to have the same date, first author and first word of the title. Therefore when I export my .bib file (or sync it with overleaf) the .bib file has repeated entries as they are both listed as alomari_natural_2017.

I've only recently started having this problem and I think it may be caused by an update. Previously the .bib file would label the entries as alomari_natural_2017 and alomari_natural_2017-1.

Anyone know what I can do?

adamsmith · May 9, 2018

We can take a look, but I'd recommend using https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-better-bibtex which has specific code in place to prevent key-clashes.

emilianoeheyns · May 9, 2018

@adamrb: whether you get the -1 postfix or not under the regular Zotero bibtex export depends on whether you are exporting both at the same time (you will get the -1) or not (no -1). BBT (which @adamsmith linked to) does not exhibit this behavior; you will always get one reference postfixed, regardless of in what combination you export them.

adamrb · May 10, 2018

@adamsmith Cheers! I'll have a look at Bibtex soon.

@emilianoeheyns I'm actually running into the problem when I'm syncing with overleaf. Presumably the sync exports all at the same time?

adamsmith · May 10, 2018

Ah, I think that would be the problem. I believe the API (i.e. the sync with Overleaf) exports in chunks of 50, so that would cause this. I'm not sure we'll have a solution for this before Zotero has proper citekey support.

BetterBibTeX has some way to integrate with Overleaf via git, but my recollection is that @emilianoeheyns (who wrote it) described it as clunky.

emilianoeheyns · May 10, 2018

It's no longer clunky. It does the push to git itself now. I'm on mobile so it's hard for me to link to my own site but it's under the config options.

emilianoeheyns · May 10, 2018

Ha, there it is: https://retorque.re/zotero-better-bibtex/push-and-pull/

emilianoeheyns · May 10, 2018

(this will soon require a paid overleaf account as they're retiring the free direct git support in favor of paid github sync. I have an overview of git-sync options at https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-better-bibtex/issues/939)