How to copy bibtex citation key most quickly?

realtime99
Is there any way to copy an item's bibtex citation key using keyboard only? Or to add it to the context menu when an item is highlighted? Currently I am using the mouse to highlight and right-click copy the key. I was hoping that Zutilo would offer an option to do this in its configurable menu, but I don't see it. This would really help my workflow. Thanks.
  • bwiernik
    If you haven’t already, install the BetterBibTeX plugin. Then, you can set your default Export format to be the BBT citation key (which has the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C and can also be used with drag and drop). You can also set any of Zutilo’s additional Quick Copy formats to the BibTeX citation key export format and then assign a keyboard shortcut to those.
  • realtime99
    Thanks. For others trying to do this, setting the Quick Copy format to a specific format is actually a bit tricky - check instructions here: https://github.com/willsALMANJ/Zutilo/blob/master/docs/COMMANDS.md
  • Bourde
    "You can also set any of Zutilo’s additional Quick Copy formats to the BibTeX citation key export format and then assign a keyboard shortcut".

    How to do this exactly?
  • bwiernik
    Click Tools, then Zutilo settings, then set your desired keyboard shortcut for one of the Quick Copy options.
  • Bourde
    I don't see any quick copy option for quick copying Citation Key.
  • bwiernik
    edited June 24, 2023
    The Zutilo plugin lets you set 5 different quick copy formats. Set one of them to be the Better BibTeX citation key.
  • Bourde
    Please, could you share a screenshot? This is what I see. I don't know where to set up 5 different quick copy format: https://snipboard.io/G9oeBu.jpg
  • stephenshank
    For me (Mac OS Ventura 13.2, Zotero 6.0.26), from the menu: Zotero > Settings,

    then Export header, then select Item Format to be:

    Better BibTex Citation Key Quick Copy

    https://snipboard.io/KbciI2.jpg

    Works pretty well. I can envision circumstances where I would simply prefer just the citation key, but it's a minor point... this is fantastic!
  • emilianoeheyns
    You can get just the citation key. You can change the behavior of BBT citation quick copy in the BBT preferences.
  • vladislav.ivanistsev
    Is it possible to have two versions of quick copy.
    I frequently need bibtex (with references) and bibtex keys.
    Right now I am changing the quick copy settings manually. But I want to have two short cuts -- one for references, one for keys.
  • mjthoraval
    For Zotero 6, you can use the plugins BBT + Zutilo, as described above.
    For Zotero 7 Beta, you can use the plugins BBT + Actions and Tags:
    https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-actions-tags/discussions/165

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