The item returned from nextItem() inside the translator has a citationKey field when BBT is installed. This is available to all translators.

I think it's as easy as adding
LB:"citationKey", in the field map here:
https://github.com/zotero/translators/blob/master/RIS.js#L177 (it's placement isn't relevant. That will put it into LB which is RIS label. You can use any other two letter combo that isn't already taken up for RIS, too.

You can modify the RIS translator in Scaffold/Translator Editor -- I'd recommend creating a separate copy with a different ID and a slightly different name, so your version won't be overwritten with RIS updates.

Then make sure to click the "Save to Zotero" (not the regular save) button in Scaffold. Note that you can't test export in Scaffold, so you'd have to do that straight from Zotero.

I hope that's enough detail. Try it out and ask for help if you get stuck.

After getting this to work, I'm not finding the Zotero is crashing about 50% of the time after I export and RIS citation. Is there a way I can send in a crash log so that you can see what might be wrong.

Crash as in freeze or as in shut down? If it's a freeze, I'd guess you may have built an infinite loop into the export.

Here is the error: 1251791168.

Thank you. I've updated my RIS. js file with your fix and things are working better. :)

Less. Here is the last report: 814674794

If you submit a log through "Help" -> "Send Better BibTeX support log" after a crash, I can read those. The log may tell me what you mean by "crash", but it's better if you tell us.

I'm confused now. I asked "less crashes, or no crashes", and you said "less". Under the circumstances, that implies "some number greater than 0". At the same time you say "so far so good" which to me implies "no crashes". Do you still experience crashes, and if so, what do you see happening (or don't you see happening) that you mean when you say "crash"?

Again -- I cannot not read these reports. I can only read reports sent through "Help" -> "Send Better BibTeX support log" after a crash. If the report ID does not end with "-euc" or "-apse" I cannot read them.

And we still very much need to know what you mean by "crash".

@emilianoeheyns hey there. Thanks for your patience. I am not a developer and am unfamiliar with coding. I am doing my best. Yes, I'm reading your replies. I see now, however, that I was misreading your VERY clear instruction RE which error log reporting method I should use. I understand now. Sorry. :(. I see that you had told me what to do. I can see now why you're understandably frustrated with me.


What I mean by crash: When I drag an entry from Zotero to my Tinderbox file, i.e. export a citation from Zotero to Tinderbox, Zotero unexpectedly closes and I am presented with a crash report. I then need to restart Zotero and start the whole process all over again. If you have another way of "defining" the term crash, please advise.

I apologize if I am making the harder than it needs to be. I don't mean to. Clearly, I am displaying my ignorance of how the software works and how I'm supposed to add your modified RIS file properly into Zotero so it works properly.

I do appreciate your support. If there is a step-by-step guide you can provide, I'd appreciate it on how I'm supposed to get your modified RIS file in, I'd appreciate it. I tried the translator editor, but again I'm stumbling around in the dark give my lack of skills in this area.

I think I have the crash report log working right now: NARRCZYY-euc. Feel like a dufoos.
thank you!

I see several exports happening in NARRCZYY-euc, and they're from my modded translator, but I see no errors in that log.

Looks like I've got it working. Have been using it now for about 4 hours with no problems. Thanks for your help and patience.