Opening Zotero links in desktop app not Web Library

boblew4 · January 13, 2024

Hello,

Not sure if this is possible, but I have recently started using Notion in conjunction with Zotero. One thing I would love to be able to do is annotate PDFs in Zotero link them to my Notion database with Notero then be able to click a link on my Notion page to take me directly to the Zotero entry. I use ZotFile and Zutilo and have been able to generate links that Notero places into Notion. However, those links open in Zotero's Library. Is there a way to link so that it opens in the app not the Web Library?

I'm relatively new to Zotero plugins so I may be missing a simple setting.

adamsmith · January 13, 2024

Zutio is able to create "Zotero item select" links (I think that's the label used -- sorry, don't have it installed here) -- they start with zotero://select -- those open items in the local Desktop.

boblew4 · January 13, 2024

Thank you that worked. However, looking more at the Notero guide, it appears that Notion cannot open file path links like those from Zutilo.

Thanks for your help.

adamsmith · January 13, 2024

I don't know what Notion can do, but just for terminological precision (and in case it matters), these are not file path links (those would start with file://). They are URIs with a dedicated schema (zotero:) and they can open from within many other programs.

boblew4 · January 13, 2024

Great to know!

mjthoraval · January 14, 2024

You can open Zotero URIs from Notion by doing a redirection in your browser:

1) You can test with an individual link following this method: https://kevinjalbert.com/using-url-scheme-links-in-notion

2) You can do that more systematically using a URL redirector extension in your browser for the "Zotero URI" links produced by Notero.
For example, I have tested with the Requestly extension in Chrome, doing a "Replace String" rule:
If request
- URL Contains "https://zotero.org/[yourusername]/items/"
- Replace "https://zotero.org/[yourusername]/items/" With "zotero://select/library/items/"

3) You can also do that manually for all the links obtained through Zutilo or Actions & Tags (for Zotero 7 Beta)
If request
- URL Contains "http://zotero/"
- Replace "http://zotero/" With "zotero://"
In Notion, I first paste the Zotero link: zotero://open-pdf/library/items/XZHI5QI2
Then put the URL link on it: http://zotero/open-pdf/library/items/XZHI5QI2
It is a bit painful, as you need to edit each link manually and remember the format you have chosen. But I don't know if there is a better way to do it.

You can also avoid the confirmation popup in Chrome, so that the link opens faster: https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/?policy=URLAllowlist

See:
https://github.com/dvanoni/notero/issues/78
https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/110001/online-uri-links-wont-work-anymore