References not updating in MS word

SoloQvist
Hi all!

I am a librarian trying to help one of our ph.d's out. She is in the final stages of writing her dissertation has been forced to switch ref.manager from Mendeley to Zotero (it's a long story...can't use menedeley any more though).

I've tried my best to help her so that she can still access her references and use the original document and 200+ citations. But I can't seem to get references linked to zotero correctly. Any changes i make in the zotero library are not reflected in the document.

I have imported the mendeley library via the correct import procedure and can add new references to the document. But if I, for instance, change the metadata of a reference this change won't reflect.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?

Many thanks,
Olof
  • adamsmith
    While Mendeley citations work with Zotero, I'm pretty sure they're not linked to the imported Zotero items, so there really isn't an alternative to deleting and re-inserting the ones you/she needs to update
  • tnajdek
    edited September 27, 2024
    If citations were originally created in Mendeley Desktop, and assuming you're using a relatively recent version of Zotero with either Word or LibreOffice integration, the citations should be re-linked to the imported items, provided the import was done using the default method (i.e., using the import wizard in Zotero and entering Mendeley account credentials).
  • jdlea
    I posted a macro in https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/465655/#Comment_465655, which might help (save a backup first!). You can use it by inserting citations of every item in the new library at the end of the document (use multiple source citations from old style insert dialog), running the macro, and removing the added citations.
  • SoloQvist
    Thanks everyone for your replies!

    Tnajdek, this is what I have read and assumed. We are using the latest version of zotero alongside word 2016 (I think). The weird thing is references act somewhat like they are linked. I can generate a bibliography from the existing references, search and add new ones as well as add page numbers and similar to those that were already in the document. But, if I change for instance the capitalization of a journals name in the metadata nothing updates in the document. I tried inserting a new bibiography but that did not work...

    The macro is a bit advanced for me to try. Many thanks though, Jdlea.
  • damnation
    By the sound of it it seems like your citations are active.
    Can you concretely tell us what citation style you're using and give us an example of what it currently looks like and what you'd wand in comparison?
  • SoloQvist
    Sure, damnation.

    I've tried a number of styles, APA 7th most recently.

    So for an example. I have this reference by Ryan, M. in the biblography. The journals name is in CAPS. I've changed this in Zotero, but when I hit "update"or delete an reinsert the bibliography the journal name is still in caps. It does not have to do with the style. Rather, what I do with the reference in zotero isn't reflected in word.

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u4694021/m5bwlpd38hfzjolcvmsd.png
  • damnation
    edited September 30, 2024
    Try this item in a fresh document. If that works, then what you're citing in your old document is a stray item that's not connected to your library anymore. You'd need to insert the one from the library.

    (Also, you should set up syncing to avoid any potential data loss)
  • SoloQvist
    Thanks, that works!

    You are right in regards to sync!

    Thanks!
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