Upgrade StorageFeature Request: Add an Option to Toggle Parentheses in In-Text Citations
Description:
I would like to request a new feature in Zotero that allows users to toggle parentheses in in-text citations directly from the citation insertion interface. This could be implemented as a check box or a similar user-friendly option.
Currently, parentheses in in-text citations are controlled by the CSL (Citation Style Language) file, which requires users to manually edit the CSL or switch between different styles if they want citations with or without parentheses. This process is time-consuming and not intuitive for users who need flexibility in their citation formatting.
Proposed Solution:
Add a check box or toggle option in the citation insertion dialog that allows users to choose whether to include parentheses around in-text citations. For example:
☑ Include parentheses → (Author, Year)
☐ Include parentheses → Author, Year
This feature would be especially useful for users who frequently switch between citation formats (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) or who need to adapt citations for different writing contexts.
Benefits:
Improved Flexibility: Users can easily switch between citation formats without needing to edit CSL files or switch styles.
Time-Saving: Eliminates the need for manual editing of citations after insertion.
User-Friendly: Makes Zotero more accessible to users who are not familiar with CSL editing.
Example Use Case:
In APA style, a user might want to include parentheses for some citations ((Smith, 2020)) but omit them for others (Smith, 2020).
In narrative citations, users might prefer to omit parentheses for better readability (e.g., "According to Smith (2020), ...").
Additional Notes:
If implementing this feature directly in the interface is not feasible, an alternative could be to allow users to define custom citation formats or shortcuts that include/exclude parentheses. For example, a keyboard shortcut or a dropdown menu could toggle the parentheses on/off.
Conclusion:
This feature would greatly enhance Zotero's usability and flexibility, making it an even more powerful tool for academic writing and research. Thank you for considering this request!
I would like to request a new feature in Zotero that allows users to toggle parentheses in in-text citations directly from the citation insertion interface. This could be implemented as a check box or a similar user-friendly option.
Currently, parentheses in in-text citations are controlled by the CSL (Citation Style Language) file, which requires users to manually edit the CSL or switch between different styles if they want citations with or without parentheses. This process is time-consuming and not intuitive for users who need flexibility in their citation formatting.
Proposed Solution:
Add a check box or toggle option in the citation insertion dialog that allows users to choose whether to include parentheses around in-text citations. For example:
☑ Include parentheses → (Author, Year)
☐ Include parentheses → Author, Year
This feature would be especially useful for users who frequently switch between citation formats (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) or who need to adapt citations for different writing contexts.
Benefits:
Improved Flexibility: Users can easily switch between citation formats without needing to edit CSL files or switch styles.
Time-Saving: Eliminates the need for manual editing of citations after insertion.
User-Friendly: Makes Zotero more accessible to users who are not familiar with CSL editing.
Example Use Case:
In APA style, a user might want to include parentheses for some citations ((Smith, 2020)) but omit them for others (Smith, 2020).
In narrative citations, users might prefer to omit parentheses for better readability (e.g., "According to Smith (2020), ...").
Additional Notes:
If implementing this feature directly in the interface is not feasible, an alternative could be to allow users to define custom citation formats or shortcuts that include/exclude parentheses. For example, a keyboard shortcut or a dropdown menu could toggle the parentheses on/off.
Conclusion:
This feature would greatly enhance Zotero's usability and flexibility, making it an even more powerful tool for academic writing and research. Thank you for considering this request!
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bwiernikAn option for narrative citations “Author (Year)” is planned.