No. before "Series Number" data field

dfblodge · 2026-10-08T13:54:34+00:00

Hello. I am working on a Zotero library for my work to use as a "go to" for citations. I have been working on it for a while now and a recent update changed something that impacts my previous work. Prior to the recent update, Zotero automatically entered "No." before the data entered into the "Series Number" data field when a bibliography was created in SAA style, which is needed for the references I am entering. After a recent update, the "No." is no longer automatically entered in the citation. My issue is that I now need to go back and manually enter "No." at the end of the data in the "Series" field for "No." to appear in the citation. Going back and manually entering the "No." will take a little time, but is not that big of a deal. My main concern is that Zotero could reintroduce the automatic "No." generation in a future update and then, if I have manually entered it, it will be duplicated. Can I request that Zotero goes back to automatically adding the "No."; can I get assurances that they will NOT re-add it in a future update; or is this just an error in the update that needs corrected? I just don't want to take the time to go back and add it just to have a future update go back to the automatic system, which would mess up my entries (again) and require me to go back and take out the manually entered "No.". Please advise.

damnation · 2026-10-08T14:25:01+00:00

SAA recently switched over to Chicago, hence the change you noticed.
I assume our Chicago styles do this the way Chicago is meant to do.

dfblodge · 2026-10-08T14:31:02+00:00

Correct, the SAA style recently adjusted to follow Chicago style; however, the "No." is not automatically entered in Chicago style either. I don't know if it was before the update as I was using SAA and not Chicago style before it occurred. Like I said, I'm fine manually entering the "No." if this is what Chicago style requires, I just worry that automatic entry will be re-introduced in the future, which would duplicate my work and mess up the citations.

damnation · 2026-10-08T17:21:28+00:00

We switched the SAA style to just point to Chicago. A few weeks ago. Hence you noticed this change.

Does the Chicago manual require the number label also?

bwiernik · 2026-10-08T21:57:33+00:00

@dunning

dfblodge · 2026-10-09T13:17:10+00:00

Based on what I'm reading, the Chicago manual does not require a "no." or "vol." label for books in a series, but falls to the naming convention used by the publisher. As such, it seems like I should be safe to manually add "No." to my entries, since this is our naming convention, without worry of Zotero automatically adding it in the future since it isn't required in the Chicago style. Thoughts?

damnation · 2026-10-09T13:51:33+00:00

But the publisher switched to Chicago, and with that their naming convention.
For your info, I made the SAA styles on behalf of them years ago and they got in touch with me to change it over to CMOS. So, I'd say stick with what Chicago says.
I would add the label to your data as that can then lead to double labels with other styles and is not how Zotero is meant to be used.

dfblodge · 2026-10-09T13:59:54+00:00

Chicago is a style guide, not the publisher. My work does most of its own publishing.

damnation · 2026-10-09T14:18:23+00:00

You can, of course, use the old SAA style if need be.
The source code can be still found on our GitHub repository.

dfblodge · 2026-10-09T14:22:19+00:00

Based on the Chicago Manual style not requiring the "No.", it seems unlikely that Zotero will switch back to auto generating it in citations (hopefully this is the case). As such, I think it will be safe for me to just add it as part of the "Series" data field without fear of duplication in the future.

damnation · 2026-10-09T14:54:17+00:00

Again, adding a label to the Zotero field is not the correct way and might mean you need to manually delete it again at a later stage.
I don't fully understand where you're publishing, but as I said already, we can show you where to find the old style. It's public, open source code.

dfblodge · 2026-10-09T15:12:56+00:00

If I don't add "No." to the Zotero field then I need Zotero to go back to auto generating it, which doesn't match the Chicago Manual guidelines of not requiring it. I also can't go back and use the older SAA style because the older style has other differences than the new SAA style that is based on Chicago style.