Help importing bib from Library Master into Zotero

ndk
I've been using Library Master for more than 10 years, and thus have a large number of records. The export format is .txt, though it claim to be consistent with RIS format.

Can someone help me get these records into Zotero?

Nelson
  • noksagt
    What issues are you having when you try to import it?
  • ndk
    When I click the "gear" icon to import records, and then click on the exported file (the one with the .txt) extension, Zotero tells me it doesn't support that format, and invites me to see which formats it does support.
  • adamsmith
    edited June 9, 2010
    open your RIS file with a text editor (notepad, TextEdit, gedit)
    You'll see a block of text like the one I've posted below for each of your items.
    Post one of them - probably best to take the first one - here.


    TY - JOUR
    ID - 829
    T1 - Market orientation: a meta-analytic review and assessment of its antecedents and impact on performance
    JF - Journal of Marketing
    A1 - Kirca,A. H
    A1 - Jayachandran,S.
    A1 - Bearden,W. O
    VL - 69
    IS - 2
    PY - 2005///
    SP - 24
    EP - 41
    ER -
  • noksagt
    edited June 9, 2010
    A sample RIS file is at:
    http://www.refman.com/support/risformat_sample_02.asp

    Does your data look like this when you open it it a text editor? If so, try to import a single record into Zotero. If that does not work, paste that single record here (preferably in a <code> block)

    EDIT: We do occasionally doublepost, adamsmith. You, too, might use <code> in the future, as it prevents the forums from eating the double space that is required by RIS.
  • ndk
    Here is a sample bib entry:

    {Journal Article}
    [Authors] Beale, Gregory K.
    [Title] Eden, the temple, and the church's mission in the new creation
    [Periodical] Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
    [Volume] 48
    [Issue] 1
    [Date] March 2005
    [Pages] 5-32
    [Location] ml
    [Subjects] Eden
    [Subjects] Paradise
    [Subjects] tabernacle
    [Subjects] temple
    [Subjects] Israel
    [Subjects] ecclesiology
  • adamsmith
    yeah - I forgot, just fixed it.
  • adamsmith
    that has nothing to do with RIS.

    You might be able to fix it by using search and replace and the RIS specifications
    http://www.refman.com/support/risformat_intro.asp

    also you might want to check if library master really can't export actual RIS.
  • ndk
    You're right . . . that's the problem. Library Master saves only in a .txt file. How might I get that exported file of records into shape according to RIS specifications, so as to be able to import it into Zotero?
  • adamsmith
    the problem isn't the file extension - which you could just change (though you wouldn't have to - Zotero recognizes RIS in .txt files) - but the actual formatting of the file.
    Is there really no other export format for library master?

    If not, the best I can think of would be to use search and replace to get this into RIS specifications - e.g. search for {Journal Article} and replace with TY - JOUR
    though that would still be a lot of work.

    Maybe someone else has a better idea, though.
  • ajlyon
    Do you have this?
    * IBM PC or compatible microcomputer
    * 512K memory
    * One floppy disk drive for small conversions. A hard disk is recommended
    * MS-DOS 2.0 or higher. Microsoft Windows compatible.
    If so, the makers of Library Master can sell you Data Magician: http://www.balboa-software.com/datamag.html , which can export MARC, which Zotero can import.

    Otherwise, http://www.balboa-software.com/libfaq.html#EXPORT doesn't look to promising.
  • dmiller
    Ideally, Zotero or a Zotero user would create an import filter for "Library Master" since I imagine there are many potential Zotero users in Nelson's position, and the "Library Master" database structure is quite straightforward.
  • ajlyon
    It is unlikely that the core Zotero team will craft a new import filter for Library Master, but such a contribution would be welcome from others. I'm not on the core team and I write translators, but this is a piece of software I know nothing about. And it is really the responsibility of a decent library/bibliographic software company to provide at least a basic export into an actual standard format. Zotero currently supports all major bibliography standards that I know of.
  • ndk
    For exporting records from Library Master to Zotero, here is the solution my friend suggested, and it worked!

    1. Download a demo version of EndNote.
    2. Import the Library Master database into EndNote.
    3. Then go to EndNotes export function. In the "Output Style" menu, choose "Select Another Style..." and you'll get a large selection including RefMan (RIS).

    My problem has been solved!

    Nelson
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