Splitting tags in multiple libraries

stuartcain
I've just imported all of my references from Endnote to the Zotero standalone using Bib Tex export (RIS wouldn't work).

I'm now trying to sync the standalone to the Zotero server, however it's having trouble with tags that appear to be separated only by a / (in every reference) and therefore are appearing as one big chunk of characters. Since the sync to the server has a max character limit of 256, the sync won't work.

I've been splitting the tags by defining the / as the separator, but since I'm having to do it for each reference it is taking forever. Is there some way to set it do do all of my records at once, or at least all one library at a time, rather than one click per reference?

Thanks
  • ajlyon
    I just made a modified version of the BibTeX importer that might fix this for you. You'll need to re-import from Endnote, but it should get the tags right.

    Please go to http://github.com/ajlyon/zotero-bits/raw/master/BibTeX.js and save the file to the translators directory of your Zotero data directory (http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data).

    Then try importing again.
  • stuartcain
    Hi thanks for the help, but I'm afraid that didn't work either. It just keeps coming up with the same dialog for every single reference.

    " The following tag in your library is too long for the server:
    4-Aminopyridine/pharmacology Action Potentials/drug effects/*physiology Animals Calcium/metabolism Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology Calcium Channels/*physiology Female Hippocampus/*chemistry/physiology Male Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism Peptides/pharmacology Potassium Channel Blockers"
  • ajlyon
    You saved the translator, then removed the old import, emptied the trash, and did a fresh import from the BibTeX?
  • stuartcain
    I've just tried exporting/importing as RIS, which has worked this time, however, I'm getting the same tags problem.....so it seems to be a more broad problem than just BibTex.

    I initially downloaded the references using the endnote to pubmed connection from the endnote program.
  • ajlyon
    The tags are using a non-standard format-- they shouldn't usually be /-delimited.
  • stuartcain
    Yes I saved the translator, deleted the records and directory in zotero, emptied trash and restarted my PC, then tried again. Several times and with RIS, but always same problem. I'll have a look at the endote export prefs.....
  • ajlyon
    Yes, try to set a different tag delimiter.
  • stuartcain
    OK I got it to work. I've had to sacrifice my tags though.

    I noticed in Endnote that that in the file for the reference, under keywords there was very often keyword with / in it, e.g.:

    Amino Acid Substitution
    Animals
    Autistic Disorder/genetics
    Calcium Channels/genetics/*physiology
    Calcium Channels, L-Type/genetics
    Calcium Channels, P-Type/physiology
    Calcium Channels, Q-Type/physiology
    Calcium Channels, T-Type/genetics
    Cerebellar Ataxia/physiopathology
    Epilepsy, Generalized/genetics

    I think this was the problem. Zotero appeared to start linking all of the keywords together when the / was involved. I changed the RIS export so that it didn't export keywords and now it imports to Zotero and syncs with the server just fine. I need to try and get zotero to automatically re-enter keywords now. I've set it do do so in preferences, fingers crossed.

This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Instead of commenting here, you should start a new discussion. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.