import from bibdesk

gweltaz14
In order to import from Bibdesk into Z standalone, I first exported by Bibdesk databases to Bibtex format. Then I imported into Z. But I discovered that two fields were not properly imported: Pages for journals, and Publisher for books. I added two lines to the BibTeX.js translator:
71 pages:"pages",
72 publisher:"publisher",
Now it works. I have the same problem if I export from Bibdesk to RIS format. But I don't know how to fix the RIS translator.
  • gweltaz14
    I posted too quickly. I do have a problem: ID# 1268888548.
    I am trying to import a bibdesk database into Zotero standalone, and almost immediately I get a Java S warning. I can only import a few titles, not the 4,000 plus I need to import.

    [JavaScript Application]
    An error occurred while trying to import the selected file. Please ensure that the file is valid and try again.

    What could it be? Any help appreciated.
    --Gildas
  • noksagt
    I discovered that two fields were not properly imported: Pages for journals, and Publisher for books
    The 'pages' and 'publisher' fields in BibTeX files do get imported. Please show a minimum failing example.
    I have the same problem if I export from Bibdesk to RIS format.
    An example here would also be useful.
    almost immediately I get a Java S warning
    Please try with a clean install and user data to avoid any problems that are happening due to modifications that you have made.
    I can only import a few titles, not the 4,000 plus I need to import.
    By importing subsets of this file, you should be able to find the problematic record or records.
  • gweltaz14
    Thank you for the comments. I've been working on isolating the field causing the problem. It turns out the field "collection" triggers the Java Script warning. Example below.
    --gildas

    %% This BibTeX bibliography file was created using BibDesk.
    %% http://bibdesk.sourceforge.net/
    %% Created for Gildas Hamel at 2011-05-11 15:03:43 -0700

    %% Saved with string encoding Unicode (UTF-8)

    @collection{Geva:2010kx,
    Address = {Jerusalem},
    Date-Added = {2010-09-04 13:19:03 -0700},
    Date-Modified = {2011-01-25 10:55:29 -0800},
    Editor = {Geva, Hillel},
    Publisher = {Israel Exploration Society / Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem},
    Title = {Jewish Quarter excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem: conducted by Nahman Avigad 1969--1982. Volume IV: the Burnt House of Area B and other studies},
    Year = {2010}}
  • noksagt
    As a work-around, find/replace @collection with @misc. @collection is a fairly uncommon type & I don't even know what we'd want to type it as. But the BibTeX.js translator needs to be made more robust, as it is valid to use non-standard/uncommon types. Eventually, unrecognized types should be imported as documents.
  • gweltaz14
    Thanks. I did replace @collection with @book to avoid the problem.
    -- gildas
  • ajlyon
    I'll eventually work on the robust import-- but can I add @collection --> book for now?
  • gweltaz14
    As far as I'm concerned,yes, @collection --> book is fine (I use the editor field in those cases).
  • ajlyon
    I've added the @collection mapping, and added code that should let us fall back on "document" for unknown types.

    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).

    If this works for you, please post here so that I can submit this change to be pushed to all users.
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