zotero

name Zotero description Use Zotero Desktop from Codex to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full text when requested, and import BibTeX/RIS records into Zotero through the connector server. Use when the user mentions Zotero, citations, references.bib, BibTeX export, local Zotero API, localhost:23119, or adding citations from a Zotero library. Zotero Use this skill to operate a user's local Zotero Desktop library from Codex. Core helper: python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py < command > Resolve <plugin-root> by going two directories up from this SKILL.md file. The helper is stdlib-only and follows the repo convention of running plugin Python helpers with python3 / #!/usr/bin/env python3 ; it does not require Codex-specific runtime discovery. Fast starts Check readiness in one command: python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py status --json Enable the local API and restart Zotero if needed: python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py enable --restart Search and export citation data: python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py search "transformer" --json python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py export-bibtex --out references.bib Insert a citation from Zotero into a draft and keep references.bib in sync: python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py cite --query "Attention Is All You Need" --tex paper.tex --bib references.bib --marker '<cite>' Workflow Start with status --json . Do not rediscover prefs, ports, or profile paths manually unless the helper fails. If local_api_enabled_pref is false, run enable --restart when the user asked you to operate Zotero. This updates Zotero's local preference and restarts Zotero so port 23119 comes up. Use read-only local API commands for normal work: inventory for item/collection/tag summaries. search <query> for papers/items. export-bibtex or sync-bib for .bib files. cite for inserting a citation into a draft. Only retrieve attachment file URLs or full text when the user asks for PDFs, attachment paths, or full-text content. Treat Zotero library writes as explicit write actions. Before import-bibtex , import-ris , or connector save commands, confirm the exact record/source and destination unless the user's prompt already explicitly asked to add/import it. Common commands # Readiness and route map python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py status --json python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py probe --json # Library inventory python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py inventory python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py collections python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py tags # Search and export python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py search "BERT" python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py export-bibtex --out references.bib python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py export-bibtex --item-key PXW99EKT python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py citations --style apa --json # Draft editing python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py cite --item-key PXW99EKT --tex paper.tex --bib references.bib --marker '<cite>' python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py cite --query "BERT" --markdown notes.md --bib references.bib --marker '<cite>' # Attachments and full text; use only on request python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py children PXW99EKT --json python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py fulltext 2JAZS9U8 --out attention-fulltext.txt python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py file-url 2JAZS9U8 # Writes to Zotero; confirm first unless explicitly requested python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py selected-target --json python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py import-bibtex --file new-reference.bib -- yes python3 <plugin-root>/skills/zotero/scripts/zotero.py import-ris --file new-reference.ris -- yes Output standards For inventory/search, return title, creators, year, Zotero item key, and BibTeX key when available. Explain the two-key distinction when relevant: Zotero item keys like PXW99EKT are not the same as exported BibTeX keys like vaswani_attention_2023 . For .bib export, return the absolute output path and entry count. For draft citation insertion, report the edited file, inserted citation key, and updated .bib path. For blockers, name the exact gate: Zotero app missing, local API disabled, port closed, connector unavailable, no matching item, or write not confirmed. Route details Read references/local-api-routes.md only when you need endpoint details beyond the helper commands.