Zotero Write Skill#

Write, tag, annotate, and edit a local Zotero SQLite database.

Database & Safety#

• Database: E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite
• ⚠️ SAFETY: Always use --backup before any write operation. Backups saved to E:\Refer.Hub\backups/
• Required: Close Zotero application before writing to the database
• Rule: Never run write operations without --backup — the script will refuse

Scripts#

• scripts/write_items.py — All write operations

Scripts Usage#

0. Always backup first#

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite"

This saves a timestamped backup before any write. Always do this first.

1. Add tags to a paper#

First find the item key from zotero-browse skill, then:

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --add-tag ZL42EGES "NAFLD" "FGF15" "silymarin"

2. Add a note to a paper#

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --add-note ZL42EGES "This paper shows FGF15 is the key mediator of silibinin's anti-NAFLD effect."

3. Update a field (metadata)#

bash

# Update title
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --set-field ZL42EGES title "New Title Here"

# Update date
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --set-field ZL42EGES date "2024"

# Update journal
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --set-field ZL42EGES publicationTitle "Journal Name"

# Update DOI
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --set-field ZL42EGES DOI "10.1234/example"

4. Create a new Zotero entry#

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
  --new-item journalArticle \
  --title "Example Title" \
  --authors "John Doe" "Jane Smith" \
  --date "2024" \
  --journal "Nature Medicine" \
  --doi "10.1038/s41591-024-0001-z"

5. List available field names#

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --list-fields

6. Show full item details (before editing)#

bash

py -3 scripts/write_items.py --item-info ZL42EGES

---

Available Fields#

Run --list-fields to see all. Common fields:

fieldNameDescriptiontitlePaper titlecreatorsAuthors (use --authors for new items)datePublication date (YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD)publicationTitleJournal nameDOIDigital Object IdentifierurlWeb URLabstractNoteAbstracttagsTags (use --add-tag instead)volumeVolume numberissueIssue numberpagesPage rangepublisherPublisherISBNISBNISSNISSNjournalAbbreviationJournal abbreviation

Item Types#

When creating new items, use one of:

• journalArticle (default for papers)
• book
• bookSection
• conferencePaper
• thesis
• report
• webpage
• note

Workflow: Tag a paper#

1. Use zotero-browse skill to find the paper's attachment key

2. Run with --backup first

3. Add tags: bash

   py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
     --add-tag ZL42EGES "NAFLD" "FGF15" "biomarker"
   
   

4. Confirm backup was created at E:\Refer.Hub\backups/

Important Notes#

• Backup is automatic with --backup — always use it
• Tags use exact string matching; case-sensitive
• Setting a field that already has a value will overwrite it
• Notes are added as child items linked to the parent paper
• New items get a random 8-char Zotero key
• After writing, Zotero will sync changes on next launch