What

I am currently making use of Zotero in order to manage my references for my masters. This is a highly useful application. I can use their extension for browsers to automatically add references from online sources. It is also highly convenient when you need to make a reference of a PDF. It does all of this automatically. The first thing that I want to do, however, is automate the process of adding a reference to Zotero, and then getting the application to automatically update the bib file that is used within the LaTeX report. This process also makes much better cite keys for LaTeX which you would prefer to be simpler for ease of writing.

The process is as follows.

How

  • First install Zotero.
  • Link up to your Zotero account inside the application
  • Following this and this guide.
  • Get the add-on from here
  • Tools > Add-ons
  • Select ‘Extensions’
  • Click on the gear in the top-right corner and choose ‘Install Add-on From File…’
  • Choose the .xpi file downloaded and install
  • Restart Zotero

The plugin does not need to be updated; it will do this automatically.

The installation should be completed with all of the default settings.

Once the installation is completed, exporting can take place. This is done as follows:

  • File > Export Library…
  • Select Better BibTeX for the format
  • Select ‘Export Notes’ and ‘Keep updated’
  • Select OK
  • Select the folder that you wish to send the bib file to
  • Rename the bib file to what you need