- name
- zotero-write
- description
- Write, tag, annotate, and edit a local Zotero SQLite database. Use when the user wants to: (1) Add tags or labels to papers in their Zotero library, (2) Add notes or annotations to specific papers, (3) Update paper metadata (title, authors, journal, date, DOI, etc.), (4) Create new Zotero items manually. Activates on: 'tag this paper', 'add a note to', 'update the metadata of', 'add this to my Zotero', 'create a new Zotero entry', 'edit Zotero', 'organize my Zotero with tags', any request to modify, annotate, or write to the Zotero database.
- metadata
- openclaw
- emoji
- 📝
- requires
- env
- []
- bins
- ["python3 (with sqlite3 built-in)"]
- primaryEnv
- null
Zotero Write Skill
Write, tag, annotate, and edit a local Zotero SQLite database.
Database & Safety
- Database:
E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite - ⚠️ SAFETY: Always use
--backupbefore any write operation. Backups saved toE:\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
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:
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
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)
# 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
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
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --list-fields6. Show full item details (before editing)
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --item-info ZL42EGESAvailable Fields
Run --list-fields to see all. Common fields:
| fieldName | Description |
|---|---|
| title | Paper title |
| creators | Authors (use --authors for new items) |
| date | Publication date (YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD) |
| publicationTitle | Journal name |
| DOI | Digital Object Identifier |
| url | Web URL |
| abstractNote | Abstract |
| tags | Tags (use --add-tag instead) |
| volume | Volume number |
| issue | Issue number |
| pages | Page range |
| publisher | Publisher |
| ISBN | ISBN |
| ISSN | ISSN |
| journalAbbreviation | Journal abbreviation |
Item Types
When creating new items, use one of:
journalArticle(default for papers)bookbookSectionconferencePaperthesisreportwebpagenote
Workflow: Tag a paper
- Use
zotero-browseskill to find the paper's attachment key - Run with
--backupfirst - Add tags:
py -3 scripts/write_items.py --backup "E:\Refer.Hub\zotero.sqlite" \
--add-tag ZL42EGES "NAFLD" "FGF15" "biomarker"- 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