Reference Note Template

for Zotero Better Notes

Background

Something I’ve long wanted in a reference manager is the ability to form reference chains, where you can easily discover what research path led you to whatever document you’re viewing.

After switching from Mendeley to Zotero, seeing Zotero's plugin functionality, and messing with Better Notes, it looked like it might be possible, with some combination of Better Notes and Actions and Tags, to set up the auto-reference chains I want, to where I can easily create directional links between items, using notes.

Indeed it is, and I have done so!

Instructions

The process is as such:

1. Install Zotero if you don't already have it.
2. Install the Better Notes and Actions and Tags Zotero plugins (as this requires plugins, it can only be done on desktop, but the result will be visible on mobile (though the note links won’t function 😢)).
3. Install the “Auto-run Better Notes template when opening an item” script.
4. Install the Reference Note citation style.
   1. Open the zip file.
   2. Double-click on “reference-note.csl” to install it in Zotero.
5. Install this “Reference Note” Better Notes template.
   1. Copy the raw file.
   2. In Zotero, choose Tools>New Template from Clipboard.
   3. The template does not auto-update, so be sure to Watch this repository to be notified of changes!

For usage, see the “Use” section of the Better Notes Discussion for Reference Note.