zotero-api-skill
Zotero HTTP API helper for downloading, fetching, searching, creating, and updating Zotero items. Use when syncing or managing Zotero items programmatically; defaults to ZOTERO_USER and ZOTERO_API_KEY environment variables.
Best use case
zotero-api-skill is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Zotero HTTP API helper for downloading, fetching, searching, creating, and updating Zotero items. Use when syncing or managing Zotero items programmatically; defaults to ZOTERO_USER and ZOTERO_API_KEY environment variables.
Teams using zotero-api-skill should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/zotero-api-skill/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How zotero-api-skill Compares
| Feature / Agent | zotero-api-skill | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Zotero HTTP API helper for downloading, fetching, searching, creating, and updating Zotero items. Use when syncing or managing Zotero items programmatically; defaults to ZOTERO_USER and ZOTERO_API_KEY environment variables.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Zotero API Skill ## Overview Use `scripts/zotero_cli.py` to perform deterministic Zotero API operations: download items to disk, fetch a single item, search items, create new items, or write updated metadata back to Zotero. The script reads `ZOTERO_USER` (user ID) and `ZOTERO_API_KEY` from the environment unless overridden by flags. ## Quick Start Download all items (skip attachments by default): ```bash zotero-api-skill/scripts/zotero_cli.py download --output-dir ./output ``` Fetch a single item as JSON: ```bash zotero-api-skill/scripts/zotero_cli.py get --key ABCD1234 ``` Update an item from a JSON file: ```bash zotero-api-skill/scripts/zotero_cli.py update --key ABCD1234 --input ./output/ABCD1234/original.json ``` Search items by query: ```bash zotero-api-skill/scripts/zotero_cli.py search --query "transformer retrieval" --limit 10 ``` Create an item from data JSON: ```bash zotero-api-skill/scripts/zotero_cli.py create --input ./new_item.json --data-only ``` ## Tasks ### Download items Use `download` to save each item into its own directory under `--output-dir`. The script writes `original.json` and a dated `original-MM-DD.json` snapshot. Common options: - `--limit`: page size for Zotero API pagination. - `--max-items`: stop after N items. - `--include-attachments`: include attachment items. - `--start`: start offset for pagination. - `--no-snapshot`: skip the dated snapshot file. ### Fetch a single item Use `get` with `--key` to print the item JSON to stdout, or pass `--output` to save it to a file. ### Search items Use `search` with `--query` to run a Zotero quicksearch. Optional filters: `--qmode`, `--item-type`, `--tag`, `--start`, `--limit`. ### Create items Use `create` with `--input` to POST new item data. The input file can be: - A list of data objects (array), or - A single data object, or - A list of full Zotero items (with a top-level `data` field). ### Update item metadata Use `update` with `--key` and `--input` to PUT item metadata. The input file can be: - A full Zotero item JSON (with a top-level `data` field), or - A data-only object (set `--data-only` to force this). Prefer updating from a freshly fetched item so required fields like `itemType`, `key`, and `version` stay consistent. ## Notes - The script uses Zotero API version 3 and retries on transient HTTP errors. - If you need the same update flow as the repo, edit the `data` payload and use `update` to write back.
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