A powerful command-line interface for Zotero that allows researchers to manage bibliographic references, read attachments, and sync notes directly from the terminal.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install zotero-cli
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install zotero-cli using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Zotero CLI?
Zotero CLI is a specialized tool designed for researchers and developers who prefer a terminal-centric workflow. By leveraging the Zotero API, this skill enables seamless access to your library without needing to open a heavy GUI application. It is a vital component of the Openclaw Skills ecosystem, providing a bridge between academic research and automated coding environments.
This skill allows you to search your entire bibliography, add or edit notes using your favorite terminal editor, and even open PDF attachments directly. Its integration with Python-based scripts makes it highly extensible for automated citation management and complex literature reviews. By incorporating this into your development environment, you can maintain your research flow without ever leaving the command line.
Zotero CLI Use Cases
- Conducting literature reviews by searching and exporting citations in BibTeX or RIS formats.
- Quickly adding or editing research notes using terminal-based editors like Vim, Nano, or VS Code.
- Automating the retrieval and reading of PDF attachments for offline processing.
- Batch processing research queries to organize and filter large volumes of academic papers.
How Zotero CLI Works
- Initialize the connection by running the configuration command to link your Zotero API credentials securely.
- Execute search queries using advanced boolean logic to find specific papers, collections, or tags within your library.
- Interact with retrieved items by adding markdown-formatted notes or launching local PDF viewers for attachments.
- Use the integrated helper scripts to export citations for LaTeX documents or create automated backups of your research configuration.
Zotero CLI Setup
To get started with this Openclaw Skills entry, install the package via pipx for system-wide access or pip for a local user installation.
# Recommended installation via pipx
sudo apt install pipx && pipx ensurepath
pipx install zotero-cli
# Configure API credentials
zotcli configure
# Set your default terminal editor (optional)
export VISUAL=vim
Zotero CLI Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill manages research data through the following structures:
| Component | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Search Queries | String | Supports Boolean (AND, OR, NOT), phrase, and prefix search |
| Item Metadata | JSON/Table | Displays title, author, and date for library items |
| Attachments | PDF/File Path | Direct access to the first PDF attachment found for an item |
| Citations | BibTeX/RIS | Structured bibliographic data for academic writing |
| Notes | Text/Markdown | Plain text notes synchronized with the Zotero cloud |
Zotero CLI Advanced Features
- Support for complex boolean query syntax including grouping and phrase searching for precise research.
- Integration with specialized helper scripts like quick_search.py for formatted table outputs.
- Automated backup and restore functionality for your CLI configuration and research environment.
- Native support for batch processing multiple queries from text files to streamline large-scale research within the Openclaw Skills framework.
SKILL.md
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