Skip to content

Commit

Permalink
Reorder README.md content to reflect usefulness to normal users
Browse files Browse the repository at this point in the history
  • Loading branch information
MaxKuehn committed Sep 3, 2019
1 parent a9ed352 commit f4a8c32
Show file tree
Hide file tree
Showing 2 changed files with 28 additions and 29 deletions.
55 changes: 27 additions & 28 deletions README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,36 +1,21 @@
# Zotero Scholar Citations (ZSC)

This is an add-on for Zotero, a research source management tool. The add-on automatically fetches numbers of citations of your Zotero items from Google Scholar and makes it possible to sort your items by the citations. Moreover, it allows batch updating the citations, as they may change over time.

When updating multiple citations in a batch, it may happen that citation queries are blocked by Google Scholar for multiple automated requests. If a blockage happens, the add-on opens a browser window and directs it to https://scholar.google.com/, where you should see a Captcha displayed by Google Scholar, which you need to enter to get unblocked and then re-try updating the citations. It may happen that Google Scholar displays a message like the following "We're sorry... but your computer or network may be sending automated queries. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now." In that case, the only solution is to wait for a while until Google unblocks you.

Currently, Zotero doesn't have any special field for the number of citations, that's why it is stored in the "Extra" field. To sort by this field you have to add it in the source listing table.

*IMPORTANT:* in version 1.8 the field for storing the number of citations has been changed from "Call Number" to "Extra" -- please update your column configuration.

The add-on supports both versions of Zotero:

1. Download the lastest version of the add-on from [the release page](https://github.com/MaxKuehn/zotero-scholar-citations/releases). It's an ".xpi" file.
1. In Zotero (Standalone) go to Tools -> Add-ons -> click the settings button in the top-right corner -> Install Add-on From File -> select the downloaded file and restart Zotero.

Read about how the add-on was made: https://blog.beloglazov.info/2009/10/zotero-citations-from-scholar-en.html

## Why the Fork

The original maintainer [Anton Beloglazov](https://github.com/beloglazov) seems semi-active.

[Texot](https://github.com/tete1030) fixed some stuff that needed fixing BADLY, that is

- Fix detection of google robot checking
- Show `No Citation Data` in failure cases instead of `00000`

**But there's more that should be done!**

## RoadMap
## Batching & CAPTCHAs
When updating multiple citations in a batch, it may happen that citation queries are blocked by Google Scholar for multiple automated requests. If a blockage happens, the add-on opens a browser window and directs it to https://scholar.google.com/, where you should see a Captcha displayed by Google Scholar, which you need to enter to get unblocked and then re-try updating the citations. It may happen that Google Scholar displays a message like the following "We're sorry... but your computer or network may be sending automated queries. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now." In that case, the only solution is to wait for a while until Google unblocks you.

The [RoadMap can be found here](https://github.com/MaxKuehn/zotero-scholar-citations/blob/master/RoadMap.md).
## Installation
The add-on supports Zotero Standalone:
1. Download the lastest version of the add-on from [the release page](https://github.com/MaxKuehn/zotero-scholar-citations/releases). It's an ".xpi" file.
1. In Zotero (Standalone) go to Tools -> Add-ons -> click the settings button in the top-right corner -> Install Add-on From File -> select the downloaded file and restart Zotero.

## Extra Column Info
Currently, Zotero doesn't have any special field for the number of citations, that's why it is stored in the "Extra" field. To sort by this field you have to add it in the source listing table.

### New Format in 1.8
In version 1.8 the field for storing the number of citations has been changed from "Call Number" to "Extra" -- please update your column configuration.

### New Format in 2.0.x
Version 2.0.0 introduced a new format for storing the citation count, i.e. `ZSCC: 0000001`. Unfortunately that means existing pre 2.0.0 entries are incompatible in terms of sorting and you have to update them.
Expand All @@ -50,11 +35,11 @@ The format of the staleness counter allows you to search for items with stale ci
### Existing "Extra"-Column Content
ZSC will
- update legacy ZSC "extra"-content, i.e. 5 digit citation counts and "No Citation Data" entries
- respect content that is already in the "Extra"-field
- ZSC will simply prepend the citation count to any existing content, so you can sort by the extra field to get the most cited items
- respect content that is already in the "Extra"-field by simply prepending the citation count to any existing content
- this allows you to sort by the extra field to easily get the most/least cited items

#### When Updates fail
Consider temporary cutting out/deleting the "Extra" content. ZSC will update the citation count. After that you can simply append the previously removed.
Consider temporary cutting out/deleting the "Extra" content. ZSC will update the citation count. After that you can simply append the previously removed information.

## Why is ZSC unable retrieve the citation count for item X?
The most likely culprit is that ZSC search is too precise :^). Some Items do not have as complete of an author list on google scholar as they have in Zotero.
Expand All @@ -71,6 +56,20 @@ One combination of authors will certainly yield the correct search.

You can also temporarly recreate that combination in Zotero. ZSC will then successfully query that item. Once you re-add the author however, updates will fail again. :(

## RoadMap
The [RoadMap can be found here](https://github.com/MaxKuehn/zotero-scholar-citations/blob/master/RoadMap.md).

## Why the Fork

The original maintainer [Anton Beloglazov](https://github.com/beloglazov) seems semi-active.

[Texot](https://github.com/tete1030) fixed some stuff that needed fixing BADLY, that is

- Fix detection of google robot checking
- Show `No Citation Data` in failure cases instead of `00000`

**But there's more that should be done!**

# License

Copyright (C) 2011-2013 Anton Beloglazov
Expand Down
2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion RoadMap.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
- improve captcha handling & introduce request batching
- if you update 200 papers you prob get captchas starting at 100 or so
- all remaining request will run into a captcha an result in a prompt
- even when the captcha situation is resolved, those items won't be update unless another update is requested
- even when the captcha situation is resolved, those items won't be updated unless another update is requested
- **solution/workaround**
- can't get around some sort of batching/sequencing
- if you throw 100 requests into the event loop, they'll happen no matter what
Expand Down

0 comments on commit f4a8c32

Please sign in to comment.