# Zotero Plugin Template
[](https://www.zotero.org)
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template)
This is a plugin template for [Zotero](https://www.zotero.org/).
Some plugins created with this template:
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-better-notes)
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-pdf-preview)
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-pdf-translate)
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-tag)
[](https://github.com/iShareStuff/ZoteroTheme)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/zotero-reference)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/zotero-citation)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/ZoteroStyle)
[](https://github.com/volatile-static/Chartero)
[](https://github.com/l0o0/tara)
[](https://github.com/redleafnew/delitemwithatt)
[](https://github.com/redleafnew/zotero-updateifsE)
[](https://github.com/northword/zotero-format-metadata)
[](https://github.com/inciteful-xyz/inciteful-zotero-plugin)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/zotero-gpt)
[](https://github.com/zoushucai/zotero-journalabbr)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/zotero-figure)
[](https://github.com/MuiseDestiny/zotero-file)
[](https://github.com/l0o0/jasminum)
[](https://github.com/lifan0127/ai-research-assistant)
π [Plugin Development Documentation](https://zotero.yuque.com/books/share/8d230829-6004-4934-b4c6-685a7001bfa0/vec88d) (Chinese, provides English translation)
π οΈ [Zotero Plugin Toolkit](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-toolkit) | [API Documentation](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-toolkit/blob/master/docs/zotero-plugin-toolkit.md)
βΉοΈ [Zotero Type Definitions](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-types)
π [Zotero Source Code](https://github.com/zotero/zotero)
π [Zotero Plugin Template](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template) (This repo)
> π Watch this repo so that you can be notified whenever there are fixes & updates.
If you are using this repo, I recommended that you put this badge ([](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template)) on your README:
```md
[](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template)
```
## Features
> βThe localization system is upgraded (dtd is deprecated and we do not use .properties anymore). Only supports Zotero 7.0.0-beta.12 or higher now. If you want to support Zotero 6, you may need to use `dtd`, `properties`, and `ftl` at the same time. See the staled branch `zotero6-bootstrap`.
- Event-driven, functional programming, under extensive skeleton;
- Simple and user-friendly, works out-of-the-box.
- β[New!]Auto hot reload! Whenever the source code is modified, automatically compile and reload. [See hereβ](#auto-hot-reload)
- Abundant examples in `src/modules/examples.ts`, covering most of the commonly used APIs in plugins(using [zotero-plugin-toolkit](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-toolkit));
- TypeScript support:
- Full type definition support for the whole Zotero project, which is written in JavaScript(using [zotero-types](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-types));
- Global variables and environment setup;
- Plugin build/test/release workflow:
- Automatically generate/update plugin id/version, update configrations, and set environment variables(`development/production`);
- Automatically build and reload code in Zotero;
- Automatically release to GitHub(using [release-it](https://github.com/release-it/release-it));
## Examples
This repo provides examples for [zotero-plugin-toolkit](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-toolkit) APIs.
Search `@example` in `src/examples.ts`. The examples are called in `src/hooks.ts`.
### Basic Examples
- registerNotifier
- registerPrefs, unregisterPrefs
### Shortcut Keys Examples
- registerShortcuts
- exampleShortcutLargerCallback
- exampleShortcutSmallerCallback
- exampleShortcutConflictionCallback
### UI Examples
- registerStyleSheet(the official make-it-red example)
- registerRightClickMenuItem
- registerRightClickMenuPopup
- registerWindowMenuWithSeprator
- registerExtraColumn
- registerExtraColumnWithCustomCell
- registerCustomItemBoxRow
- registerLibraryTabPanel
- registerReaderTabPanel
### Preference Pane Examples
- Preferences bindings
- UI Events
- Tabel
- Locale
See [`src/modules/preferenceScript.ts`](./src/modules/preferenceScript.ts)
### HelperExamples
- dialogExample
- clipboardExample
- filePickerExample
- progressWindowExample
- vtableExample(See Preference Pane Examples)
### PromptExamples
An Obsidian-style prompt(popup command input) module. It accepts text command to run callback, with optional display in the popup.
Activate with `Shift+P`.
- registerAlertPromptExample
## Quick Start Guide
### Install Pre-built `xpi`
See how the examples work by directly downloading the `xpi` file from GitHub release and install it to your Zotero.
This is also how your plugin will be released and used by others.
> The release do not promise any real functions. It is probably not up-to-date.
>
> The `xpi` package is a zip file. However, please don't modify it directly. Modify the source code and build it.
### Build from Source
- Fork this repo/Click `Use this template`;
- Git clone the forked repo;
- Enter the repo folder;
π‘ Start with GitHub Codespace
_GitHub CodeSpace_ enables you getting started without the need to download code/IDE/dependencies locally.
Replace the steps above and build you first plugin in 30 seconds!
- Goto top of the [homepage](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template), click the green button `Use this template`, click `Open in codespace`. You may need to login to your GitHub account.
- Wait for codespace to load.
- Modify the settings in `./package.json`, including:
```json5
{
version,
author,
description,
homepage,
config {
releasepage, // URL to releases(`.xpi`)
updaterdf, // URL to update.json
addonName, // name to be displayed in the plugin manager
addonID, // ID to avoid conflict. IMPORTANT!
addonRef, // e.g. Element ID prefix
addonInstance // the plugin's root instance: Zotero.${addonInstance}
}
}
```
> Be careful to set the addonID and addonRef to avoid conflict.
- Run `npm install` to set up the plugin and install dependencies. If you don't have NodeJS installed, please download it [here](https://nodejs.org/en/);
- Run `npm run build` to build the plugin in production mode. Run `npm run build-dev` to build the plugin in development mode. The xpi for installation and the built code is under `build` folder.
> What the difference between dev & prod?
>
> - This environment variable is stored in `Zotero.${addonInstance}.data.env`. The outputs to console is disabled in prod mode.
> - You can decide what users cannot see/use based on this variable.
### Release
To build and release, use
```shell
# A release-it command: version increase, npm run build, git push, and GitHub release
# You need to set the environment variable GITHUB_TOKEN https://github.com/settings/tokens
# release-it: https://github.com/release-it/release-it
npm run release
```
### Setup Development Environment
1. Install a beta version of Zotero: (Zotero 7 beta: )
2. Install Firefox 102 (for Zotero 7)
3. Copy zotero command line config file. Modify the commands that starts your installation of the beta Zotero.
> (Optional) Do this only once: Start the beta Zotero with `/path/to/zotero -p`. Create a new profile and use it as your development profile.
> Put the path of the profile into the `profilePath` in `zotero-cmd.json` to specify which profile to use.
```sh
cp ./scripts/zotero-cmd-default.json ./scripts/zotero-cmd.json
vim ./scripts/zotero-cmd.json
```
4. Build plugin and restart Zotero with `npm run restart`.
5. Launch Firefox 102 (Zotero 7)
6. In Firefox, go to devtools, go to settings, click "enable remote debugging" and the one next to it that's also about debugging
> Enter `about:debugging#/setup` in FF 102.
7. In Zotero, go to setting, advanced, config editor, look up "debugging" and click on "allow remote debugging".
8. Connect to Zotero in Firefox. In FF 102, enter `localhost:6100` in the bottom input of remote-debugging page and click `add`.
9. Click `connect` in the leftside-bar of Firefox remote-debugging page.
10. Click "Inspect Main Process"
### Auto Hot Reload
Tired of endless restarting? Forget about it!
1. Run `npm run start-watch`. (If Zotero is already running, use `npm run watch`)
2. Coding. (Yes, that's all)
When file changes are detected in `src` or `addon`, the plugin will be automatically compiled and reloaded.
π‘ Steps to add this feature to an existing plugin
1. Copy `scripts/reload.mjs`
2. Copy `reload`, `watch`, and `start-watch` commands in `package.json`
3. Run `npm install --save-dev chokidar-cli`
4. Done.
### Debug in Zotero
You can also:
- Test code snipastes in Tools->Developer->Run Javascript;
- Debug output with `Zotero.debug()`. Find the outputs in Help->Debug Output Logging->View Output;
- Debug UI. Zotero is built on the Firefox XUL framework. Debug XUL UI with software like [XUL Explorer](https://udn.realityripple.com/docs/Archive/Mozilla/XUL_Explorer).
> XUL Documentation:
## Details
### About Hooks
> See also [`src/hooks.ts`](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template/blob/bootstrap/src/hooks.ts)
1. When install/enable/startup triggered from Zotero, `bootstrap.js` > `startup` is called
- Wait for Zotero ready
- Load `index.js` (the main entrance of plugin code, built from `index.ts`)
- Register resources if Zotero 7+
2. In the main entrance `index.js`, the plugin object is injected under `Zotero` and `hooks.ts` > `onStartup` is called.
- Initialize anything you want, including notify listeners, preference panes, and UI elements.
3. When uninstall/disabled triggered from Zotero, `bootstrap.js` > `shutdown` is called.
- `events.ts` > `onShutdown` is called. Remove UI elements, preference panes, or anything created by the plugin.
- Remove scripts and release resources.
### About Global Variables
> See also [`src/index.ts`](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-plugin-template/blob/bootstrap/src/index.ts)
The bootstrapped plugin runs in a sandbox, which does not have default global variables like `Zotero` or `window`, which we used to have in the overlay plugins' window environment.
This template registers the following variables to the global scope:
```ts
Zotero, ZoteroPane, Zotero_Tabs, window, document, rootURI, ztoolkit, addon;
```
### Create Elements API
The plugin template provides new APIs for bootstrap plugins. We have two reasons to use these APIs, instead of the `createElement/createElementNS`:
- In bootstrap mode, plugins have to clean up all UI elements on exit (disable or uninstall), which is very annoying. Using the `createElement`, the plugin template will maintain these elements. Just `unregisterAll` at the exit.
- Zotero 7 requires createElement()/createElementNS() β createXULElement() for remaining XUL elements, while Zotero 6 doesn't support `createXULElement`. The React.createElement-like API `createElement` detects namespace(xul/html/svg) and creates elements automatically, with the return element in the corresponding TS element type.
```ts
createElement(document, "div"); // returns HTMLDivElement
createElement(document, "hbox"); // returns XUL.Box
createElement(document, "button", { namespace: "xul" }); // manually set namespace. returns XUL.Button
```
### About Build
Use Esbuild to build `.ts` source code to `.js`.
Use `replace-in-file` to replace keywords and configurations defined in `package.json` in non-build files (`xhtml`, `.flt`, et. al.).
Steps in `scripts/build.mjs`:
1. Clean `./build`
2. Copy `./addon` to `./build`
3. Esbuild to `./build/addon/chrome/content/scripts`
4. Replace `__buildVersion__` and `__buildTime__` in `./build/addon`
5. Zip the `./build/addon` to `./build/*.xpi`
### About Zotero API
Zotero docs are outdated and incomplete. Clone and search the keyword globally.
> βThe [zotero-types](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-types) provides most frequently used Zotero APIs. It's included in this template by default. Your IDE would provide hint for most of the APIs.
A trick for finding the API you want:
Search the UI label in `.xhtml`/`.flt` files, find the corresponding key in locale file. Then search this keys in `.js`/`.jsx` files.
### Directory Structure
This section shows the directory structure of a template.
- All `.js/.ts` code files are in `./src`;
- Addon config files: `./addon/manifest.json`;
- UI files: `./addon/chrome/content/*.xhtml`.
- Locale files: `./addon/locale/**/*.flt`;
- Preferences file: `./addon/prefs.js`;
> Don't break the lines in the `prefs.js`
```shell
.
|-- .eslintrc.json # eslint conf
|-- .gitattributes # git conf
|-- .github/ # github conf
|-- .gitignore # git conf
|-- .prettierrc # prettier conf
|-- .release-it.json # release-it conf
|-- .vscode # vs code conf
| |-- extensions.json
| |-- launch.json
| |-- setting.json
| `-- toolkit.code-snippets
|-- package-lock.json # npm conf
|-- package.json # npm conf
|-- LICENSE
|-- README.md
|-- addon
| |-- bootstrap.js # addon load/unload script, like a main.c
| |-- chrome
| | `-- content
| | |-- icons/
| | |-- preferences.xhtml # preference panel
| | `-- zoteroPane.css
| |-- locale # locale
| | |-- en-US
| | | |-- addon.ftl
| | | `-- preferences.ftl
| | `-- zh-CN
| | |-- addon.ftl
| | `-- preferences.ftl
| |-- manifest.json # addon config
| `-- prefs.js
|-- build/ # build dir
|-- scripts # scripts for dev
| |-- build.mjs # esbuild and replace
| |-- reload.mjs
| |-- start.mjs
| |-- stop.mjs
| `-- zotero-cmd-default.json
|-- src # source code
| |-- addon.ts # base class
| |-- hooks.ts # lifecycle hooks
| |-- index.ts # main entry
| |-- modules # sub modules
| | |-- examples.ts
| | `-- preferenceScript.ts
| `-- utils # utilities
| |-- locale.ts
| |-- prefs.ts
| |-- wait.ts
| `-- window.ts
|-- tsconfig.json # https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/jsconfig
|-- typings # ts typings
| `-- global.d.ts
|-- update-template.json # template of `update.json`
`-- update.json
```
## Disclaimer
Use this code under AGPL. No warranties are provided. Keep the laws of your locality in mind!
If you want to change the license, please contact me at