Tip: Works with Paperpile!

[kerim]

If you use Paperpile instead of Zotero, this basically works fine. Here is info about how to get Paperpile set up to export (and continuously update) a bibtex file.

To make it work better with Obsidian (and sync if I were to later use it on mobile), I use Hazel to auto-copy the file from my Google drive folder on the desktop to my Obsidian vault. Even with 6000 references, it loads pretty quickly and works well.

The main issue with Paperpile is that they don't support linking back to the original entry in your database.

[rhaynes74]

Hi Kerim - I am using Paperpile in the same way. I used my editor to prepend the file= field to put an absolute path in to my local version of my google drive folder (where the local storage is ....) . Is there a way to get the citation plugin to open the file referenced in the "file=" field? I only see open file in Zotero. You would think there could be an option with a local copy.

[kerim]

Unfortunately Paperpile does not seem to support any kind of shortcut URLs except via the "get link" command within paperpile. If they could export these in the Bibtex it would work. I've put in a request for them to do this, but you probably know it can take them years to implement a feature ... if ever.

[rhaynes74]

But why not be able to open a local file on your disk?  That is what the

file =

field in bibtex gives you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ronald D. Haynes Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics Chair, MSc and Phd Scientific Computing Programs Memorial University of Newfoundland

We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University’s campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province. On Jun 23, 2021, 9:20 PM -0230, P. Kerim Friedman @.***>, wrote:

Unfortunately Paperpile does not seem to support any kind of shortcut URLs except via the "get link" command within paperpile. If they could export these in the Bibtex it would work. I've put in a request for them to do this, but you probably know it can take them years to implement a feature ... if ever. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.

[kerim]

Paperpile stores everything in Google Drive, not on your local computer like Zotero. While you can sync Google Drive to your local computer and find the files there, I imagine it might be difficult for Paperpile to know the path on different people's setups. If you want to talk to them about improving this, please contact them directly. I am only a user, not a developer.

[byteSamurai]

1. No Links to Papers in Paperpile Supported Yet

Well, I got it working for me, but I need to say: Zotero offers much more comfort, so I might ditch Paperpile though they have excellent support! I asked them directly how to link to papers in Paperpile, assuming I could just use the link in the browser. This was the response:

Word from the team is the following: That mp query parameter - the value is generated by the extension before the view window is opened based on a few arguments that can't be inferred from a bibtex export, and then this ID is saved to localStorage with some more metadata, so even if they reconstruct the mp query parameter generation, it won't work for a PDF that has not been opened on that browser before. We have a "known url" to view a single Publication like this https://paperpile.com/app/p/, but that does not help them in this case as they don't know the publicationId from the bibtex export - and we will have (with the new extension) a "known url" to open a PDF in our native viewer via attachmentId (which is also not part of the BibTeX export). ... so I guess there's no way out of that conundrum for us at the moment. Does that make sense? In any case, a couple other users have requested this as well so at least it's on our tracker for further consideration (now with your +1, too).

2. Workaround to Link to Files Locally

Disclaimer: This will not work in the mobile app.

1. Synchronise your Google Drive Paperpile folder with you local machine.

2. Since Obsidian is picky with Whitespaces, remove all whitespaces with a configuration like this one in Paperpile:

   

   It is important to remove whitespace and underscore entirely from the path!

3. In 'Settings -> Bibtex' enable the export of file names:

   

4. Add the link in the citation template somewhere below the metadata:

   [Read locally](file:///Users/YOURFANCEUSERNAME/Google%20Drive/Paperpile/{{entry.files}})

If you look at the benefits of using Zotero and exporting notes + linking directly to the sections within the PDF (MDNotes Plugin and Zotfile), Paperpile is no longer my tool of choice.

[jenholmberg]

@byteSamurai Thank you for your helpful explanation! I'm new to Paperpile and it's not clear to me where to add the [[Read locally]] link... would you be able to clarify? Thank you in advance :-)

[byteSamurai]

@jenholmberg in the settings section of Obsidian. The Obsidian citation plugin also has a page in the settings, which contains a text area to set up a plugin. The markdown link I provided is relative to where your files are stored locally by the Google Drive synchronization program of your choice.

To be honest: I left Paperpile meanwhile and moved to Zotero. It does the same for me and is well integrated in Obsidian and ResearchRabbit.

[jenholmberg]

@byteSamurai Ah, thanks for clarifying. Sorry that was a really simple question, I got it figured out after I putzed around a bit more. I really like Paperpile's simplicity, and I think it will work well for my current purpose (studying for quals)... but, out of curiosity, have you posted elsewhere about your current set up with Zotero/Obsidian/ResearchRabbit? I'm building my reading/writing pipeline infrastructure now and could be convinced to drop Paperpile for another pipeline.

[byteSamurai]

I am not a salesman. I won't convince you. Sorry. Chose what works for you!😉

[jenholmberg]

@byteSamurai absolutely -- was just curious if you'd written about it elsewhere since you mentioned you left paperpile and seem to be active with knowledge sharing. thanks again for helping with the og question :-) take care!