Commands
Every ZotLit command-palette command, its entry points, and when it is available.
Available sinceZotLit 2.0.0
This reference lists every ZotLit command, its entry points, and its availability.
ZotLit is a desktop-only plugin. These commands are not available on Obsidian Mobile.
Database
ZotLit: Refresh Zotero databaseReloads the Zotero database from disk. Use this after making changes in Zotero when automatic watching is disabled.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
Library-wide update
ZotLit: Create or update all literature notesCreates or updates a literature note for every item in every library of your library scope. Opens the same batch confirmation modal as a multi-item update from Zotero.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| Zotero | Right-click a library or collection > ZotLit > Create or Update Literature Notes |
The Zotero entry scopes the batch to the row you right-click: a library covers every item in it, a collection covers that collection and its subcollections. That target is exact, so it runs whether or not the row is in your library scope.
Library-wide note import
ZotLit: Import all child and standalone notesImports all child notes attached to regular items and all standalone notes in every library of your library scope. Opens the same batch confirmation modal as a multi-note import from Zotero.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| Zotero | Right-click a library or collection > ZotLit > Import Child and Standalone Notes |
The Zotero entry scopes the import to the row you right-click, subcollections included. That target is exact, so it runs whether or not the row is in your library scope.
Literature note quick switcher
ZotLit: Open literature note quick switcherOpens a modal to search every library in your library scope and jump to (or create) the corresponding literature note.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
Citations
ZotLit: Insert Markdown citationOpens a modal to search every library in your library scope and insert a Markdown citation at the cursor.
Insertion remains available independently of Pandoc citations, Wikilink citations, Show formatted citations, and Open citations as links.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active when an editor is open |
| Editor suggester | Triggered by typing [@ in the editor, or @ at a word boundary when @ trigger is on. Both settings are under Settings > ZotLit > Citations. |
Citation navigation
The following commands open the recognized Pandoc citation under the cursor. They have no default hotkeys.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active while Pandoc citations and Open citations as links are on, with the cursor on a recognized citation key |
| Hotkey | None by default; assign one under Settings > Hotkeys |
Opens or creates the Literature Note in the current tab.
ZotLit: Open citation key under cursor in new tabOpens or creates the Literature Note in a new tab.
ZotLit: Open citation key under cursor to the rightOpens or creates the Literature Note in a split to the right.
ZotLit: Open citation key under cursor in new windowOpens or creates the Literature Note in a new window.
References and export
ZotLit: Open referencesOpens the References Sidebar for the active note.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
Opens a modal that sets the citation and references style and the document language of the active Markdown note. Confirming writes the zotlit-csl and lang properties of that note together. Choosing the vault style or the language reset removes the matching property.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a Markdown note |
| More options | The note's More options menu (⋮) |
Opens the built-in export modal for the active Markdown note. The command requires the Pandoc engine when you run it.
The export uses its own citation membership. Citation source, presentation, and navigation settings do not change exported content.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a Markdown note |
Literature note actions
The following commands operate on a literature note: the file currently open in the editor must be a ZotLit literature note. They also appear in the file menu (right-click the tab or use the file menu icon) under the zotlit section.
ZotLit: Update literature noteRe-renders the full literature note (frontmatter and managed body region) from the current Zotero data.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a literature note |
| File menu | yes |
Re-renders only the frontmatter of the literature note from the current Zotero data. Body content is unchanged.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a literature note |
| File menu | yes |
Destructively replaces the entire literature note with a fresh render. A confirmation modal appears before proceeding.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a literature note |
| File menu | yes |
Imports the Zotero notes attached to the current item into the vault.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a literature note |
| File menu | yes |
Copies the note's Zotero key to the clipboard.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on a literature note |
| File menu | Label: Copy item key. Single file only. |
Imported note actions
ZotLit: Update imported note from ZoteroRe-imports a Zotero note that was previously imported. A confirmation modal appears before overwriting.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Active on an imported note (file has a Zotero note key) |
| File menu | yes |
Annotations
ZotLit: Open Zotero annotationsOpens the annotation view in the right sidebar, showing annotations from the Zotero reader.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| Ribbon | yes (tooltip: "Open Zotero annotations") |
Template data explorer
ZotLit: Open template data explorerOpens the template data explorer, showing the full data object available to templates for the current item.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| File menu | Label: Explore template data. Appears on files that carry an item key. |
Onboarding & release
ZotLit: Open welcome viewOpens the ZotLit Welcome View for guided setup and v1-to-v2 migration.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| Automatic | Opens on first launch, and after a v1-to-v2 upgrade |
Opens the release notes for the installed ZotLit version.
| Entry point | Details |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Always available |
| Settings | The What's new button (View release notes) in the settings tab |
| Update notice | The action button on the "update available" notice |
Entry-point summary
| Command | Palette | Ribbon | File menu | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh Zotero database | yes | no | no | no |
| Create or update all literature notes | yes | no | no | no |
| Import all child and standalone notes | yes | no | no | no |
| Open literature note quick switcher | yes | no | no | no |
| Insert Markdown citation | yes | no | no | [@ / @ suggester |
| Open citation key under cursor | yes | no | no | Cursor on citation key |
| Open citation key under cursor in new tab | yes | no | no | Cursor on citation key |
| Open citation key under cursor to the right | yes | no | no | Cursor on citation key |
| Open citation key under cursor in new window | yes | no | no | Cursor on citation key |
| Open references | yes | no | no | no |
| Set citation presentation | yes | no | yes | Active Markdown note |
| Export note with citations | yes | no | no | Active Markdown note |
| Update literature note | yes | no | yes | no |
| Update literature note metadata | yes | no | yes | no |
| Overwrite literature note | yes | no | yes | no |
| Import child notes from Zotero | yes | no | yes | no |
| Copy item key | yes | no | yes | no |
| Update imported note from Zotero | yes | no | yes | no |
| Open Zotero annotations | yes | yes | no | no |
| Open template data explorer | yes | no | yes | no |
| Open welcome view | yes | no | no | no |
| Open release notes | yes | no | no | no |
Template Workbench CLI
The Template Workbench registers additional commands through the Obsidian CLI for agent use. These commands are not in the command palette. They cover template inspection, rendering, and managed frontmatter configuration. See Template Workbench for an overview, and run obsidian zotlit:template-guide for the command reference.
See also
Template Workbench
How the skill, CLI, and safety boundaries fit together.
Settings
Every ZotLit setting: key, label, default, and location.
Export a note with citations
Export an active Markdown note to a Word document or web page.
Protocol links
obsidian://zotlit/* actions for scripting workflows.
Template syntax
Liquid markup reference for ZotLit templates.