Commands
Every ZotLit command-palette command, its entry points, and when it is available.
This page documents every command registered by ZotLit. Each command is listed with its palette name, additional entry points (ribbon, file menu, context menu), and availability conditions.
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 the active library. 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.
Library-wide note import
ZotLit: Import all child and standalone notesImports every note in the active library — the child notes attached to regular items and standalone notes alike. 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.
Literature note quick switcher
ZotLit: Open literature note quick switcherOpens a modal to search your Zotero library 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 your library and insert a Markdown citation at the cursor.
| 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. |
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 |
ZotLit: Update literature note metadata
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 |
ZotLit: Overwrite literature note
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 |
ZotLit: Import child notes from Zotero
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 |
ZotLit: Copy item key
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 — the onboarding screen with 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 |
ZotLit: Open release notes
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 | — | — | — |
| Create or update all literature notes | yes | — | — | — |
| Import all child and standalone notes | yes | — | — | — |
| Open literature note quick switcher | yes | — | — | — |
| Insert Markdown citation | yes | — | — | [@ / @ suggester |
| Update literature note | yes | — | yes | — |
| Update literature note metadata | yes | — | yes | — |
| Overwrite literature note | yes | — | yes | — |
| Import child notes from Zotero | yes | — | yes | — |
| Copy item key | yes | — | yes | — |
| Update imported note from Zotero | yes | — | yes | — |
| Open Zotero annotations | yes | yes | — | — |
| Open template data explorer | yes | — | yes | — |
| Open welcome view | yes | — | — | — |
| Open release notes | yes | — | — | — |
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-cli zotlit:template-guide for the command reference.