How to selectively open a Better Note/Main Note without enabling it for all notes?

[DonnaCoxBaker]

Hi all,

I’ve searched the discussions but can’t seem to find an answer to this specific issue.

In my workflow, most of my Zotero notes are simple and standalone, and I prefer for them to open in the standard Zotero notes window (either inline or in a separate window when double-clicked). However, I occasionally need to create a more complex "Main Note" that brings together and manages other subnotes—what I know Better Notes is designed to do well.

My problem: I can't find a way to create or open just these special “Main Notes” in the Better Notes environment without enabling Better Notes for all notes via the settings. I’d like to keep my basic notes in the standard interface and reserve Better Notes for those larger, structured notes only.

Is there a way to selectively create and open a note in Better Notes without globally switching all note behavior in Zotero?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

—Donna Cox Baker
Genohistory.com

[windingwind]

Hi Donna,

you could try setting the bn to not take over note opening and use the actions plugin to create a r-click menu in the library items list to open a specific note with bn feature by calling bn‘s api.

best

[DonnaCoxBaker]

Is there already a script in Actions and Tags that I can use for that? It sounds like it would be what I need, but I have no scripting ability. Thanks!

[windingwind]

Try this:

if (!items?.length || !Zotero.BetterNotes) return;

items.filter(item => item.isNote()).forEach((item) => {
	Zotero.BetterNotes.hooks.onOpenNote(item.id, "tab");
});

If it works, could you please share it on the discussions of the actions plugin? Thanks

[DonnaCoxBaker]

Thanks so much for the effort. It's opening the standard note in a separate window, but not a Better Notes window. I've tried it both on a note that has never been a Better Note and on one that is one. Any thoughts how we might tweak it?