Papis CLI
Papis is a CLI for a research library: export references as BibTeX and open collected PDFs in your preferred application.
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- GPL-3.0
Extended access
Why this level
- The CLI adds documents and changes bibliographic data files in a local library.
- DOI metadata retrieval contacts an external source.
Install
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/papisDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The CLI adds documents and changes bibliographic data files in a local library.
- DOI metadata retrieval contacts an external source.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Papis is a CLI for organizing papers, books and other documents on disk. Researchers add files, fetch metadata by DOI and search by author, title or tags. Bibliographic records live in editable YAML files beside the documents. A library can export BibTeX for a publication or import an existing bibliography. Documents open in a chosen application, and plugins connect the collection to Vim, Neovim and Emacs. A local web app also makes the collection available in a browser.
Who it is for. Researchers and teachers maintaining a PDF library and preparing BibTeX references for publications.
Good fit when
- An author has PDFs without consistent references and imports metadata by DOI.
- A researcher moves a BibTeX reference list into a local library.
- A collaborator needs documents and readable metadata through an existing file synchronization tool.
- A teacher browses the collection on a tablet through the local web app.
Not a fit when
- The team wants a hosted service that stores and synchronizes its library.
- The user expects AI answers about PDF contents without adding an AI extension.
- The first paper import must fetch DOI metadata on a computer with no network access.
Example request
Add this PDF to Papis with DOI metadata, show its bibliographic record and export the bibliography as BibTeX.Limitations
Users arrange collection synchronization with their existing file-sharing tool; the core project does not supply hosted storage. Fetching metadata by DOI contacts an external source and requires network access for that import. Editor integrations and AI features are separate projects in the ecosystem. The `latest` documentation follows development, so a command absent from the installed package should be checked against the `stable` documentation before changing the setup.
How to disable. Stop invoking `papis` and disable any separately installed editor integration. Documents and YAML metadata remain ordinary files; retain them before removing the package.
FAQ
How do I add a PDF with a known DOI?
The README example is `papis add --from doi 10.1090/noti963 rnoti-p434.pdf`. Replace the DOI and filename to add your document and fetch its bibliographic metadata.
How do I export a BibTeX file?
`papis export --all --format bibtex > mylib.bib` writes the library to `mylib.bib`. Choose an unused output filename, then include it in your paper editor.
Can I browse the library on the web?
Yes. Run `papis serve` and open the displayed address; the README example uses `http://localhost:8888`. Stop the server process when finished.
How do I open a document and edit metadata?
`papis open` opens a selected document, while `papis edit` launches an editor for its bibliographic data. Choose the document from the list and correct its author, title or other fields.
How do I bring in existing BibTeX?
The README uses `papis bibtex read mylib.bib import --all` to import `mylib.bib`. Substitute your bibliography filename and start with a copy of the collection.
Discussion
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README in short
In the document picker, `Ctrl-t` selects an item, `Ctrl-o` opens its file and `Ctrl-e` edits its bibliographic data. Press `F1` for the shortcut list; the `picktool` setting selects the picker itself.