sync / mcp

sync update-status

sync update-status checks whether a preprint has a published version.

If you are coming from ref/zotagent, separate the meanings first:

• zotagent sync: attachment extraction and indexing
• zot sync update-status: publication-status checks

This repo does not currently expose an equivalent of the zotagent sync command.

Examples:

zot --json sync update-status ATTN001
zot --json sync update-status --collection COLL001 --limit 20
zot --json sync update-status --apply --limit 20

When to use --apply

• If you only want analysis, do not use --apply
• If the user explicitly wants the status written back to Zotero, use --apply

--apply mutates the library and should be treated like any other write action.

mcp serve

zot mcp serve currently exists only as a reserved command surface and returns an unsupported result.

Also note that the old reference-MCP connector-style search / fetch tools are intentionally not exposed as standalone CLI commands. In the Rust CLI they map to workflows such as:

• library search
• library citekey
• item get
• item pdf / item fulltext / item children
• workspace query

Practical takeaway:

• document that mcp exists
• do not build workflows around mcp serve
• use the CLI directly for real work