# Error message says "orb-edit-notes caught an error during capture". How to solve?
**URL:** https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493
**Category:** Troubleshooting
**Created:** [April 20, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493 "2021-04-20T06:20:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@joafr](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/joafr)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493/1 "2021-04-20T06:20:02Z")
I am tring to set up org-roab-bibtex in doom emacs but keep getting the following error when I try to open new note files in ivy-bibtex:
`orb-edit-notes caught an error during capture: cite:kosciulek2001 is not a valid ref`
Have no idea how to solve it . Grateful for support. This is what the relevant part of my `config.el` file looks like:
```auto
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; If you use `org' and don't want your org files in the default location below,
;; change `org-directory'. It must be set before org loads!
;; (setq org-directory "~/org/zettelkasten")
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; pdf-tools
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package! pdf-tools
:load-path "site-lisp/pdf-tools/lisp"
:magic ("%PDF" . pdf-view-mode)
:config
(pdf-tools-install :no-query)
(setq-default pdf-view-display-size 'fit-page)
(setq pdf-annot-activate-created-annotations t)
(setq pdf-view-resize-factor 1.1)
(setq pdf-view-use-unicode-ligther nil))
;;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; deft
;;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(setq deft-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
deft-use-filename-as-title nil)
;;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; ivy-bibtex
;;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(autoload 'ivy-bibtex "ivy-bibtex" "" t)
;; ivy-bibtex requires ivy's `ivy--regex-ignore-order` regex builder, which
;; ignores the order of regexp tokens when searching for matching candidates.
;; Add something like this to your init file:
(setq ivy-re-builders-alist
'((ivy-bibtex . ivy--regex-ignore-order)
(t . ivy--regex-plus)))
(setq bibtex-completion-bibliography "/Users/joafr/Documents/bibfiles/library.bib"
bibtex-completion-library-path "/Users/joafr/Documents/bibpdfs"
bibtex-completion-notes-path "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
bibtex-completion-notes-template-multiple-files "")
;;;;;;;;;;UGLY CODE, SHOULD BE PLACED ELSEWHERE BUT DO NOT DARE TO EDIT NOW;;;;;;;;;;
(setq org-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
org-roam-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/")
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-ref
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package org-ref
:after org
:commands
(org-ref-cite-hydra/body
org-ref-bibtex-hydra/body)
:init
(let ((cache-dir (concat doom-cache-dir "org-ref")))
(unless (file-exists-p cache-dir)
(make-directory cache-dir t))
(setq orhc-bibtex-cache-file (concat cache-dir "/orhc-bibtex-cache")))
:config
(setq
org-ref-completion-library 'org-ref-ivy-cite
org-ref-get-pdf-filename-function 'org-ref-get-pdf-filename-helm-bibtex
org-ref-default-bibliography (list "/Users/joafr/Documents/bibfiles/library.bib")
org-ref-bibliography-notes "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
org-ref-note-title-format "* TODO %y - %t\n :PROPERTIES:\n :Custom_ID: %k\n :NOTER_DOCUMENT: %F\n :ROAM_KEY: cite:%k\n :AUTHOR: %9a\n :JOURNAL: %j\n :YEAR: %y\n :VOLUME: %v\n :PAGES: %p\n :DOI: %D\n :URL: %U\n :END:\n\n"
org-ref-notes-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
org-ref-notes-function 'orb-edit-notes
))
;;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-roam
;;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package org-roam
:hook (org-load . org-roam-mode)
:commands (org-roam-buffer-toggle-display
org-roam-find-file
org-roam-graph
org-roam-insert
org-roam-switch-to-buffer
org-roam-dailies-date
org-roam-dailies-today
org-roam-dailies-tomorrow
org-roam-dailies-yesterday)
:preface
;; Set this to nil so we can later detect whether the user has set a custom
;; directory for it, and default to `org-directory' if they haven't.
(defvar org-roam-directory nil)
:init
:config
(setq org-roam-directory (expand-file-name (or org-roam-directory "roam")
org-directory)
org-roam-verbose nil ; https://youtu.be/fn4jIlFwuLU
org-roam-buffer-no-delete-other-windows t ; make org-roam buffer sticky
org-roam-completion-system 'default
)
;; Normally, the org-roam buffer doesn't open until you explicitly call
;; `org-roam'. If `+org-roam-open-buffer-on-find-file' is non-nil, the
;; org-roam buffer will be opened for you when you use `org-roam-find-file'
;; (but not `find-file', to limit the scope of this behavior).
(add-hook 'find-file-hook
(defun +org-roam-open-buffer-maybe-h ()
(and +org-roam-open-buffer-on-find-file
(memq 'org-roam-buffer--update-maybe post-command-hook)
(not (window-parameter nil 'window-side)) ; don't proc for popups
(not (eq 'visible (org-roam-buffer--visibility)))
(with-current-buffer (window-buffer)
(org-roam-buffer--get-create)))))
;; Hide the mode line in the org-roam buffer, since it serves no purpose. This
;; makes it easier to distinguish among other org buffers.
(add-hook 'org-roam-buffer-prepare-hook #'hide-mode-line-mode))
;; Since the org module lazy loads org-protocol (waits until an org URL is
;; detected), we can safely chain `org-roam-protocol' to it.
(use-package org-roam-protocol
:after org-protocol)
(use-package company-org-roam
:after org-roam
:config
(set-company-backend! 'org-mode '(company-org-roam company-yasnippet company-dabbrev)))
(use-package! org-roam-bibtex
:after org-roam
:hook (org-roam-mode . org-roam-bibtex-mode)
:config
(require 'org-ref))
(setq org-roam-bibtex-preformat-keywords
'("citekey" "title" "url" "file" "author-or-editor" "keywords"))
(setq orb-templates
'(("r" "ref" plain (function org-roam-capture--get-point)
""
:file-name "${citekey}"
:head "#+TITLE: ${citekey}: ${title}\n#+ROAM_KEY: ${ref}
- tags ::
- keywords ::
\n* ${citekey}: ${title}\n :PROPERTIES:\n :Custom_ID: ${citekey}\n :URL: \n :AUTHOR: ${author}\n :NOTER_DOCUMENT: ${file}\n :NOTER_PAGE: \n :END:\n\n"
:unnarrowed t)))
;;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-noter
;;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package org-noter
:after org
:config
(setq
;; The WM can handle splits - var tidigare "other-frame"
org-noter-notes-window-location 'horizontal-split
;; Please stop opening frames
org-noter-always-create-frame nil
;; I want to see the whole file
org-noter-hide-other nil
;; Everything is relative to the main notes file
org-noter-notes-search-path (list "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/")
)
)
;;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-capture
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; Actually start using templates
(after! org-capture
;; Firefox and Chrome
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("P" "Protocol" entry ; key, name, type
(file+headline +org-capture-notes-file "Inbox") ; target
"* %^{Title}\nSource: %u, %c\n #+BEGIN_QUOTE\n%i\n#+END_QUOTE\n\n\n%?"
:prepend t ; properties
:kill-buffer t))
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("L" "Protocol Link" entry
(file+headline +org-capture-notes-file "Inbox")
"* %? [[%:link][%(transform-square-brackets-to-round-ones \"%:description\")]]\n"
:prepend t
:kill-buffer t))
)
```
---
### Author:  [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2021, 7:01am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493/2 "2021-04-20T07:01:57Z")
@joafr Hi, it looks like you are using Doom Emacs. Do you have the `+roam` flag in your `init.el` file? If yes, then `(use-package org-roam ...)` in your `config.el` is superfluous and actually harmful potentially leading to loading issues that are probably causing your issue.
Also, what are you trying to achieve with `(autoload 'ivy-bibtex ...)`? You should probably use the `biblio` module in your `init.el` _or_ `(use-package! ivy-bibtex ...)` (but again not both).
Note that the package `company-org-roam` has long been deprecated. I don’t know whether using this outdated package may impact Org roam loading, but you probably don’t need it.
The configuration for `org-roam-bibtex` looks fine except that you can put the `(setq org-roam-bibtex-preformat-keywords ...)` and `(setq orb-templates ...)` statements inside `(use-package! org-roam-bibtex ...)`, not outside. But that’s a not big deal.
---
### Author:  [@joafr](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/joafr)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2021, 11:30am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493/3 "2021-04-20T11:30:57Z")
Yes, I am on Doom Emacs and your suggestions wiped out the error! Thanks a lot! My code now looks like this (and I think I just learned how and why to use **after!** instead of **use-package!** ):
```auto
(after! org
:config
(setq org-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"))
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-ref
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package! org-ref
:after org
:commands
(org-ref-cite-hydra/body
org-ref-bibtex-hydra/body)
:init
(let ((cache-dir (concat doom-cache-dir "org-ref")))
(unless (file-exists-p cache-dir)
(make-directory cache-dir t))
(setq orhc-bibtex-cache-file (concat cache-dir "/orhc-bibtex-cache")))
:config
(setq
org-ref-completion-library 'org-ref-ivy-cite
org-ref-get-pdf-filename-function 'org-ref-get-pdf-filename-helm-bibtex
org-ref-default-bibliography (list "/Users/joafr/Documents/bibfiles/library.bib")
org-ref-bibliography-notes "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
org-ref-note-title-format "* TODO %y - %t\n :PROPERTIES:\n :Custom_ID: %k\n :NOTER_DOCUMENT: %F\n :ROAM_KEY: cite:%k\n :AUTHOR: %9a\n :JOURNAL: %j\n :YEAR: %y\n :VOLUME: %v\n :PAGES: %p\n :DOI: %D\n :URL: %U\n :END:\n\n"
org-ref-notes-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"
org-ref-notes-function 'orb-edit-notes
))
;;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-roam
;;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;;(after! org-roam
;; :hook (org-load . org-roam-mode)
;; :commands (org-roam-buffer-toggle-display
;; org-roam-find-file
;; org-roam-graph
;; org-roam-insert
;; org-roam-switch-to-buffer
;; org-roam-dailies-date
;; org-roam-dailies-today
;; org-roam-dailies-tomorrow
;; org-roam-dailies-yesterday)
;; :preface
;; Set this to nil so we can later detect whether the user has set a custom
;; directory for it, and default to `org-directory' if they haven't.
;; (defvar org-roam-directory nil)
;; :init
;; :config
;; (setq org-roam-directory (expand-file-name (or org-roam-directory "roam")
;; org-directory)
;; org-roam-verbose nil ; https://youtu.be/fn4jIlFwuLU
;; org-roam-buffer-no-delete-other-windows t ; make org-roam buffer sticky
;; org-roam-completion-system 'default
;;)
;; Normally, the org-roam buffer doesn't open until you explicitly call
;; `org-roam'. If `+org-roam-open-buffer-on-find-file' is non-nil, the
;; org-roam buffer will be opened for you when you use `org-roam-find-file'
;; (but not `find-file', to limit the scope of this behavior).
;; (add-hook 'find-file-hook
;; (defun +org-roam-open-buffer-maybe-h ()
;; (and +org-roam-open-buffer-on-find-file
;; (memq 'org-roam-buffer--update-maybe post-command-hook)
;; (not (window-parameter nil 'window-side)) ; don't proc for popups
;; (not (eq 'visible (org-roam-buffer--visibility)))
;; (with-current-buffer (window-buffer)
;; (org-roam-buffer--get-create)))))
;; Hide the mode line in the org-roam buffer, since it serves no purpose. This
;; makes it easier to distinguish among other org buffers.
;; (add-hook 'org-roam-buffer-prepare-hook #'hide-mode-line-mode))
;; Since the org module lazy loads org-protocol (waits until an org URL is
;; detected), we can safely chain `org-roam-protocol' to it.
;; (use-package org-roam-protocol
;; :after org-protocol)
;;(use-package company-org-roam
;; :after org-roam
;; :config
;; (set-company-backend! 'org-mode '(company-org-roam company-yasnippet company-dabbrev)))
;;(use-package! org-roam
;; :config
(after! org-roam
:config
(setq org-roam-directory "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/"))
(use-package! org-roam-bibtex
:after org-roam
:hook (org-roam-mode . org-roam-bibtex-mode)
:config
(require 'org-ref)
(setq org-roam-bibtex-preformat-keywords
'("citekey" "title" "url" "file" "author-or-editor" "keywords"))
(setq orb-templates
'(("r" "ref" plain (function org-roam-capture--get-point)
""
:file-name "${citekey}"
:head "#+TITLE: ${citekey}: ${title}\n#+ROAM_KEY: ${ref}
- tags ::
- keywords ::
\n* ${citekey}: ${title}\n :PROPERTIES:\n :Custom_ID: ${citekey}\n :URL: \n :AUTHOR: ${author}\n :NOTER_DOCUMENT: ${file}\n :NOTER_PAGE: \n :END:\n\n"
:unnarrowed t))))
;;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-noter
;;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(use-package! org-noter
:after org
:config
(setq
;; The WM can handle splits - var tidigare "other-frame"
org-noter-notes-window-location 'horizontal-split
;; Please stop opening frames
org-noter-always-create-frame nil
;; I want to see the whole file
org-noter-hide-other nil
;; Everything is relative to the main notes file
org-noter-notes-search-path (list "/Users/joafr/org/zettelkasten/")
)
)
;;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; org-capture
;;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; Actually start using templates
(after! org-capture
;; Firefox and Chrome
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("P" "Protocol" entry ; key, name, type
(file+headline +org-capture-notes-file "Inbox") ; target
"* %^{Title}\nSource: %u, %c\n #+BEGIN_QUOTE\n%i\n#+END_QUOTE\n\n\n%?"
:prepend t ; properties
:kill-buffer t))
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
'("L" "Protocol Link" entry
(file+headline +org-capture-notes-file "Inbox")
"* %? [[%:link][%(transform-square-brackets-to-round-ones \"%:description\")]]\n"
:prepend t
:kill-buffer t))
)
```
---
### Author:  [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2021, 11:59am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/error-message-says-orb-edit-notes-caught-an-error-during-capture-how-to-solve/1493/4 "2021-04-20T11:59:02Z")
Yeah, I’ve been using Emacs for about ten years before trying Doom. I gave up on my first attempt to use it and the second attempt made me frustrated for a month before I learned my way through it. Now it’s working like a charm.
> [@joafr](#):
>
> why to use **after!** instead of **use-package!**
Generally yes. In the particular case of `org-roam-directory`, it’s better to set it outside the `after!` block. Somewhere near the top of your `config.el`. The `+roam` module initializes `org-roam-directory` and then also sets it during package configuration unless it’s already set by user. It should not cause problems in the `after!` block though, but one never knows what else can interfere.