# \`open notes\` in \`org-roam-bibtex\` does not work **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [June 4, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294 "2020-06-04T20:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/1 "2020-06-04T20:14:09Z")
In an org-roam file, I add a citation, then I enter it and choose the 3rd option of `Add Notes` but I don’t get a new file opening for note taking. This is the message I see in the messages: `org-ref-notes-function-one-file: org-ref-bibliography-notes is not set to anything` How can I fix it? ---
**Author:** ![bepolymathe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/bepolymathe/32/688_2.png) [@bepolymathe](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/bepolymathe)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/2 "2020-06-04T20:31:08Z")
Could you show you’re complete config for org-ref ? You need to have something like ` org-ref-bibliography-notes '("~/Biblio/Notes.org")` ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/3 "2020-06-04T23:48:25Z")
@roi.holtzman Hi! I assume you mean `org-roam-bibtex`. This is most likely because `org-roam-bibtex` package is not loaded/is not loaded correctly. Try running interactively `M-x load-package org-roam-bibtex` and then running `M-x org-roam-bibtex-mode`. If that doesn’t help, then unfortunately I can’t help you either, unless you provide more details about your Emacs configuration related to `org-roam-bibtex`. ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 8:15am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/4 "2020-06-05T08:15:16Z")
I do not have this variable `org-ref-bibliography-notes` set at all 😕 (I’m quite new to emacs and org-mode…) From what I understand, this would be the file where all my notes on references will saved? Is there an option to have each note-on-reference to have a separate file in the org roam folder? My `user-config` is: ``` (require 'org-ref) (autoload 'helm-bibtex "helm-bibtex" "" t) (setq bibtex-completion-bibliography '("~/Dropbox/PHD/papers/references.bib")) (require 'org-roam-bibtex) (add-hook 'after-init-hook #'org-roam-bibtex-mode) (define-key org-roam-bibtex-mode-map (kbd "C-c n a") #'orb-note-actions) ``` ---
**Author:** ![bepolymathe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/bepolymathe/32/688_2.png) [@bepolymathe](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/bepolymathe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 8:27am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/5 "2020-06-05T08:27:51Z")
To use `org-roam bibtex` you a config like this ``` (setq org-ref-notes-function 'orb-edit-notes) (setq org-ref-get-pdf-filename-function 'org-ref-get-pdf-filename-helm-bibtex bibtex-completion-pdf-field "file" bibtex-completion-notes-path "~/Org/roam/" bibtex-completion-additional-search-fields '(keywords) org-ref-default-citation-link "cite") ``` Where `bibtex-completion-notes-path` is the variable for the note location… After, when you’re in `helm-bibtex` you can press Ctrl-z to view option and “edit notes”… it create a note with the bibtex key in `#+ROAM_KEY` in the folder `"~/Org/roam/"` (change for your destination). More detail in this [post](https://rgoswami.me/posts/org-note-workflow/). ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 8:48am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/6 "2020-06-05T08:48:21Z")
It still does not work… Let me tell you what I am doing: **procedure 1:** I am in an org-roam note and I run `helm-bibtex`. Then I see the reference list that is in the main file I defined. I press `C-z` and see a list of options. I go to `edit notes`, but nothing happens. **procedure 2:** I am in an org-roam note and I run `helm-bibtex`. Then I see the reference list that is in the main file I defined. When I hit `RET` I get the citation in the note. Then when I hit `RET` again on the note link, I get a list of options. The 3rd one is `Add Notes`. When I choose that, nothing happens. ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:08am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/7 "2020-06-05T09:08:32Z")
@roi.holtzman 1. Is the command `org-roam-bibtex-mode` available to you when hitting `M-x` and typing `org-roam-bibtex-mode`? 2. How precisely do you install `org-roam-bibtex`, manually or through MELPA? ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:10am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/8 "2020-06-05T09:10:05Z")
1. The command `org-roam-bibtex-mode` is not available. 2. I installed it through MELPA. So I guess I did something wrong… ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/9 "2020-06-05T09:11:59Z")
Could you please post here all your config from the beginning of file up to the lines with `org-roam-bibtex` included? Strip down your personal information if any. ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:14am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/10 "2020-06-05T09:14:26Z")
You mean the entire file? It is quite long… Or maybe only the `user-config` part (which also has a lot of unrelated stuff)? I now see that I did not mention I am using spacemacs… ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/11 "2020-06-05T09:15:55Z")
Ok, you are using Spacemacs then? ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:16am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/12 "2020-06-05T09:16:48Z")
Yes you are, sorry didn’t notice the last line. ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:17am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/13 "2020-06-05T09:17:53Z")
yes. and this is the configuration I think is relevant ``` (autoload 'helm-bibtex "helm-bibtex" "" t) (setq bibtex-completion-bibliography '("~/Dropbox/PHD/papers/references.bib")) ;; org-raom-bibtex (require 'org-roam-bibtex) (add-hook 'after-init-hook #'org-roam-bibtex-mode) (define-key org-roam-bibtex-mode-map (kbd "C-c n a") #'orb-note-actions) (setq org-ref-notes-function 'orb-edit-notes) (setq org-ref-get-pdf-filename-function 'org-ref-get-pdf-filename-helm-bibtex bibtex-completion-pdf-field "file" bibtex-completion-notes-path "~/Dropbox/PHD/org-roam/" bibtex-completion-additional-search-fields '(keywords) org-ref-default-citation-link "cite") ``` ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:19am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/14 "2020-06-05T09:19:31Z")
Can you load `org-roam-bibtex` package with `M-x load-library org-roam-bibtex`? ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:20am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/15 "2020-06-05T09:20:31Z")
It does not appear as one of the options on the list… Should I run it anyway? ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/16 "2020-06-05T09:30:11Z")
It’s obviously some loading issues in your configuration file. Spacemacs is a complex framework and some pieces of code which you deem irrelevant may actually be relevant. I don’t use Spacemacs myself so it’s quite hard for me to figure out what’s wrong from the snippets you provided. The quickest way would be when you post your Spacemacs `init.el`. I could then load it and see what doesn’t work. Maybe it’s not the best idea to put the whole file contents here. It would be good if you could create a GitHub repo and share the link. You can also make the repo private and add me as a collaborator `myshevchuk` on GitHub. ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/17 "2020-06-05T09:41:07Z")
THANKS! I have invited to as a collaborator on GitHub. ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:42am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/18 "2020-06-05T09:42:14Z")
Thank you, I received the invitation ---
**Author:** ![mshevchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@mshevchuk](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/mshevchuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/19 "2020-06-05T09:53:29Z")
Do you use a private `org-roam` layer? ---
**Author:** ![roi.holtzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@roi.holtzman](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/roi.holtzman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:55am UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294/20 "2020-06-05T09:55:05Z")
I forgot about it. I installed org-roam as stated in the [documentation](https://org-roam.readthedocs.io/en/master/installation/#spacemacs) for spacemacs users. So the configuration is in a file `packages.el`, and the content is: ``` (defconst org-roam-packages '(org-roam)) (defun org-roam/init-org-roam () (use-package org-roam :hook (after-init . org-roam-mode) :custom (org-roam-directory "~/Dropbox/PHD/org-roam/") :init (progn (spacemacs/declare-prefix "ar" "org-roam") (spacemacs/set-leader-keys "arl" 'org-roam "art" 'org-roam-dailies-today "arf" 'org-roam-find-file "arg" 'org-roam-graph) (spacemacs/declare-prefix-for-mode 'org-mode "mr" "org-roam") (spacemacs/set-leader-keys-for-major-mode 'org-mode "rl" 'org-roam "rt" 'org-roam-dailies-today "rb" 'org-roam-switch-to-buffer "rf" 'org-roam-find-file "ri" 'org-roam-insert "rg" 'org-roam-graph)))) (setq org-roam-link-title-format "R:%s") (setq org-roam-graph-viewer "/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox") (setq org-roam-graph-executable "/usr/local/bin/neato") (setq org-roam-graph-extra-config '(("overlap" . "false"))) (setq org-roam-capture-templates '(("d" "default" plain (function org-roam-capture--get-point) "%?" :file-name "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}" :head "#+TITLE: ${title}\n#+CREATED: %U\n#+LAST_MODIFIED: %U\n#+OPTIONS: toc:nil\n#+LATEX_HEADER: \\usepackage[margin=1.1in]{geometry}\n#+LATEX_HEADER: \\renewcommand{\\baselinestretch}{1.25}\n\n" :unnarrowed t) ("D" "default copy" plain (function org-roam-capture--get-point) "%?" :file-name "%<%Y%m%d%H%M%S>-${slug}" :head "#+TITLE: ${title}\n#+CREATED: %U\n#+LAST_MODIFIED: %U\n\n" :unnarrowed t))) ``` [Next page](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/open-notes-in-org-roam-bibtex-does-not-work/294.md?page=2)