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abstract-searcher

Add abstracts to .bib file entries by searching academic databases (arXiv, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef) with browser fallback.

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modbender/skill-library-mcp
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March 6, 2026 at 18:33
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name
abstract-searcher
description
Add abstracts to .bib file entries by searching academic databases (arXiv, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef) with browser fallback.
# Abstract Searcher Automatically fetch and add abstracts to BibTeX entries. ## Usage Given a .bib file, this skill will: 1. Parse each BibTeX entry 2. Search for the abstract using multiple sources: - arXiv API (for arXiv papers) - Semantic Scholar API - CrossRef API - OpenAlex API 3. **If APIs fail**: Use browser automation to search Google Scholar 4. Add `abstract={...}` to each entry 5. Return the complete modified .bib file ## Quick Start ```bash # Process a bib file (API-based) python3 {baseDir}/scripts/add_abstracts.py input.bib > output.bib ``` ## API Sources (No keys required) 1. **arXiv API**: `http://export.arxiv.org/api/query?search_query=...` 2. **Semantic Scholar**: `https://api.semanticscholar.org/graph/v1/paper/search?query=...` 3. **CrossRef**: `https://api.crossref.org/works?query.title=...` 4. **OpenAlex**: `https://api.openalex.org/works?search=...` ## Browser Fallback (IMPORTANT!) When APIs fail to find an abstract, **use Chrome browser relay like a real person**: ### Step 1: Attach Chrome tab ``` # Check if tab is attached browser action=tabs profile=chrome # If no tabs, ask user to click the Clawdbot Browser Relay toolbar icon # Or use mac-control skill to auto-click it ``` ### Step 2: Open Google Scholar and search ``` browser action=open profile=chrome targetUrl="https://scholar.google.com" browser action=snapshot profile=chrome # Type the paper title in search box browser action=act profile=chrome request={"kind":"type","ref":"search box ref","text":"paper title here"} browser action=act profile=chrome request={"kind":"press","key":"Enter"} browser action=snapshot profile=chrome ``` ### Step 3: Click the result ``` # Find the paper in results, click to open browser action=act profile=chrome request={"kind":"click","ref":"paper title link ref"} browser action=snapshot profile=chrome ``` ### Step 4: Extract abstract from the page - **ScienceDirect**: Look for "Abstract" section in snapshot - **ACL Anthology**: Abstract is directly visible at top - **Springer/Wiley**: May need to click "Abstract" to expand - **PubMed**: Abstract is usually visible ### Step 5: Copy and format for BibTeX ``` # Get the abstract text from snapshot # Clean it: remove newlines, escape special chars # Add to bib entry: abstract={...}, ``` ### Tips: - Use `profile=chrome` to use real Chrome with your login sessions - Google Scholar rarely blocks real Chrome browsers - ScienceDirect/IEEE may need institutional login (your Chrome has it) - Always verify the paper title matches before copying abstract! ## Notes - Rate limiting: 2 seconds between API requests - Browser fallback should find almost all papers - Abstracts are cleaned (newlines removed, escaped for BibTeX) - Always verify the abstract matches the correct paper!
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