Zotero is a tool that collects, manages and cites the sources you find during your research. In addition to saving a citation, you can add notes and images in your Zotero library and in many cases automatically download PDFs.
You can use Zotero to...
You can use Zotero to...
- Create and organize a personal database of references
- Import references automatically from many websites and library databases
- Format bibliographies and in-text citations for your papers
Download Zotero 5.0 for Windows and the Zotero Chrome Connector from https://www.zotero.org/download/
The Firefox Connector for Zotero does not work at this time. There is no Connector for Safari 12 at this time, but you can install Zotero, using Chrome on an Apple computer. (8 November 2019).
The Firefox Connector for Zotero does not work at this time. There is no Connector for Safari 12 at this time, but you can install Zotero, using Chrome on an Apple computer. (8 November 2019).
Zotero provides the ability to save references from many library catalogs and article databases with one click. Your Zotero library allows you to organize and edit the entries.
Collections: The left column includes My Library, which contains all items. Clicking the button above the left column creates a new collection, a folder into which items relating to a specific project or topic can be placed.
Below that is the tag selector, where tags assigned to items can be added or removed.
Items: The items pane displays a list of all the items in each collection with icons that indicate the type of item (book, article, thesis , screenshot, etc.)
Item Details: This pane displays the bibliographic information that was imported by Zotero for each item. Each field can be edited. There are also options to add additional notes, attachments, links to the original sources, tags, and subject headings.
Collections: The left column includes My Library, which contains all items. Clicking the button above the left column creates a new collection, a folder into which items relating to a specific project or topic can be placed.
Below that is the tag selector, where tags assigned to items can be added or removed.
Items: The items pane displays a list of all the items in each collection with icons that indicate the type of item (book, article, thesis , screenshot, etc.)
Item Details: This pane displays the bibliographic information that was imported by Zotero for each item. Each field can be edited. There are also options to add additional notes, attachments, links to the original sources, tags, and subject headings.
Importing from an library databases: First of all, when importing bibliographic citations into Zotero, make sure that Zotero is open. If a folder appears in your Google Scholar address bar when you view a list of results, click on the folder to reveal a list of the items that appear on that page, then check the ones of interest to you and click on OK. This imports those multiple results into your Zotero library.
Importing from Google Scholar: First of all, when importing bibliographic citations into Zotero, make sure that Zotero is open. If a folder appears in your Google Scholar address bar when you view a list of results, click on the folder to reveal a list of the items that appear on that page, then check the ones of interest to you and click on OK. This imports those multiple results into your Zotero library.
Check Your Citations in Zotero: After you have selected items from library databases or Google Scholar and imported them into Zotero, you need to check the Zotero Item Detail screen to see that all the bibliographic information you need actually got imported into Zotero. You can edit it in the Zotero Item Detail Screen.
Adding PDFs: Add PDFs to your library by dragging them into the Zotero pane. If you are doing this for the first time, Zotero will prompt you to install "pdf tools: - two small programs - that allow Zotero to extract text from PDF files. It will automatically take you to the Search tab of the Zotero preferences, where you can install the tools with one click.
Importing from Google Scholar: First of all, when importing bibliographic citations into Zotero, make sure that Zotero is open. If a folder appears in your Google Scholar address bar when you view a list of results, click on the folder to reveal a list of the items that appear on that page, then check the ones of interest to you and click on OK. This imports those multiple results into your Zotero library.
Check Your Citations in Zotero: After you have selected items from library databases or Google Scholar and imported them into Zotero, you need to check the Zotero Item Detail screen to see that all the bibliographic information you need actually got imported into Zotero. You can edit it in the Zotero Item Detail Screen.
Adding PDFs: Add PDFs to your library by dragging them into the Zotero pane. If you are doing this for the first time, Zotero will prompt you to install "pdf tools: - two small programs - that allow Zotero to extract text from PDF files. It will automatically take you to the Search tab of the Zotero preferences, where you can install the tools with one click.
To determine where your Zotero data is being stored, go to the Advanced tab of Zotero Preference and look under "Files and Folders." The default directory is listed under "Data Directory Location."
Syncing your data and files - All of the item information, notes and attachments imported into your Zotero collection are stored locally in this directory on your computer. The Zotero library data - item information, notes, tags, etc. - are included in the zotero.sqlite file. Your attachments - PDFs, web snapshots, audiofiles, etc. - are in the storage folder. If you would like to be able to access your collections from any computer connected to the Internet, then you must register (https://www.zotero.org/user/register) with Zotero for an account and sync your data between your computer and Zotero's servers.
For more details about syncing your Zotero data consult: "Zotero:Syncing Your Data." Berkeley Library. University of California, 9 Sept. 2019, guides.lib.berkeley.edu/zotero/sync . Accessed 14 Nov. 2019.
Syncing your data and files - All of the item information, notes and attachments imported into your Zotero collection are stored locally in this directory on your computer. The Zotero library data - item information, notes, tags, etc. - are included in the zotero.sqlite file. Your attachments - PDFs, web snapshots, audiofiles, etc. - are in the storage folder. If you would like to be able to access your collections from any computer connected to the Internet, then you must register (https://www.zotero.org/user/register) with Zotero for an account and sync your data between your computer and Zotero's servers.
For more details about syncing your Zotero data consult: "Zotero:Syncing Your Data." Berkeley Library. University of California, 9 Sept. 2019, guides.lib.berkeley.edu/zotero/sync . Accessed 14 Nov. 2019.
Setting your citation preferences: Before you create a bibliography, you should choose the citation style that you prefer to use. Under Edit > Preferences> Export choose from the Default Format list.
Ways to creating a simple bibliography from your item list:
Quick copy - Select titles in your item list and drag and drop them into an open word processing file.
Right-Click to Create Bibliography - Select one or more items from the list you want included in the bibliography and then right-click (or control-click on Macs) to select "Create Bibliography from Items..."
Choose one of the following four ways to create your bibliography:
Using Zotero with Word - The word processor plugin for Microsoft Word is bundled with Zotero and should be installed automatically when you first start Zotero. The plugin will allow you to insert citations as you write. You can reinstall plugins from Edit > Preferences > Cite > Word Processors. If you need to reinstall a plugin, close your word processing software first.
The Microsoft Word plugin will add to your menu either a Zotero tab, an Add-Ins tab, or both.
Adding citations to a document - While writing your document, when you get to a point where you want to add a citation, click on the insert citation button in the toolbar and then search for the citation in your collection in the citation dialog. Select your citation from the options shown, then press enter. If you would like to insert multiple citations, continue typing after selecting the first reference.
If you want to add details to a citation, such as a comment before or after or a page number, click on the reference in the citation dialog to open a pop-up that allows you to enter the information.
If you click on the Z in the citation dialog, the option to look at the "Classic View" will appear. This opens a window that gives you access to all of your directories and saves citations in your folder. You can also add comments and page numbers in this window, as well as selecting multiple references to be combined in one citation. If you prefer this view, you can set it as the default under Preference > Cite > Word Processors and check "Use classic Add Citation dialog."
Edit Your Citations with Zotero, not a word processor. Zotero gives you options for adding notes before and after your citations, adding page numbers, and combining more than one reference into a single citation. If you use the Zotero options, when you change a citation style or correct item data in your Zotero library, Zotero will be able to automatically update the citation. If instead you manually edit the citation, Zotero can no longer automatically update the citation and will give you a pop-up warning. It will prompt you to either discard all your manual changes, or maintain the citation as is, which will prevent any future automatic updates of that citation.
To generate a bibliography from all of the items you have referenced, position your cursor where you want the bibliography to start, then click the Add/Edit Bibliography button.
Annotated Bibliographies - There are two annotated styles available from the Zotero Style Repository: Chicago and APA. Add a style to your preferences under Preferences > Cite > Styles. Click on the "Get additional styles" link and at the website, search for the keyword: "annotated". Click on the preferred style and it will be added to your Style Manager. When you are ready to format your annotated bilbiography, make sure this style is selected.
In the APA style, the annotations are generated from the text that appears in the Abstract field of the item information. In the Chicago style, the annotations are generated from text added to the Extra:field in the item information.
Ways to creating a simple bibliography from your item list:
Quick copy - Select titles in your item list and drag and drop them into an open word processing file.
Right-Click to Create Bibliography - Select one or more items from the list you want included in the bibliography and then right-click (or control-click on Macs) to select "Create Bibliography from Items..."
Choose one of the following four ways to create your bibliography:
- Save as RTF will allow you to save the bibliography as a rich text file.
- Save as HTML will allow you to save the bibliography as a HTLM file for viewing in a web browser. This format will also embed metadata allowing other Zotero users viewing the document to capture bibliographic information.
- Copy to Clipboard will allow you to save the bibliography to your clipboard to paste into any text application.
- Print will send your bibliography straight to a printer.
Using Zotero with Word - The word processor plugin for Microsoft Word is bundled with Zotero and should be installed automatically when you first start Zotero. The plugin will allow you to insert citations as you write. You can reinstall plugins from Edit > Preferences > Cite > Word Processors. If you need to reinstall a plugin, close your word processing software first.
The Microsoft Word plugin will add to your menu either a Zotero tab, an Add-Ins tab, or both.
Adding citations to a document - While writing your document, when you get to a point where you want to add a citation, click on the insert citation button in the toolbar and then search for the citation in your collection in the citation dialog. Select your citation from the options shown, then press enter. If you would like to insert multiple citations, continue typing after selecting the first reference.
If you want to add details to a citation, such as a comment before or after or a page number, click on the reference in the citation dialog to open a pop-up that allows you to enter the information.
If you click on the Z in the citation dialog, the option to look at the "Classic View" will appear. This opens a window that gives you access to all of your directories and saves citations in your folder. You can also add comments and page numbers in this window, as well as selecting multiple references to be combined in one citation. If you prefer this view, you can set it as the default under Preference > Cite > Word Processors and check "Use classic Add Citation dialog."
Edit Your Citations with Zotero, not a word processor. Zotero gives you options for adding notes before and after your citations, adding page numbers, and combining more than one reference into a single citation. If you use the Zotero options, when you change a citation style or correct item data in your Zotero library, Zotero will be able to automatically update the citation. If instead you manually edit the citation, Zotero can no longer automatically update the citation and will give you a pop-up warning. It will prompt you to either discard all your manual changes, or maintain the citation as is, which will prevent any future automatic updates of that citation.
To generate a bibliography from all of the items you have referenced, position your cursor where you want the bibliography to start, then click the Add/Edit Bibliography button.
Annotated Bibliographies - There are two annotated styles available from the Zotero Style Repository: Chicago and APA. Add a style to your preferences under Preferences > Cite > Styles. Click on the "Get additional styles" link and at the website, search for the keyword: "annotated". Click on the preferred style and it will be added to your Style Manager. When you are ready to format your annotated bilbiography, make sure this style is selected.
In the APA style, the annotations are generated from the text that appears in the Abstract field of the item information. In the Chicago style, the annotations are generated from text added to the Extra:field in the item information.
When you open Google Docs in a browser that has a Zotero connector installed, you will see a Zotero option added to your menu.
Interacting with the Zotero functionality for the first time in a document will prompt you to authenticate the plugin with your Google account. Once authenticated you can begin inserting citations from your Zotero libraries just as you can with Word.
When you open Google Docs in a browser that has a Zotero connector installed, you will see a Zotero option added to your menu.
To add a citation to your document, you can choose "Add/edit citation" from the menu or click on the Z button in the Google Docs toolbar. You will be prompted to choose your citation style. Choose the citation using the citation dialog. Add citations and create bibliographies as described under the "Creating Bibliographies" portion of this guide.
Interacting with the Zotero functionality for the first time in a document will prompt you to authenticate the plugin with your Google account. Once authenticated you can begin inserting citations from your Zotero libraries just as you can with Word.
When you open Google Docs in a browser that has a Zotero connector installed, you will see a Zotero option added to your menu.
To add a citation to your document, you can choose "Add/edit citation" from the menu or click on the Z button in the Google Docs toolbar. You will be prompted to choose your citation style. Choose the citation using the citation dialog. Add citations and create bibliographies as described under the "Creating Bibliographies" portion of this guide.
This guide has used information from the excellent guide created for Berkeley Library at the University of California. The Berkeley version is licenced with the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial 4.0 License. 8 November 2019
Carol Lockhart
Research & Instruction
Tel: (660) 785- 7417
Email: clockhar@truman.edu