Zotero Overview
What is Zotero?
Zotero is an application that helps you collect and store your citation information for later use in papers and bibliographies. You can link to or attach PDF files to your citations then use Zotero's Word plug-in for one-click in-text citations as you write. When you're finished, another one-click installs your completed bibliography.
Features
- Free bibliographic management program
- 300 MB free on-line storage
With Zotero you can:
- Collect references from various databases, websites and catalogs
- Organize references in collections and subcollections for managing large projects
- Import and attach article PDFs, folders, images, video and audio files
- Read, annotate, highlight and make notes
- Write your papers using Microsoft Word, LiberOffice, or Google Docs
- instantly insert in-text citations and bibliographies from 2500+ citation styles
- create footnotes
- Share and collaborate references with colleagues
Upcoming Zotero Workshops
Would you like to attend a free Zotero Workshop? Check the workshop calendar: https://workshops.ku.edu/
Downloadable Zotero 5.0 Guides
Step-by-Step Guides for Zotero 5.0
- Zotero 5.0 Step-by-Step GuideA comprehensive how-to guide with screenshots for installing Zotero 5.0, building a library and working with Zotero's citation tools within Word.
- Zotero 5.0 Quick GuideDo you need just a quick overview of how to install Zotero, collect and organize sources, and write your paper? Then download this quick guide, written by KUMC librarian Prasanna Vaduvathiriyan.
Other Useful Zotero 5.0 Guides
- Installing Zotero 5.0This guide will show you how to install Zotero 5.0, and how to add connectors for Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
- Building a Library from Stored PDFsYou can import single PDFs or groups of PDF files stored on your computer to your Zotero library and Zotero will search Google Scholar and add citation information for as many as it can find.
- Working with Tags in ZoteroYou can tag Zotero items with keywords and colors to make it easier to find related items.
- Zotero and WordThis guide will show you how to use Zotero in tandem with Microsoft Word.
- Zotero in the CloudThis guide will discuss Zotero's Cloud feature, and will walk you through creating an account, syncing your library, creating and sharing groups, and copying files into and from shared accounts.
- Zotero 5.0 to EndNote X7 or X8 TransferCopy citations from your Zotero library to an EndNote library.
Important Note: It is not possible to transport attached PDF files from Zotero to EndNote. - EndNote X7 or X8 to Zotero 5.0A step-by-step guide for exporting EndNote references to Zotero.
Basic Features: How-to
Step-by-Step Guides for Zotero 4.0 (Browser-Based Version)
- Zotero 4.0 (Browser-Based Version): A Step-by-Step GuideA how-to guide with screenshots for installing the older version of Zotero, building a library and working with Zotero's citation tools within Word. (Updated 7/13/16)
- Installing Zotero 4.0This guide will show you how to install Zotero 4.0 on Firefox (recommended), Safari, and Chrome
- Easy Instructions for Bypassing Zotero "Bug"Zotero’s Insert Citation function can cause your system to hang. You may want to bypass it entirely by setting Zotero to insert citations from its Classic View instead. This guide will show you how
- Building a Library from Stored PDFsYou can import single PDFs or groups of PDF files stored on your computer to your Zotero library and Zotero will search Google Scholar and add citation information for as many as it can find.
- Backing Up a Zotero LibraryWhile Zotero recommends that the best approach to backing up a Zotero library is to use a backup service or repository, if you do want to just back up your Zotero library, this guide presents condensed instructions and links for more information.
- Working with Tags in ZoteroYou can tag Zotero items with keywords and colors to make it easier to find related items.
- Zotero to EndNote TransferCopy citations from your Zotero library to an EndNote library.
Important Note: It is not possible to transport attached PDF files from Zotero to EndNote. - EndNote to Zotero TransferA step-by-step guide for exporting EndNote references to Zotero.
- Zotero on a Flash DriveInstalling portable Firefox on a flash drive will enable you to run Zotero from your flash drive as well, if you're frequently moving between computers. Only works in PC, though. (07/18/16)
- Quick Bibliography: How to bypass Zotero's Word plug-in and create a bibliography straight from the Zotero libraryThis is useful for those using word processing software such as Pages, which does not offer Zotero tools for citation. It is also handy for getting a quick print-out from the Zotero library.
- Zotero Seems Stuck...A guide on what to do if Zotero seems stuck
Citation Management Specialist
Juris-M
Juris-M for Multilingual Support
Working with languages other than English? Or non-Roman scripts? Juris-M very well could be the answer for you. Juris-M is a "Zotero variant" that will allow you to more easily work with legal writing and multilingual resources.
Zotfile
Automatically re-name PDF files in Zotero or extract annotations
Zotfile is a plugin for Zotero that will automatically re-name your PDF files as they are added to your library and also can extract annotations from PDF files, among other useful features. To download or to learn more, visit zotfile.com.
Zotero Troubleshooting
Zotero Troubleshooting
For additional information and advanced troubleshooting, try searching the Zotero forums.
Advanced Features: How-to
Zotero Advanced Features -- Links
For step-by-step instructions for basic use of Zotero, see the Basic Features: How-to box above. For more advanced use and features, try visiting any of these links below.
Library Organization
Creating Bibliographies in Zotero
Individual References
Beyond Zotero Desktop
Importing other Libraries to Zotero
More...
Switching Languages and Multilingual Zotero
Zotero Tutorials & Help Info
Zotero Training at KU (see the attached documents above for handouts used in the workshops)
For questions or for help with Zotero: