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Zotero Essentials

For more detailed information see Using Zotero at HSU. (View Zotero Essentials as a pdf.)

  1. Download the following from Zotero.
    • Install either Zotero for Firefox or Zotero Standalone/Zotero Connector.
    • Install the Word Processor Plug-in for Word (needed for #5 below)
  2. Set-up -- Click the Action icon action menu ---> Preferences
    • Sync tab -- Enter your Zotero account username and password. Create an account if you do not have one.
    • Search tab -- click "Check for Installers" to install the "pdftotext" and "pdfinfo" plug-ins. (needed for retrieving PDF metadata in #4 below)
    • Cite tab ---> Styles tab -- check to see if your required style is one of the pre-installed styles; if not, click on Get Additional Styles to find and install your required style.
  3. Add references from databases and catalogs -- use the folder folder or page book icon that appears in the URL address bar of databases and catalogs. Review each reference in Zotero's right panel as it is added since complete and correct bibliographic information is critical as you write with Zotero.
  4. Add content (PDF files, web page snapshots and other digital files)
    • If you already have the reference in Zotero:
      • From a file on your computer-- drag and drop the file on top of your reference in Zotero's middle panel;
      • From a file on your computer -- highlight your reference in Zotero, click the New Child Attachment icon new child attachment and choose Attach Stored Copy of File.
      • From a web site -- grab the web page icon at the far left of the URL address box and drag and drop it on top of a reference in Zotero's middle panel. (Note: this may not always work so you will need to save the file on your computer and then add it.)
      • From a web site -- highlight your reference in Zotero, click the New Child Attachment icon new child attachment and choose Attach Snapshot of Current Page.
    • If you don't have the reference in Zotero:
      • From a file on your computer -- drag and drop your file to Zotero's middle panel
      • From a file on your computer -- use the New Item icon manual input form  and choose Store Copy of File.
      • From a web site -- grab the web page icon at the far left of the URL address box and drag and drop it into Zotero's middle panel. (Note: this may not always work so you will need to save the file on your computer and then add it.)
      • From a web site -- Use the Create New Item from Current Page icon Create New Item from Current Page (On Zotero Standalone right-click (ctrl-click on a Mac) and choose Save Zotero Snapshot from Current Page)

        • To create the complete bibliographic reference data for PDF files you add to Zotero, right-click (ctrl-click on a Mac) on the file and choose Retrieve Metadata for PDF. (Note: if this does not work you will need to manually enter the bibliographic information or try searching a database. For web pages you may need to enter additional bibliographic information that is found on the web page to complete the reference.)

  5. Write with Word
    • Insert Citation insert citation -- Click this icon in Word to add a new in-text citation, footnote or endnote to your document.
    • Insert Bibliography insert bibliography -- Click this icon in Word to generate a bibliography from all references you have cited in your document. The bibliography will be inserted at your cursor location. As you add new in-text references they will be added automatically to the bibliography.