MSE 601: Graduate Student Resources
What is Zotero and Why Should I Use It?
What is Zotero and Why Should I Use It?
Zotero is an open source citation management software that allows you to:
- Easily cite your sources
- Create a personal library references and citations by importing citation information from indexes, databases, the Library's Catalog, and websites
- Organize your references and share them with other researchers
- Insert citations from Zotero directly into your Microsoft Word, Google and LibreOffice documents (see Plugins in this guide) and easily create bibliographies
- Zotero comes preloaded with some citation styles. Additional styles are available at Zotero Style Repository
Once you have registered, set up a Zotero, and become familiar with how it works, it can save you a lot of time and headache citing resources when you're writing, and creating a bibliography of sources or references in your papers.
Though only a few databases list Zotero in their export options, it works with the .ris and BibTeX file types that are commonly available in databases. You can also manually add items to your library as well as create an item out of any web page you might be visiting using the Zotero Connector plug-in.
There are several different free online citation managers. Each has features that differ and unique challenges in use, so if you don't like Zotero, try EndNote or Mendeley.
Get Ready to Use Zotero
Zotero's "Quick Copy"
Zotero's Quick Copy is the easiest way quickly add references to a paper, slide, etc.
Quick Copy a Bibliography
Select items in the center column and drag them into any text field. Zotero will automatically create a formatted bibliography for you.
Quick Copy Citations
Hold down Shift then drag
Two other methods to copy citations:
- Edit → Copy Citation function
- Ctrl/Cmd-Shift-A
You'll need to configure your Quick Copy preferences:
- Open the Zotero settings
- Select Export. From this tab you can do the following:
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Select the export format
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Set up site-specific export setting
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Choose whether you want Zotero to include HTML markup when copying
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Source: https://www.zotero.org/support/creating_bibliographies#quick_copy
Register Zotero
Register for a Zotero Account using your BoiseState.edu email address so you can access the Cloud storage. Once you've registered, you can use Zotero via the Web, which is handy if you work on different devices in various locations.
Download Zotero and Zotero Connector
Go to the Zotero Download page in the browser you typically use
- Download and install the appropriate version of Zotero for your operating system
- Download Zotero Connector to save citations from websites like Google Scholar, There are connectors for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
Word Processor Plugins
Zotero word processor plugins for Microsoft Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs that allow you to easily cite your sources and create bibliographies from your Zotero library
There are also Third Party plugins for integrating Zotero into other writing systems.
The plugins come with Zotero and should automatically install. If you'd like more information, need to manually install a plugin or need help trouble shooting, see Zotero's Word Process Plugins page
Getting Help - Tutorials and Resources
If you need help using Zotero, here are a few resources:
- Zotero Documentation (Support)First stop - Zotero's support page has a wide range of resources that will help you find answers
And of course - Contact your Librarian!
Find my contact info on the Welcome page of this guide - left side of the screen under the menu
Exporting Citations from various Databases
Using Zotero Connector to save records
The Zotero connector will appear in your browser as a white document icon or a yellow folder icon. You can use this icon to save citations directly to Zotero.
Zotero White Document Icon
Once you complete a database search and have selected the documents you want to save, click the Zotero white document icon, shown below in Chrome.
- Use the dropdown arrow to select a folder
- click Enter
- The records will appear in your folder in Zotero
Zotero Yellow Folder Icon
Once you complete a database search, click the Zotero yellow folder icon, shown below in Chrome.
- You will see a list of articles. Select All or check the boxes for the ones you want
- click ok
Beware the flashing yellow folder icon!
When the Zotero Connector icon is a flashing yellow folder, it will save a "quick search" not your articles. Use the database Export feature to save your citations instead.
Exporting Citations from Web of Science (WOS)
Once you have completed a search and selected the citations you want to export:
Step 1 - Click on "Export" button above the search results list
Step 2 - Select BibTeX format
Step 3 - In the dialog box, select the fields (part of a record) to be exported for each record
Step 4 - Click "Export"
The citations will automatically appear in EndNote in the "Unfiled" folder
Importing Web of Science (WOS) Citations into Zotero
Importing citations into Zotero is pretty easy.
Step 1 - Go to the to Downloads folder on your computer
Step 2 - Double click on the file called “savedrecs” (it will be file type Research Information Systems document)
Step 3 - Zotero will open and ask “Do you want to import” this file?
If you create a "new collection" from the file, Zotero will create a new folder using the database name. If you want to import the files into "collection" that is open in Zotero, uncheck the new collection box.
Once your ready Click OK
Exporting Citations from Engineering Village (Compendex, Inspec, Geobase)
Once you have completed your search, and selected the documents you would like to save:
Step 1 - Click the Download icon just above the search results
Step 2 - Select the location for the file, BibTeX as the format. The default file name will be Engineering_Village. Change this if you like.
Step 3 - then click Download Records.
Importing Engineering Village Citations into Zotero
Importing citations into Zotero is pretty easy.
Step 1 - Go to the to Downloads folder on your computer
Step 2 - Double click on the file name Engineering_Village_BIB (or whatever name you gave the file)
Step 3 - Zotero will open and ask “Do you want to import” this file into a new collection? Click OK
Your references will be in a new folder called Engineering_Village_ris_date in Zotero's left menu. You can easily rename the folder or drag and drop the records into an existing folder
Exporting Citations from SciFinder
Start from your SciFinder search results page
Step 1 - Select the records you want by clicking the check boxes next to each record or click the box at the top of your results list to select all of the records
Step 2 - Click the Download button in the top navigation bar toward the right side
Step 3 - In the Download Reference Results box, use the drop down arrow to Change File Type to “Citation (.ris)"
In the upper right of this same menu, select whether you want to download "All Results" in your search just the "Selected Results" - i.e. the individual record boxes you checked - or a Range of records you designate
At the bottom of the menu decide what parts of each record you want to download with the citation, including: The search aka "task history", abstract, concepts, substances, analytical methods, formulations, and citations from the articles' references
Once all of your decisions are made, click the "Download" button.
Importing SciFinder Citations into Zotero
Exporting Citations from Google Scholar
You will need to have Zotero Connector downloaded to your browser and Google Scholar settings set for Zotero.
Set up Google Scholar to export records into Zotero:
- Go to Settings in Google Scholar
- Scroll down to Bibliography Manager and select "Show links to import citations into"
- Select BibTeX from the drop-down menu
Once this is done when you are searching Google Scholar and want to save citations click the Zotero Connector Icon in your browser.
Exporting PubMed Citations
Once you have completed your search and marked the citations you want to Export:
Step 1 - Click the Send To button
Step 2 - Select Citation Manager
Step 3 - Select Create File
You will see a message that your Citations were successfully saved.
Importing PubMed Citations into Zotero
Zotero Troubleshooting
My Citation Manager Plug In doesn't work in Microsoft Word
Microsoft added it's own Citation Manager tool ("References") to MS Word. This feature needs to be turned off before another citation manager tool can be effectively used in an MS Word document.
To turn off the References Tool:
Step 1 - Click File in the upper left corner
Step 2 - Select "Options"
Step 3 - Select "Customize Ribbon" in the Word Options menu
Step 4 - On the left side of the dialog box, uncheck the References, then click OK
Zotero Connector flashing yellow folder Icon in Engineering Village
On occasion, the Zotero Connector in Engineering Village will save a "quick search" instead of the articles you selected to save. If this happens, you will see an Engineering Village file in Zotero. If you click on it, it will open Engineering Village and execute your search rather than showing you the articles you wanted to save.
How do you know if this is happening?
The Zotero Connector icon is either a white document icon as shown below in Chrome.
Or a yellow file folder icon, ask shown below in Chrome.
When the yellow folder icon is flashing or winking, it will not work properly!
Solution: use the Export button to save the records to the desktop, then import them into Zotero
Help with Citations
There are a few great sources for help with basic citation styles. They don't cover all of the citation styles out there, but they're great for the most common styles:
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)Use the left navigation bar, click on Research and Citation to find citation style help