1. To configure Zotero to automatically locate online resources to which your library subscribes, open up the Preferences menu (click on the gear in the Zotero pane), go to the Advanced settings and in the box next to OpenURL type:
For Haverford patrons: http://trixie.brynmawr.edu:9003/haverf
For Bryn Mawr patrons: http://trixie.brynmawr.edu:9003/brynm
For Swarthmore patrons: http://trixie.brynmawr.edu:9003/swarth
If your campus uses a proxy server to access subscription materials off-campus, the first time you try to locate an item you may get a prompt to save your proxy information. This information will then be stored so you don't have to enter it again when using Zotero.
2. To set up sync functionality (if you use version 2.x of Zotero you can use syncing to backup your Zotero library), create a Zotero account and type your name and password into the Zotero Sync Server box under Preferences -> Sync. This will save your bibliographic citations, but not your files.
3. If you want to save your files, you must set your preferences under File Syncing (Preferences -> Sync). If you have access to WebDAV you may use that option, but Zotero now offers 100MB of storage on their server for free. Enabling File Syncing will save any web site snapshots, notes, or pdfs you have saved along with your citations.
4. To set your bibliographic style preferences when you export records from Zotero, navigate to Preferences -> Export, and choose from the drop down your style choice (MLA, APA, and Chicago are the most common).
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- Michelle Oswell, Humanities Librarian for Music and Literature (HC)
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Configuring Zotero for Citation Management
Installing Zotero:
Zotero download site
Zotero requires at least Firefox 3.0 for Windows, Mac, or Linux. You can choose to download either release version 1.0.10, which is the most stable, or the 2.0 beta, which is still in development, but which offers special backup and sharing features not available in version 1.
Microsoft Word and Open Office plugin installers
You can insert footnotes and endnotes directly from your Zotero bibliography using one of these installers. Make sure to use the version that corresponds with the Zotero release you installed!
Zotero support
The Zotero support documentation and message boards are a gold mine of information regarding upcoming features, bug fixes, and general questions.
Configure Zotero:
Use Zotero to import citations to your library:
Once Zotero is installed, you'll notice a zotero icon at the bottom of your browser window. By clicking the icon, you can pull up your Zotero library, make new collections (folders) within your library, add citations, tags, or documents, and change various user preferences.
The easiest way to add items to your library is by navigating your browser to Tripod and performing a search for something. You should see a new icon on the right-hand side of the address bar, most likely either a folder or a little file cabinet (if you hold your mouse over the icon you will get a message saying "Save to Zotero"). If the icon is a folder and you click on it, you'll get a list of the search results and you can check off the ones you'd like to add to your library. Or, if you're looking at an individual result and the icon is a file cabinet, when you click on it the item will be added directly to your library. This same method for adding items to your library works in most databases that the Tri-Colleges subscribe to.
You can attach pdfs to your citations as well. From your library, right-click on the citation you'd like to attach a pdf to (for example, the pdf of a journal article) and choose Add attachment -- Add stored copy of file.
You can add a new item manually by choosing the green (plus) + button from the Zotero pane and choosing the type of item you'd like to add. Then simply fill in the citation in the right-hand panel (Hint: by clicking on the word "Author" you can change your author to an editor or a translator).
The easiest way to add items to your library is by navigating your browser to Tripod and performing a search for something. You should see a new icon on the right-hand side of the address bar, most likely either a folder or a little file cabinet (if you hold your mouse over the icon you will get a message saying "Save to Zotero"). If the icon is a folder and you click on it, you'll get a list of the search results and you can check off the ones you'd like to add to your library. Or, if you're looking at an individual result and the icon is a file cabinet, when you click on it the item will be added directly to your library. This same method for adding items to your library works in most databases that the Tri-Colleges subscribe to.
You can attach pdfs to your citations as well. From your library, right-click on the citation you'd like to attach a pdf to (for example, the pdf of a journal article) and choose Add attachment -- Add stored copy of file.
You can add a new item manually by choosing the green (plus) + button from the Zotero pane and choosing the type of item you'd like to add. Then simply fill in the citation in the right-hand panel (Hint: by clicking on the word "Author" you can change your author to an editor or a translator).
Use Zotero to export citations to a bibliography or Word document:
1. To export your library (or a part of your library) as a bibliography, highlight either an entire folder within your Zotero library or a group of citations. right-click (ctrl-click on Mac), and choose Create Bibliography From Collection (or Selection). A pop-up will appear, from which you can choose the bibliographic style and output format you prefer.
2. To add a citation to a Zotero item in your Word document, first make sure you have installed the correct plugin. Then, while Firefox is running, open up your Word document and find the Zotero icons in Word (in Office 2007, these can be found in the Add-ins tab on the Ribbon). Click the left-most icon to add a citation. The first time you do this in a document, you will be asked to confirm the citation style you want to use. Once you make your preference, a Zotero library window will open. Simply highlight the item you want to cite, enter in a page number, and click okay. Word will then create a properly-formatted citation for you (although it's always a good idea to double-check!).
3. There are several other Zotero options to use inside a Word document. Refer to Zotero's usage guide for instructions.
2. To add a citation to a Zotero item in your Word document, first make sure you have installed the correct plugin. Then, while Firefox is running, open up your Word document and find the Zotero icons in Word (in Office 2007, these can be found in the Add-ins tab on the Ribbon). Click the left-most icon to add a citation. The first time you do this in a document, you will be asked to confirm the citation style you want to use. Once you make your preference, a Zotero library window will open. Simply highlight the item you want to cite, enter in a page number, and click okay. Word will then create a properly-formatted citation for you (although it's always a good idea to double-check!).
3. There are several other Zotero options to use inside a Word document. Refer to Zotero's usage guide for instructions.