Zotero

Adding References to Zotero

There are a few ways to add references to Zotero. You can add references by exporting from the database, uploading PDFs, or manually adding citation information. You can find directions for the different methods below.

Exporting References from a Database or Library Catalog

References can be exported from library databases (and the library catalog) into Zotero in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Follow the steps below to export references into Zotero. *Note: You must have the Zotero desktop program open during this process. 

1.  Find an article in the database or book/eBook from the library catalog. Make sure to click on the title of the article/book from the list of results. 
2. Click on the Zotero icon (the piece of paper) at the top right-hand corner of the computer screen. This is the Zotero extension that syncs with the desktop program. 
3. Choose the folder, if any, where the reference needs to go. 
4. In the Zotero desktop program, you will find the reference added to the folder you selected. The article will be attached to the reference if it was available in PDF within the database. (e-books cannot be added to the references). 

For Safari users, click on the share/upload icon and choose Zotero from the list of options. 

Adding References Using a Downloaded PDF

1. Open your stand alone Zotero desktop program.
2. Download a PDF version of the article. 
3. Drag the PDF into the center "Library" space of your Zotero desktop program. 
4. Zotero will process the PDF and create a reference for you that has the PDF attached. You will want to ensure all the citation information was added, and add the missing information. (The program may not be able to fully process the PDFs to extract all citation information or some PDFs may not include all the citation information).

OR

1. Open your stand alone Zotero desktop program. 
2. Choose the Add an Attachement icon and pick the type of file you want to upload.
3. Click add a file or add link to file options.
4. Find the article from your computer files.
5. Click the open button.
6. Zotero will process the file and create a reference.

Manually Add a Reference

1. Open your stand alone Zotero desktop program. 
2. Use the New Item tool (paper with a plus sign icon).
3. Choose the type of source from the drop-down menu.
4. The right-side panel will open.
5. Type the citation information for your source into the boxes in the right-side panel.
6. You can add as little or as much information as you like including an attachment or link to the source.

OR

1. Find the article you would like to import and locate the DOI, ISBN, or PMIS ID. 
2. Open your stand alone Zotero desktop program.
3. Use the Add Items by Identifier tool (magic wand icon)
4. Enter the DOI, ISBN, PMIS ID number into the text box that pops up. 
5. Press enter and Zotero will create a reference for you. 

Uploading and attaching documents to references in Zotero

Keeping track of the references needed for a research assignment is important as well as collecting the actual sources (i.e. articles, books, etc.). Zotero attaches articles to the references when they are exported from a database; however, there may be some articles that are not attached. You can manually upload them into Zotero and attach them to the reference. To do so: 

1. Download the article needed from the database onto a computer. Make sure to title and save it where you can remember it. 
2. Once the article is downloaded, open the Zotero desktop program and select (or highlight) the reference that you want the article attached to. 
3. Find the article on your computer, and drag and drop it onto the highlighted reference. You will see an icon indicating the article is attached. Simply double click the reference to access the article in Zotero. 

You can also attach documents to a reference by using the paperclip icon at the top of the screen (above the references). Simply:

1. Click the paperclip icon and the plus sign. 
2. Choose the type of attachment you would like to add. 
3. Choose the file or insert the link you want attached. 
4. Then press insert, enter, or OK (depending on the type of file).