Organizing Your Sources

Zotero direct citation exportation from any database and website by using a plugin within your favorite Internet browser.

Maintain your citations organized in your personalized database.

STEP 1. Download Software

https://www.zotero.org/download/

Software for Computer

Plugin for Internet Browser

While you can't download software and use full Zotero on your Chromebook, you can do most things through Zotero.org, and you can sync your information to any computer as it is web based.

You can also use ZoteroBib if you just want quick citation help.

Zotero & Chromebook

STEP 2. Create a Zotero Account

Go to https://www.zotero.org/

STEP 3. Login to your Zotero Account

Via Zotero.org web version - especially those with Chromebooks

Via Zotero Software in your computer

Content/ Sources

Individual Items

Folders

Zotero Software

Content/ Sources

Individual Items

Folders

Zotero Web Library

Word Doc Plugin

Google Docs Plugin

STEP 4. Check that your Internet Browser is Connected to Zotero

Go to Google Scholar to see if it reading your Zotero plugin.

Zotero Browser Plugin

STEP 5. Create a Collection (New Folder)

Organizing your sources is vital to keep your references manageable, you can create an infinite number of collections and sub collections. You can drag sources from one collection to another. By default your Library Folder contains all the sources you collect in Zotero.

Via Zotero Software in your computer

Via Zotero Web Library web based

STEP 6. Collect Sources (Browser Plugin)

You must use the Internet Browser you download the plugin, then just look for the source icon and click on it.

STEP 6. Collect Sources (DOI, ISBN, PubMed#)

You can add sources using the "magic wand" icon and you can input DOI, ISBN, or PubMed numbers.

STEP 6. Collect Sources (Manually)

To add sources manually click the plus sign icon, and then select the type of item you want to add (many more item types are available under "more").

Fill in the item's citation information in the boxes provided.

You can drag PDFs or image files onto the resulting entry for the item.

STEP 7. Clean Data for Sources

Clean your sources as you add them, one clue is that they will say the wrong type of source; websites usually have incorrect or incomplete information. Input the missing or correct information in the Info section for each source.

STEP 8. Create Citations (Copy and Paste)

Select the references or collections you want to include.
Right-click one of the selected items and choose Create Bibliography From Item.
Choose the bibliographic style you want, and select the output format: copy to clipboard and paste.

Via Zotero Software

STEP 8. Create Citations (Copy and Paste)

Select the references you want to include by holding Ctrl and selecting all the sources you want to copy.
Click on the "book stack" icon to create bibliography
Choose the bibliographic style you want, and select copy to clipboard and paste.

Via Zotero Web Library

STEP 8. Create Citations (Word or GoogleDoc)

Place your cursor where you want the citation or footnote to appear
Click "Add/Edit Citation"
In the resulting red box, search for the the reference you want to cite (when you select a reference, you may click on that reference to add page numbers)
Hit the ENTER key to insert the citation into your document.
At the end of your paper, place your cursor where you'd like your bibliography to appear and then click the "Add/Edit Bibliography" option.