Using Zotero with a text editor allows you to make use of Zotero's ability to automatically track and format citations/footnotes/endnotes within your written document according to a chosen citation style. Zotero works with Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Microsoft Word | LibreOffice | Google Docs | |
---|---|---|---|
Pros | A stable version for individuals | A freely available, stable version for those without access to Microsoft Word | Allows for collaboration amongst group members; an alternative for those without access to Microsoft Word |
Cons | Can be expensive to purchase on own; will not work for group collaborations | Will not work for group collaborations | Google Docs has a few documented limitations |
You can follow Zotero documentation to switch from one text editor to another within the same document.
The first time you insert a citation in a document you will be required to choose a citation style.
You can change the citation style at anytime via the Document Preferences button in the Zotero menu in Word.
If you do not see the style you want listed, you can add more citation styles to your library.
All metadata errors in a citation should be corrected in Zotero, not in Word/LibreOffice/Google Docs. Only use the Zotero Edit Citation function in the Zotero toolbar if you are making changes that can be accomplished through the dialog pictured above..
After you have corrected the error in Zotero,, use the Zotero Refesh button in Word to update your document.
This section will cover several different ways to create bibliographies with Zotero:
After adding citations to your Word/LibreOffice/Google Docs document, place your curser in the text editor at the location you'd like to add the bibliography, then click Add/Edit Bibliography.
Zotero will insert a fully-formatted and properly-ordered bibliography of all references cited in your document, using the citation style you had previously chosen.
Note: This bibliography will only contain articles, books, etc. that you have cited in your document.
If you would like to add items to your bibliography that you have not cited in the document, place the cursor into the bibliography and click Add/Edit Bibliography again.
The Edit Bibliography pop-up will be displayed. The area on the right (1) contains all items already included in your bibliography; the area in the middle (2) shows all items in the Zotero collection selected in the area on the left (3). From the middle area, select the item(s) you would like to add to your bibliography, then click on the green right arrow between the middle and right areas.
Click OK. The additional item(s) will now appear in your bibliography:
You can use Zotero to create an Annotated APA, Chicago, or MLA Bibliography.
You can quickly create standalone bibliographies with Zotero in three different ways.
Note: Bibliographies created with any of these three methods are static. In other words, changes you make to a citation in Zotero will not be reflected in these bibliographies; they will be simple Word/LibreOffice/Google Doc documents.
In Zotero, select the collection from which you would like to create a bibliography. Right-click on it and select Create Bibliography from Collection...
In the pop-up window that opens, select the Citation Style you would like to use and Set Output method to Bibliography. Then choose your save method.
If saving as HTML or RTF, you can open this file in your chosen HTML editor or text editor to edit it further; if copying to the clipboard, you can simply paste the bibliography into a Word (or similar) document.