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EXSC 462 - Clinical Exercise Physiology: Installing Zotero

Zotero Options

Zotero has two ways you can use their software: Zotero Online, and Zotero Standalone. Below will go over the details of each. 

Zotero Online

The web version of Zotero is ideal for those who prefer not to install the software, or for those who work remotely and/or online. All it takes is a Zotero account on their website to get started. 

Using Zotero online: 

  1. Navigate to the Zotero homepage and click 'login' in the upper right corner. 
  2. Create a free account, or enter your login information if you already have one.
  3. Once you log in, you should be taken right to your Zotero library. 
  4. "Groups" up at the top of the page will allow you to share citations with others. "People" allows you to follow other Zotero users.

One downside of using Zotero online is that there is a 300 MB storage limit. You can pay for more online storage space

It is really useful if you often use multiple computers, or have a device like a Chromebook that doesn't allow software installation.

Zotero Standalone

Zotero Standalone is a desktop software that must be installed. It works in tandem with the Zotero Connector plugin for browsers. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Installing Zotero Standalone:

  1. Navigate to the Zotero homepage and click on the red "Download Now" button.
  2. Select the download button that has your operating system. It has Mac and Windows listed, but if needed, other operating systems are below.
  3. Run the setup wizard as prompted.
  4. After downloading Zotero, add the browser plugin Zotero Connector. It works with Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

If you need help downloading Zotero, check out their page on installation

Zotero Standalone uses your computer storage for citations and PDFs, so it's a good option if you need more than the 300 MB on the online version.

Microsoft Word/Libre Office Plugin

The Microsoft Word citation plugin and the LibreOffice Plugin allow you to easily cite items from your Zotero library while writing. If you are using Zotero online, you will need to download the plugin separately. The Word/OpenOffice plugin usually downloads automatically with Zotero 5.0. However, if it did not install at the same time as the Zotero Standalone, follow the instructions below:

  1. Open Zotero.
  2. Click "Tools"
  3. Then choose "Add-ons" and install the Word or Libre Office Plugin.