Zotero is a free, open-source reference management tool that helps you collect and organize your references. In addition to the desktop application, you can create a cloud-based Zotero online account to use Zotero on multiple devices and share references with others. With Zotero you can:
As always, it is important to store your work, sources and references in more than one place (back up file).
To install Zotero, download the desktop application from Software Center (University of Vaasa students and staff) or visit Zotero's homepage (Zotero) to download Zotero to your device. Zotero offers each user 300 MB of free storage, but additional storage can be bought via your Zotero account.
If you want, you can create a free Zotero account (registration page Zotero). An account makes it possible to sync your library if you are using several devices. An account also allows you to create group libraries to share with others.
When you have created an account, you will need to add it to your desktop app:
Zotero Connector is a plugin that allows you to save content from your browser to Zotero with a single click. Zotero Connector can be used with browsers Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. Zotero Connector and other plugins can be downloaded from Zotero's homepage (Download Zotero).
Attached files are automatically saved to Zotero. This default setting can be changed (Edit -> Preferences -> on interleaf General uncheck the box Automatically attach associated PDFs and other files when saving items). In Zotero you can read, highlight and make notes in the saved PDF files.
Once you have added a reference to Zotero, you can edit it if necessary. When you have added a reference, it is recommended to always check the reference and add possible missing information right away!
References can be organized info folders and folders can be created and named. Files, comments and tags can be added to the references.
When you have installed the Zotero Connector to your browser, you can add references to your library from the web by clicking the Zotero Connector icon in the upper right corner while viewing the reference you want to add. The Connector icon changes depending on the material (article, book, webpage etc.).
You can add a reference manually (File -> New Item). A reference can also be searched for with an identifier (e.g. ISBN or DOI).
If you want to add references that are saved as files on your computer (e.g. a PDF of a journal article), import them from your computer (File -> Import) or drag and drop the files to the middle section of your Zotero library.
When downloading Zotero, the word processor plugin should automatically download as well. If you can not see the Zotero tab in Word, install it in the Zotero desktop application (Edit -> Preferences -> Cite -> Word Processors tab -> Install/Reinstall Microsoft Word Add-in).
Click Document preferences to choose the citation style and language for your references and bibliography and whether you want the bibliography to update automatically.
Put the cursor where you want the citation, click on Add/Edit Citation. A red search box will appear. You can either enter the title etc. of the reference you want to cite in the red box or click the Z icon and choose Classic View to choose the reference from your library. Page numbers can be added in the box Page or directly to the citation in your text.
To create a narrative citation, choose Classic View and Omit Author. Now the citation consists only of the publication year.
Put the cursor where you want the bibliography, click Add/Edit Bibliography and Zotero will create a bibliography of the cited sources. If the document does not update automatically, click Refresh.
Bibliographies can also be created without in-text citations:
Source: Steven Bradburn