Zotero
Table of contents
Reference Management with Zotero
Zotero is a free, open-source tool to help you collect, organize, cite and share research.
Zotero creates references and bibliographies for any text editor, and directly inside Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs. With support for many citation styles, you can format your work to match any style guide or publication.
Zotero can optionally synchronize your data across devices, keeping your notes, files, and bibliographic records seamlessly up to date. It lets you co-write a paper with a colleague, distribute course materials to students, or build a collaborative bibliography. You can share a Zotero library with as many people you like, at no cost.
Zotero is open source and developed by an independent, nonprofit organization.
Working with Zotero
You are able to
- Collect and manage references online
- import literature references from specialist databases and library catalogs
- automatically format your bibliographic data and create bibliographies in theses, dissertations and manuscripts
- use the functions of a knowledge management system, such as the option of creating notes for entries, linking related entries/notes, tagging and creating thematic folders and collections.
Optionally, a user account can be created online in order to
- access data online from any PC
- synchronize data between different devices
- work collaboratively in groups
Download
The various versions of Zotero can be downloaded free of charge from the following website:
The Zotero Connector, which is also available from the Zotero download page, is also required for the convenient capture of literature directly from the browser. The corresponding plugin for word processing (Word, Libre Office...) is automatically installed with the Zotero installation.
System requirements are listed here: https://www.zotero.org/support/system_requirements
Using the HTW cloud as more space
If you want to synchronize attachments (PDF, etc.) between several devices, you can do this without a paid cloud space from Zotero. All you need is the WebDAV address of the HTW cloud. The URL for this can be found under "Settings" at the bottom left of the web interface after logging in at cloud.htw-berlin.de.
Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up the HTW Cloud for Zotero:
More information on synchronization (in English):
Especially an app for iPads
This app is excellent for downloading / reading and annotating PDF attachments. Annotations are synchronized and new entries can also be created. A free account on zotero.org is required for synchronization.