Zotero

• Sync with Zotero Web
• Creating Groups
• Sharing references with Groups

Zotero Web is a free online account service separate from Zotero for Firefox or Standalone.

Create your account and read on to get started.

This service has several uses:

• Access your Zotero library from any computer at any time simply by logging in.
• Backup your references automatically to your online account to make sure you never lose data.
• Transfer your Zotero library to a new computer easily.
• Sync Zotero for Firefox and Zotero Standalone together in order to use both versions on the same computer seamlessly.
• Share your references with colleagues or teammates through Groups.

Once you have created your Zotero Web account, you can synchronize it with Zotero for Firefox or Standalone.

What is synchronization? Synchronization creates a link between Zotero for Firefox or Standalone and your Zotero Web account. All data in Zotero for Firefox or Standalone will then be copied to Zotero Web, and vice versa.

Why synchronize? Synchronizing means that you will be able to access your references from any computer by simply logging in your Zotero Web account.

Follow the steps below to sync Zotero Standalone or Firefox with Zotero Web.

Steps

1. Open Zotero for Firefox or Standalone and click the gear-shaped icon (  ) in the grey upper toolbar.
2. Click on “Preferences”. A pop-up window will open.
3. Click the “Sync” button and access the “Settings” tab. In the “Zotero Sync Server” section, enter the username and password for your Zotero Web account. Press Ok.
4. If you left the “Sync automatically” box checked, synchronization should happen on its own. However, you can also activate it manually by pressing the green arrow button (  ).

Zotero Groups is a feature available through Zotero Web that enables users to share references with others.

This can be used for several purposes: doing a team project, giving a reading list to students, sharing research with colleagues, etc.

Creating a Group

Creating a group is the first step to sharing your references in Zotero. If you are part of a team, only one person needs to create the Group.

Follow the steps below to create a group.

Steps

1. Log into your Zotero Web account.
2. Click the “Groups” tab at the top of the page.
3. Click “Create a New Group”.
4. Enter a name for the group and select a group type.

5. Edit the group settings if you wish to control who can view and edit the group’s library of references. Click “Save settings” once you are done.

Tip: You can also start creating a group by clicking on the “New Group” icon (  ) in Zotero for Firefox or Standalone.

Inviting people to a Group

Once a Group has been created, its creator can grant access to it by inviting collaborators to join it.

Follow the steps below to invite members to a Group.

1. Log into your Zotero Web account.
2. Click the “Groups” tab at the top of the page. A list of groups which you are a member of should now be displayed.
3. Click on “Manage members”.
4. Click “Send more invitations”.
5. In the “Invite members” box, enter the Zotero usernames or e-mail addresses of the members you wish to add to the group, separated by commas. Click “Invite members” once you are done.

Group Libraries are shared areas where members can view, add or edit references, according to the Group’s settings. 

There are two main ways to access the library of a Group you are part of:

• Through the internet, by logging into your Zotero Web account, clicking the “Groups” tab and clicking the “Group Library” link.
• Through Zotero for Firefox or Standalone, by synchronizing with your Zotero Web account.

Follow the steps below to add references to a Group Library.

1. Open Zotero Standalone or Firefox. Make sure synchronization is activated. You can click the green arrow button (   ) to make sure the information is up to date.
2. Once synchronization is complete, the Groups you are a part of should show up in the navigation pane on the left of the screen.

3. Click on the Group’s name. The next time you add new references to Zotero, they will be added to your Group Library.
4. To add a reference you already have in Zotero Standalone or Firefox to a Group Library, simply drag and drop it to the desired Group folder.