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Guide to using Zotero reference management software

Zotero 7 Adding PDFs to your Zotero library

PDF documents are automatically retrieved when you use the Zotero Connector, and this is the best way to add items to your library. However, if you have PDFs saved already which you want to add to your library, Zotero Desktop can create a bibliographic record from the PDF.  

There are two ways to add the PDFs to your library:Zotero_7_Add_PDFs

  • In your Zotero Desktop library go to the add PDF+ icon. 
  • Select Add File… the choose the PDF file you want to import. Zotero will then automatically retrieve the  bibliographic information. 

 

 

 

Zotero 7 PDF retrieve metadata edited.

 

Bibliographic details may not always import correctly.

If this happens, to retrieve the bibliographic information manually, right-click on the PDF file in your library and select Retrieve Metadata for PDF.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other way to add PDFs is to use:

  • Drag and drop: Open up the folder where you have saved your PDFs and display it so you can see your Zotero Desktop library behind it.
  • Click on one of the PDFs and drag it into the references pane of your library.

Adding PDFs to your Zotero library - Zotero 6

PDF documents are automatically retrieved when you use the Zotero Connector, and this is the best way to add items to your library. However, if you have PDFs saved already which you want to add to your library, Zotero Desktop can create a bibliographic record from the PDF.  

​There are two ways to add the PDFs to your library:

  • In your Zotero Desktop library go to the add New Item (Green +) icon and select Store Copy of File… Select the PDF file you want to import Zotero will then automatically retrieve the bibliographic information. 

 

Bibliographic details may not always import correctly. If this happens, to retrieve the bibliographic information manually, right-click on the PDF file in your library and select Retrieve Metadata for PDF

The other way to add PDFs is to use:

  • Drag and drop: Open up the folder where you have saved your PDFs and display it so you can see your Zotero Desktop library behind it. Click on one of the PDFs and drag it into the references pane of your library.