Zotero and Overleaf
This is a guide for students and researchers who use Latex when writing papers, and who want to use Zotero as a source management tool.
Why should you use Zotero with Overleaf
- You get access to the same litterature library across your different projects
- You get a plugin in Chrome that helps you find the right metadata
- It's easier to search though your source library in Overleaf
- You get a better overview of your sources
Video: manus i word
- Log in on Overleaf
- Go to Account Settings
- Scroll down til you find "Zotero integration"
- Click the button "Link to zotero"
- Log in on Zotero, with the user information you used in step 1.
- Create "New Private Key". You will be sent to the necessary page automatically.
There will be a default suggestion. Without a reason you don't have to change this key.
- Accept defaults. You will be sent back to Overleaf
- In Overleaf Account Settings you sould now see that the accounts are now linked.
You can also se the button "Unlink Zotero".
Video: manus i word
- Go to the project you are working on
- Create a new file.
Chose "From Zotero"
Name your file properly. End the name with .bib (My suggestion: zotero.bib)
Chose a format: biblatex
Create
- Add the following code in your main.tex file header:
\usepackage[style=ieee]{biblatex}
\addbibresource{zotero.bib}
If you use another reference style in your paper, substitute style name. For APA7, write:
\usepackage[style=apa]{biblatex}
Before the end of your document, add the following code where you want your reference list to be:
\printbibliography
Video - coming soon
To add a citation in your text, write:
\cite{}
This will allow you to search through the references in the Zotero-file, in the same manner as other commands.
You will also get an option for advanced search in the Zotero library. This can be accessed through alt+space or ctrl+space while inside curley brackets {}.
The compiled document will show a number in squared brackets. This number should increase from the first new source you cite.
Using citations is important [5].
To mention the author of the source in your text:
\textcite{source}
According to Hanson [5] using citations is important.
Add page number:
\cite[page number]{source}
Hanson writes that [5, p. 5] using citations is important.
Several pages:
First page - last page
\cite[page number-page number]{source}
According to Hanson [5, p. 5-9] using citations is important.
Add location other than page number:
\cite[paragraph + number]{source}
According to Hanson [5, paragraph 7] using citations is important.
\cite[§ + number]{source}
According to Hanson [5, §8.2] using citations is important.
More than one source at the same time:
\cite{source, source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly [5, 6]
Reference list
If your code is correct, a reference list should appear at the bottom of your compiled document.
If you use IEEE reference style, the list should update for every new citation when you recompile, in the same numbered order as they were mentioned in your plain text.
Follow the guide in the Citation Compass for IEEE to see how you can make your citations fit with your text properly.
Video - coming soon
To add a citation in your text, write:
\parencite{}
This will allow you to search through the references in the Zotero-file, in the same manner as other commands.
You will also get an option for advanced search in the Zotero library. This can be accessed through alt+space or ctrl+space while inside curley brackets {}.
The compiled document will show a parenthesis with the author name and publication year.
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018)
To mention the author of the source in your text:
\textcite{source}
According to Hanson (2018, s.6) using citations is important.
Add page number:
\parencite[page number]{source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018, p. 17)
Several pages:
First page - last page
\parencite[page number-page number]{source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018, p.17-19)
Add location other than page number:
\parencite[paragraph + number]{source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018, paragraph 5)
\parencite[§ + number]{source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018, §3)
More than one source at the same time:
\parencite{source, source}
There are many reasons for citing correctly (Hanson, 2018, Nilsen, 2020)
Reference list
If your code is correct, a reference list should appear at the bottom of your compiled document.
If you use the APA 7th reference style, the list should update for every new citation when you recompile, in alphabetical order.
Follow the guide in the Citation Compass for APA 7th to see how you can make your citations fit with your text properly.
The Zotero library in Overleaf is read only access. If you need to update your Zotero-library, do this from Zotero itself. This includes editing of existing sources as well as adding new sources to the Zotero library.
Zotero doesn't update automatically into Overleaf, you must manually update the file in your project.
Open the Zotero-file in your project.
Click the "refrech"-button.
