Zotero

Step-by-Step Transition Guide

1. Exporting Citations from Your Current Citation Manager

   RefWorks:

   1. Log in to your RefWorks account.
   2. Select the references you want to export. If you want to export all references, go to the "All References" view.
   3. Click on the "Share" button (three dots) or "References" menu, then select "Export."
   4. Choose the RIS format for the export. This format is widely compatible with other citation managers, including Zotero.
   5. Save the exported RIS file to your computer.

   From Other Citation Managers:

   1. Open your citation manager and select the references you want to export.
   2. Look for an export option, typically found in the "File" or "References" menu.
   3. Choose the RIS format for the export.
   4. Save the exported file to your computer.

2. Importing Citations into Zotero

   1. Open Zotero on your computer.
   2. Click on the "File" menu and select "Import..."
   3. Choose "A file (BibTeX, RIS, Zotero RDF, etc.)" and click "Next."
   4. Browse to the location where you saved the exported RIS file from your previous citation manager and select it.
   5. Click "Open" to import the file. Zotero will process the file and import your references into your Zotero library.

3. Organizing Your Imported Citations

   • After importing, you might want to organize your citations into collections within Zotero. You can create new collections (folders) by right-clicking on "My Library" and selecting "New Collection..."
   • Drag and drop your imported references into the appropriate collections.

Tips for a Smooth Transition

• Check for Duplicate Citations: After importing, use Zotero's "Duplicate Items" feature (found in the left sidebar) to identify and merge any duplicate references.
• Verify Metadata Accuracy: Ensure that all imported references have accurate and complete metadata. You may need to manually update some entries if the import process missed any details.
• Attach PDFs: If your previous citation manager had attached PDFs, you may need to reattach them manually in Zotero. Locate the PDFs on your computer and drag them into the corresponding Zotero reference.
• Sync Your Library: If you use multiple devices, enable Zotero syncing to ensure your library is accessible everywhere. Go to "Edit" > "Preferences" > "Sync" and set up your Zotero account for synchronization.

Additional Resources

• Zotero Documentation: Comprehensive guides and tutorials on using Zotero
• Zotero Forums: Get help and advice from the Zotero community