Download Zotero
To download and install Zotero, visit https://www.zotero.org/download/
You must download and install two components:
- The standalone Zotero program (includes the word processor plug in). Zotero is available for Windows, Linux or macOS
- The Zotero connector for your browser. Supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox and Safari which Zotero will detect.
For help installing Zotero after download, see the Zotero installation page.
Zotero Online
Register for an online account at https://www.zotero.org/user/register
Online accounts are free. You don't need an account to use Zotero software, but it allows you to join groups and sync your library across multiple devices.
To link Zotero software to Zotero online and sync your data, open your Zotero Preferences > Sync > Settings. Then sign in with your account details.
Get the AGLC style
Zotero comes with commonly used citation styles already loaded. However, if your style is not pre-installed, you can install it through the following steps.
1. Open Zotero Preferences – accessing preferences will differ depending on your operating system.
For Windows, it may be in the Edit or Tools menu:
For Macs:
2. Select the ‘Cite’ tab. If you do not see your style listed, click on ‘Get additional styles’
3. When ‘Style Search’ window opens, search for the citation style (e.g. Australian Guide to Legal Citation):
4. When the style is found, click on the link to add it to Zotero. Note: the current edition of AGLC is the 4th edition. Make sure you add this style into the style repository.
5. To change the Default Output Format, click on the ‘Export’ tab and choose your preferred style
Customise your display
Once installed, display options can be changed in the middle panel.
- Add additional display fields by right clicking the column headings and selecting which headings to add or remove.
- Reorder columns by dragging them. Click on the Heading of the column and hold while dragging them.
- Columns can be resized by hovering over the border of the columns until the cursor changes to
, then clicking and dragging.
Backing up
Remember to regularly back up your Zotero library. Don't rely on online syncing. Save a back up file to a USB or external storage device.
To make a back up of your Zotero library, make a copy of your Zotero data directory.
This is located in Zotero Preferences > Advanced > Files and Folders > Show Data Directory.
To create a back up, close the Zotero and copy everything in this folder location. Then save to a storage device.
