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Zotero

This guide provides in-depth instructions on how to use Zotero, organize sources, and create in-text citations and bibliographies.

Troubleshooting the Zotero Plug-in

Zotero provides a plug-in for three word processor apps: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice. It allows you to do in-text citing and automatically create the bibliography.

Occasionally, the Zotero tab does not display. This page provides the most common steps for resolving this issue.

If you are not able to find an answer to your issue here, the Zotero community has a robust knowledge base and discussion forums. Most answers to issues can be found in there.

Troubleshooting the Word Plug-in

In Microsoft Word, the Zotero plug-in creates an additional tab or toolbar. The plugin is bundled with Zotero and should be added automatically when you install Zotero. If it does not here are the most common resolutions.

Zotero Plug-in Is Not Displaying

First

  • Close Word (quit for MacOS) and open again - if Word was open when you installed Zotero, the tab won't appear until you close (quit) and open Word again

Second

  1. Make sure Word is closed (Quit in MacOS)
  2. In the Zotero desktop app, select Edit > Settings from the top menu
  3. Click the Cite tab in the pop-up window
  4. Scroll down to the Word Processors section
  5. And then click the Reinstall Microsoft Word Add-in
    reinstall Microsoft Word add-in option in Zotero settings
  6. Click the OK button on the popup
  7. Open Word to check the tab is visible

Third

  1. In Word, go to File > Options (Instructions for Mac OS)
  2. Chose Add-ins
  3. At the bottom of the window, change COM Add-ins to Word Add-ins
  4. Click the Go button
  5. Check to see if Zotero.dotm is present and checked
  6. If not checked, check Zotero.dotm and click the OK button until you are back to your document
    • If not listed, try manually installing the plug-in

Fourth

Last option

Google Docs

If the Zotero menu is not visible in your Google Document, try one of these options.

  • Make sure the Google Document is open in that same browser with the Zotero connector (e.g., connector is on Firefox and then open the doc in Firefox).
  • Have a Google Document open; not the Google Drive or Google Docs navigation page. The menu item only appears in a document.
  • Close the Google Document tab and open it again.
  • Clear the browser's cache and/or history.

OpenOffice / LibreOffice

Zotero provides a thorough help page for the LibreOffice suite.

Please note Zotero requires LibreOffice 5.2 or later. Apache OpenOffice and NeoOffice are not supported by Zotero.

Where Else to Go for Help

There are several reasons you might be getting an error message when deleting or modifying your document. Consult this list of troubleshooting errors to determine a potential fix.

If you are not able to find an answer to your issue here, the Zotero community has a robust knowledge base and discussion forums. Most answers to issues can be found in there.

Download MS Office for Free

As an ISU student, you can download the Office Suite to your Mac or PC for free.

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Jennifer Sharkey
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