Drag and drop PDFs into Zotero Standalone.
Zotero scans the PDFs for information and then matches the information to a source online.
Zotero searches through Crossref (a database) and Google Scholar.
When Zotero matches information, it changes your PDF into a full citation and renames your PDF.
Store a copy of a file from within Zotero Standalone
Click on the green plus sign in Zotero's center column
Select 'Store Copy of File.'
You will be prompted to choose which file.
You can choose one file at a time or select multiple files by using CTRL-click.
Once you have selected your files and clicked 'Open,' Zotero will begin adding your PDFs.
Add attachments
Choose a citation that you want to add a PDF to.
Right-click and select 'Add Attachment' then 'Attach Stored Copy of File...'
There are two other choices but this one is recommended because it’s the safest
Choose your file (PDF) and click ‘Open’
Go to file (top, left corner)
Select import
Zotero will ask ‘Where do you want to import from?’ There are two choices.
A file (BibTeX, RIS, Zotero RDF, etc.)
Mendeley Reference Manager (online import)
Choose ‘A file…’ and click ‘Next’
Locate your file, select it, and click ‘Open’
Zotero will then offer some options:
The first is a checkbox to ‘Place imported collection and items into a new collection’
If you want to keep track of the files you have imported, keep this box checked. Otherwise Zotero will add the items to ‘My Library’ without organizing them
Next there is an option about ‘File Handling’
Copy files to the Zotero storage folder
Link to files in original location
Choose ‘Copy files to the Zotero storage folder’ click ‘Next.’
This is the best choice so that you don’t lose access to original files later.
An ‘Import Complete’ window pops up when the items have been imported
Click ‘Finish’ and you will see a folder under ‘My Library’ with the same name as your imported file
Select the green circle with the plus sign (top, left of the center panel).
Choose the item you want to add manually (for example, book, book section, email, etc.)
Zotero will open the right panel where you can start adding information by typing in each field.