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Zotero Guide

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How to Set Up Cloud Storage

Easy step-by-step Zotero guides from download to format citations for CSTM students.

Why do I need this OPTIONAL feature?

  • This is the guide for those who want to save PDF files in your cloud storage location.  (We are using Google Drive as the cloud service, but you are free to use others.)
  • This will enable you to access those PDF files from multiple devices (i.e. personal laptop or desktop, mobile devices, or a publicly-used computer).
  • It also helps you to save storage space on your computer.

Download "Google Drive for Desktop"

  1. Download Google Drive for Desktop from https://www.google.com/drive/download/ on your computer.
  2. Create a new folder on your Google Drive desktop folder, where your PDF files will be stored.
  3. You may name it, like “Zotero_Downloads” or “Zotero_Library” that would be appropriate.

Install "ZotMoov" to Zotero Plugins

(NOTE: ZotFile is no longer compatible with the Zotero 7 application. But it will work with Zotero 6.)

  1. Download ZotMoov (.xpi file) from https://github.com/wileyyugioh/zotmoov/releases As of December 29, 2024, the latest (release) version is 1.2.11. (Click zotmoov-1.2.11-fx.xpi to download this version.)
  2. Open Zotero Application 
  3. Go to “Tools” 
  4. Click “Plugins”
  5. Click the gear icon gear icon.
  6. Click “Install Plugin From File.”
  7. Find the downloaded .xpi file for ZotFile, select it, and click "Open".
  8. Restart Zotero Application.
  9. Then ZotMoov should be installed. 
  10. Check "Setting" in Zotero application if you see ZotMoov is listed. zotmoov location in zotero settings

Set up the Zotero download cloud folder

  1. Go to “Tools” > "Settings".
  2. Click “ZotMoov”.
  3. Set “Directory to Move Files To” to your Google Drive for the Desktop Zotero folder you created. For example, "G:\My Drive\Zotero_Downloads".
  4. Set "Source Folder for Attaching New Files". For example, "C:\Users\(your user name)\Downloads".
  5. Go to “Other Settings” and check the box "Automatically Move/Copy Files When Added".

Tips to save your mark-ups

If you marked up comments or tags or notes on the pdf file from the Zotero application, the pdf file in your Google Drive folder will not be updated automatically. However, the markups are preserved when you open the Zotero PDF reader.

To save the markups on your PDF file in the Google Drive folder, you need to take a few extra steps: 

  1. With the Zotero PDF reader open on the marked-up document, go to “File” in the menu of the Zotero application
  2. Click “Save As”
  3. Replace the file in the Google Drive folder.

Then the PDF file in your Google Drive Zotero downloads folder will be replaced with the one with those comments, tags, and notes.