Zotero

Many institutions, including Stony Brook University, require you to sign in to a proxy system to access electronic resources when you are off-campus. The Zotero Connector can streamline this process. When it detects that you are using an institutional proxy to access a specific site, it will prompt you to remember this proxy for future visits. If you agree, Zotero will automatically use the proxy for matching URLs in the future. This means that if you are not already logged in, Zotero will route you through the proxy login page, allowing you to access the database as you normally would.

Zotero users can benefit from the proxy feature without needing to adjust any settings. By default, Zotero will prompt you to store the proxy information and then handle the redirection automatically, without requiring additional input.

When Zotero automatically detects and saves institutional proxies, they will be stored in the "Configured Proxies" section. You can remove stored proxies by clicking the minus (-) button below the list. If you encounter issues with a proxy, try removing it from the list and then re-add it by visiting the site, allowing Zotero to automatically detect the proxy settings again.

You can also manually add proxies by clicking the plus (+) button. From there, you can specify the URL of the database being accessed under "Hostname" and the URL scheme of the proxy. To manage additional URLs that should redirect through the same proxy, use the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons below the Hostnames list. Additionally, you can enable or disable the automatic association of new hostname URLs with a proxy server.

Some proxy servers require hyphens in proxied hostname URLs to be converted to dots. If this applies to your proxy server, be sure to check the corresponding box for this option.

If you experience difficulties accessing a site due to Zotero's proxy redirection functionality, please refer to Proxy Troubleshooting for further assistance.

Please note that Zotero's proxy redirection feature is not available in Safari.

You can access the Zotero Connector Preferences by right-clicking the Zotero connector icon in your web browser and selecting "Options."

Doing so will open the Zotero Connector Preferences in a new tab, where you can access the "General," "Proxies," and "Advanced" menus. Google Docs integration is enabled by default under the "Advanced" tab.

Zotero Desktop provides a variety of settings that allow you to customize how the software operates and interacts with your research materials. These settings can be accessed by selecting "Edit" (or "Zotero" on macOS) and then "Settings." The settings are organized into the following tabs:

1. General: The General tab allows you to configure basic features and preferences. Here, you can choose your preferred color scheme for the user interface, manage how files are handled, and set the file renaming format. This tab also lets you select the default reader for PDFs, EPUBs, and Snapshots, among other customizable options.

2. Sync: The Sync tab is where you manage how Zotero synchronizes your data across multiple devices. You can enable or disable syncing for both data and files, and manage the account information that links the Zotero desktop application to the Zotero web server. This tab is crucial for ensuring that your library remains consistent and up-to-date across all your devices.

3. Export: The Export tab allows you to set your preferences for exporting references and bibliographies. You can choose the default export format and configure how Zotero handles Quick Copy, which lets you easily drag and drop references into documents.

4. Cite: The Cite tab is where you manage your citation styles and word processor integrations. You can select your preferred citation style, manage installed styles, and configure how Zotero interacts with standalone word processors (i.e., Microsoft Word and LibreOffice). If needed, you can also reinstall or update the word processor plugins from this tab.

5. Advanced: The Advanced tab provides access to various miscellaneous settings, including language and region preferences, file and folder locations, database maintenance, feeds, and search options. This menu also allows you to customize keyboard shortcuts for common actions, such as creating a new item, creating a new note, or performing a quick search.

Each of these tabs is designed to give you control over various aspects of Zotero, enabling you to tailor the software to fit your research workflow. By exploring these settings, you can optimize Zotero to work more efficiently and better meet your specific needs.