The PDF reader allows users to view and interact with PDF documents within the Zotero application. It is a built-in tool and does not need to be installed separately.
Opening a PDF file
To open a PDF file, check if there is a PDF attachment in the citation in your library. If so, double-click the icon and the PDF will open in a new tab.
View
You can choose what you want to see in the PDF reader. In the below example, all three panels are open, but you can choose to have just one or two open.
On the left are all notes, underlines, etc. In the middle is the document itself and on the right is information and metadata.
Searching within a PDF file
To search the contents of a PDF file, click the magnifying glass icon located in the upper right corner of the toolbar. This will open a search bar where you can enter the word or phrase you want to find. All matching text in the document is highlighted in colour. You can use arrow buttons in the search bar to hop through the results.
Smart references in a PDF file
The PDF reader allows you to view full citation details for in-text references. Move your cursor over an in-text citation. A popup window appears, showing the full reference.You can also click on the reference if you want to see it in the bibliography.
Creating Annotations
The PDF reader offers a variety of annotation tools for working with your documents.
1. Highlight Text
For highlighting and underlining, there is an "unlocked mode" (see image 1a, below left) and a "locked mode" (see image 1b, below right).
Unlocked mode: Select any text on the page and a popup will appear. Choose a highlighting colour.
Locked mode: Choose the Highlight function in the top bar, choose a colour, and then choose which text to highlight.
2. Underline Text
Underlining functions in a similar way to highlighting.
Unlocked mode: Select any text on the page and a popup will appear. Choose to underline (the second letter "A") and choose a colour.
Locked mode: Choose the Underline function (the second letter "A") in the top bar and choose a colour. Then underline the text you want to highlight.
3. Note Annotation
You can add an annotation in the form of a sticky note. Click the Note annotation function in the top bar and choose a colour. Place the cursor where you want the note, and click.
If the left panel is open, you can edit the note annotation there. If it is closed, you can edit the annotation in the dialog that pops up.
4. Add Text
You can write notes on the PDF itself. Click the icon Add Text in the toolbar. Click anywhere on the page to place a text box, then type your comment. You can drag or resize the text box if needed.
5. Select Area
You can capture a specific area, piece of text, or image/figure in the PDF. Choose the Select Area tool. Click and drag your cursor around the selected area. It will be added as an image annotation.
6. Draw
Use this tool to mark your text with custom shapes or handwritten notes. Click the Draw icon in the toolbox and start drawing on the PDF itself with your mouse, touchpad or stylus.
Editing or deleting annotations
You can easily edit or delete annotations directly in the PDF using the right-click context menu (see image). Depending on the annotation type, you will have different options for editing. However, the Delete option is available for all annotation types.
Extra options in the Annotations panel
Editing Text
The Annotations panel gives you access to additional editing options. For example, you can edit the text in the annotation for highlights and underlines. Go to the annotation on the left-hand panel and right click. Choose Edit Annotation Text and edit the text as required.
Edit the page number of an annotation
Go to the annotation in the left-hand panel and right click. Choose Edit Page Number. You can then select how to change the page number:
- for the annotation you are on,
- for the page you are on and later pages, or
- for all pages.
If you would like Zotero to auto-detect page numbers, tick the Auto-Detect box.
Adding tags
Adding Tags
In this panel you can also organise your annotations by adding tags. Select the annotation you would like to tag. Click the Add Tags... button. In the popup window, start typing your tag; a list of existing tags will appear. Select a tag from the list, or type a new one. To add more tags to your annotation, click the + button and repeat the process.
Adding Annotations to Notes
Select a citation with an annotated PDF. Right-click the citation or the PDF. Select → Add Note from Comments and a note will be created from the annotations you have made in the PDF.
It is also possible to make notes of the annotations directly from the PDF view.
