Is it possible to use Chrome and Zotero Connector without Zotero Standalone?

trickola

I would be grateful if someone could clarify this for me: The Chrome Zotero Connector doesn't really need Zotero Standalone to function, is that correct?

If I understand correctly using Chrome with the Zotero connector without Zotero Standalone installed, references are saved directly to zotero.org?

So I could for example use Chrome + Connector + Zotero Standalone on my home computer and Chrome + Connector on my job computer. Or this something that for some reason is not recommended? (In Chrome Web Store it says "The Zotero Connector works best with Zotero Standalone".)

adamsmith

you're understanding this correctly, yes.

Translators will work more reliably/on more sites with Standalone installed, that's why it's recommended. If you only use a small number of sites you can just try if they work without standalone and decide if it makes sense for you.
Also, the solution without standalone saves all attachments to Zotero's file storage, so you can't use other file storage solutions with that set-up.

trickola

Thanks for explaining.

I guess this is similar to using Mendeley (with Web Importer) without Mendeley Desktop installed. Or maybe it's not that similar. If anyone has any input on this I'd be much interested.

adamsmith

The general distinction is the same, yes, but it's likely still a good deal better than Mendeley, both because Zotero's translator infrastructure is much more developed and because Zotero can do more via the connectors than Mendeley (or Zotero for that matter) can do in a bookmarklet.

trickola

With "do more" you mean fetching pdf:s and more complete references?

adamsmith

fetching PDFs and dealing with more complicated site structures, i.e. it will work on more sites.
Zotero will often get more complete references than Mendeley, but that's because we put more work into the details of translators, only rarely because of bookmarklet vs. connector differences.

trickola

Ok, thanks again.

jww5dt

Is there anyone that I can talk to that can help me work through this? Like customer support? Or do you know of alternative citation services?

I just want to save sources from westlaw next, using my safari browser and not have to worry a ton about this. Any thoughts?

adamsmith

there is no phone support. This forum is all there is.

Westlaw (and Lexis) aren't supported by Zotero (nor, afaik, by any other reference manager) due to the terrible state of systematic citation metadata in the legal field. So basically what you're left with is this:
http://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/content.php?pid=276417&sid=2280365
except that instead of clicking the "Create Webpage Item" button (which is Firefox only) you would install the Safari Connector and Zotero Standalone (zotero.org/download) and then use right-click -> Save as Zotero Snapshot.

edit: in other words, if you're just going to use Westlaw, it may well be this isn't worth it for you.

fbennett

@jww5dt: In a nutshell, it is not in the commercial interest of West to facilitate the use of third-party tools with their monolithic research service. None of the big three publish structured metadata in their pages, and without their cooperation, Zotero is not going to work smoothly with any of them.