Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Zotero Standalone on Chrome OS/Chromebook
After a series of false starts and my own lack of deep knowledge of using the Linux Terminal, I was finally able to successfully get Zotero Standalone 5.0+ working on my Chromebook. I thought it might help others to provide a handy step-by-step guide to installing it, so you can avoid the pitfalls I had.
The first thing to know going into this is, for some odd reason, the default Debian Packages only has Zotero Standalone 4.0+, not the most recent version. Additionally, even if you get it installed, the "Preferences" will never open, allowing you input your Zotero login credentials and sync your data.
**STEP 1: Allow Chrome OS to Install Linux**
1. On your Chromebook, open "Settings," then click the "hamburger" menu at the upper left (it looks like three horizontal lines).
2. In the side menu that opens, click the "Linux (Beta)" option.
3. Go through the process of installing Linux on your Chromebook.
**STEP 2: Open Terminal**
1. After Linux is installed on your Chromebook, you will notice a new app folder in your overflow menu (where all your app icons live) called "Linux apps." Click on this folder and select "Terminal."
2. Wait for the Terminal app to open. This might take a few minutes the first time.
**STEP 3: Install Zotero Standalone Using Terminal Commands**
*I used the instructions at this Github page to successfully install the most recent version of Zotero Standalone to my Chromebook: https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb*
1. Enter these commands in Terminal to install Zotero Standalone 5.0+:
`wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install zotero~
2. Once that finishes, enter these commands in Terminal to install an additional package called Juris-m (required for this version of Zotero Standalone and its constant updates):
`wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jurism` [Edit: This is incorrect. See below. — D.S]
3. Once those are done, you can close the Terminal and go back to the "Linux apps" folder. Inside you will now see an icon for Zotero, and clicking on it will open the app, as normal. You can then pin the app to your Chrome Launcher.
Final Notes: on my Chromebook at least, the Zotero app icon does not actually show the Zotero icon, but a default "penguin" app related to Linux. Just a minor point, and it does not seem to affect Zotero's performance at all.
Also, as discussed elsewhere on the forum by @jackyko1991 , to use Zotero Standalone with the Google Docs integration, do the following:
`what I have done is to install a port forwarding app:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/connection-forwarder/ahaijnonphgkgnkbklchdhclailflinn
set forwarding rule as following:
tcp
source: 0.0.0.0 (anywhere) port 23119 (connection port from chrome)
destination: 127.0.0.1(localhost) port 8080 (target port in crostini vm)
and set the zotero http port to 8080 (default port 23119 will crash the os), this port is arbitary but be careful not crash with other crostini ports, and must the same as the destination port
in zotero:
Edit -> Preference -> Advanced -> Config Editor -> Accept -> extension.zotero.httpServer.port -> double click and set to 8080`
The first thing to know going into this is, for some odd reason, the default Debian Packages only has Zotero Standalone 4.0+, not the most recent version. Additionally, even if you get it installed, the "Preferences" will never open, allowing you input your Zotero login credentials and sync your data.
**STEP 1: Allow Chrome OS to Install Linux**
1. On your Chromebook, open "Settings," then click the "hamburger" menu at the upper left (it looks like three horizontal lines).
2. In the side menu that opens, click the "Linux (Beta)" option.
3. Go through the process of installing Linux on your Chromebook.
**STEP 2: Open Terminal**
1. After Linux is installed on your Chromebook, you will notice a new app folder in your overflow menu (where all your app icons live) called "Linux apps." Click on this folder and select "Terminal."
2. Wait for the Terminal app to open. This might take a few minutes the first time.
**STEP 3: Install Zotero Standalone Using Terminal Commands**
*I used the instructions at this Github page to successfully install the most recent version of Zotero Standalone to my Chromebook: https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb*
1. Enter these commands in Terminal to install Zotero Standalone 5.0+:
`wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install zotero~
`wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jurism`
3. Once those are done, you can close the Terminal and go back to the "Linux apps" folder. Inside you will now see an icon for Zotero, and clicking on it will open the app, as normal. You can then pin the app to your Chrome Launcher.
Final Notes: on my Chromebook at least, the Zotero app icon does not actually show the Zotero icon, but a default "penguin" app related to Linux. Just a minor point, and it does not seem to affect Zotero's performance at all.
Also, as discussed elsewhere on the forum by @jackyko1991 , to use Zotero Standalone with the Google Docs integration, do the following:
`what I have done is to install a port forwarding app:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/connection-forwarder/ahaijnonphgkgnkbklchdhclailflinn
set forwarding rule as following:
tcp
source: 0.0.0.0 (anywhere) port 23119 (connection port from chrome)
destination: 127.0.0.1(localhost) port 8080 (target port in crostini vm)
and set the zotero http port to 8080 (default port 23119 will crash the os), this port is arbitary but be careful not crash with other crostini ports, and must the same as the destination port
in zotero:
Edit -> Preference -> Advanced -> Config Editor -> Accept -> extension.zotero.httpServer.port -> double click and set to 8080`
"The Zotero / Juris-M programs provided by this repository have their self-update facility disabled.
Simply rely on on your system's package manager to give you update notifications when a new version comes out."
If there is an easier, more direct way to do this using only the Zotero download from the terminal, please let me know!
But then I'm not sure why you think that's saying you need Juris-M to update Zotero. The whole page is describing packages for both Zotero and Juris-M. This is just saying that both the Zotero and Juris-M versions distributed this way have their self-update mechanisms disabled and that you need to rely on the system package manager to update them. In no way is this saying that you need to install the Juris-M package if you just want to use Zotero.
The installation page for the Linux package simply requests downloading the package directly and then offers commands to unpack it...but, frankly, it is unclear if those examples listed will work in the sandboxed way Chromebook handles Linux installations (it might, I don't know). If so, perhaps the installation instructions could mention those directions will work on Chromebook as well?
So can someone explain..this is my first time attempting to use linux on my chromebook
@Cosmosis I've copied the instructions to the zotero-deb wiki for easier finding, with minor edits. The Wiki is publicly editable.
Second, @rlwestre , you are welcome to hit me up directly if you need help. That being said, the instructions I posted are basically step-by-step what I did to install it on my Chromebook. I guess my first question is, have you activated Linux on your Chromebook?
At first i'm sorry for my english very bad.
I came here because i run the commands you explain in your differences steps but nothing happen.
I don't understand where is my mistake.
I wrote this commands on the terminal :
`wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install zotero~
But nothing is happening
Someone can help me ?
Thanks
First, I'm sorry if my english makes you cry :')
I got a Chromebook not too long ago, and I just discovered today I could install Zotero on it. It made my day, but I've got a little problem...
I followed all the steps and the terminal seems to have installed it all. But when I go to my linux apps folder, I don't have an icon Zotero... I just have the install.sh file...
I tried again all the steps and here are the last sentences my terminal give me :
zotero is already the nexest version (5.0.75).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 20 not upgraded.
Thanks for helping me ;-;
Can anyone help me please?
wget -qO- https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
deb/releases/download/apt-get/install.sh | sudo bash
OK
deb https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get/ ./
The problem comes after I input:
sudo apt install zotero
What I get then is:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package zotero
Ign:1 https://storage.googleapis.com/cros-packages/77 stretch InRelease
Hit:3 https://storage.googleapis.com/cros-packages/77 stretch Release
Hit:8 https://apt.llvm.org/stretch llvm-toolchain-stretch-7 InRelease
Ign:4 https://cdn-aws.deb.debian.org/debian stretch InRelease
Hit:6 https://cdn-aws.deb.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates InRelease
Hit:7 https://cdn-aws.deb.debian.org/debian stretch-backports InRelease
Hit:2 https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/releases/download/apt-get ./ InRelease
Hit:9 https://cdn-aws.deb.debian.org/debian stretch Release
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
20 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.
N: Skipping acquire of configured file 'main/binary-arm64/Packages' as repository 'https://apt.llvm.org/stretch llvm-toolchain-stretch-7 InRelease' doesn't support architecture 'arm64'
Thanks in advance for any help.
uname -m
in the terminal and see what it says?aarch64
@emilianoeheyns would it be possible to check on that as part of install.sh to give people a more meaningful error? Tim isn't the first who has tried to install Zotero on an ARM Chromebook
(the post above just includes the * in the URL, breaking it)
The problem is now that Zotero Connector doesn't seem to recognise that I have the app, and I can't save any sources to it.
Is there something else I need to do?
Many thanks!
I've managed to get everything done but I am getting the error Unable to locate package Zotero. I have used uname -m and the return I am getting is x86_64
Can you help please