Word: citing without Zotero software?

Abohaal

Hello,

My university might not allow me to install the desktop version. Is it still possible to use Zotero to generate citations via a plugin? Because the Word plugin does not seem to work unless i start the Zotero desktop version.

dstillman

No, the plugin requires Zotero to be installed and open.

Why won't the university allow you to install the desktop version?

Abohaal

They only have a standard package of software that you are allowed to use in the library computers, sadly

bwiernik

I would inquire with your library to add Zotero to the standard installation. Many university libraries officially recommend Zotero.

Abohaal

I did and they said they were 'open' to researching it or doing a small pilot with a limited number of computers. I hope they will do it since it is the largest university in my country and they do have Mendeley installed, but also a Zotero recommendation as an alternative. So bit odd not to make that alternative actually viable.

But this still means it might take a while before they actually incorporate it. Any non-manual workaround suggestions, if any?

adomasven

No way to cite without the Zotero client, sorry.

bwiernik

One option would be to insert Scannable Cite placeholder citations from the Zotero web library, then when you are done writing, on a computer that has the Zotero client use LibreOffice to do your final formatting.

If you are comfortable with some computer programming or you use programs like R/RStudio or python for statistical analysis, another option would be to insert pandoc citation placeholders into your document, then use pandoc to format your citations.

adamsmith

I don't think there's still a quick way to generate Scannable Cites from the web, is there?