Help: Need to change APA-formatted references to Chicago-style references

KathyMBW

Help: Need to change APA-formatted references to Chicago-style references. How do I do this with my Microsoft Word or RTF file? Thanks!

dstillman

Is this a question about Zotero? If you've been using the Zotero Word plugin, you can change citation styles from the plugin's document preferences.

KathyMBW

Ok. Thanks. I will try it. Today is my first day using Zotero.

KathyMBW

I cannot get Zotero to work; I use my university's licensed Microsoft Word. I need to change APA-formatted references to Chicago-style references. I tried Google Docs and it doesn't work, either. How do I do this? In my Google Docs file (my CV document), I go to the Zotero extension, to the right of Add-ons. (I could only install EasyBib as an Add-on). When I see the Zotero link (next to Add-ons), I click "document preferences." Nothing happens. I then try "add/edit bibliography." Nothing happens. Again, this is for Google Docs. I have over 100 references to convert fr APA to Chic Styler and I'm desperate. Thanks.

KathyMBW

Sorry. I forgot. Zotero won't work w my university-licenced Microsoft acct.

dstillman

When I see the Zotero link (next to Add-ons), I click "document preferences." Nothing happens. I then try "add/edit bibliography." Nothing happens.

Have you inserted citations into your document using the plugin? The first thing you need to do is to click Add/Edit Citation and insert citations from your Zotero library.

But something should definitely happen if you click any of the buttons. If you're getting an error, you would need to tell us what it says. If you're not seeing anything, most likely a Zotero window went behind your browser window, so you should look through your open windows. If you're still having trouble, restart your browser and Zotero and try again.

Zotero won't work w my university-licenced Microsoft acct.

Zotero doesn't work with Word Online. It works with the version of Word you download and run on your computer.

KathyMBW

Thanks! I try to add citations (one at a time) and I get a 1" height and 6" length spinning Zotero screen. I've trued turning off and on my computer, etc.

I don't understand this: "Have you inserted using your document using the plugin?" Is the plugin the Zotero icon I see to the right of Add-ons?

I've been at this for over 2 hrs. and am about to give up on Zotero. I don't know how to add my entire ref list (in bulk) to my library. I can easily use Google Scholar for one-by-one Chicago style citations, but this is cumbersome. I want to export my APA ref list en masse, click some buttons and then get a Chicago-style bibliography. Thanks! Desperado ...

dstillman

I try to add citations (one at a time) and I get a 1" height and 6" length spinning Zotero screen.

It's very likely that the document preferences window, which appears the first time you click Add/Edit Citation in a new document, is simply behind your other windows. Again, you should look through your windows — specifically your Zotero windows, since the document preferences window comes from the Zotero app itself.

If you really think it's not there, we'd want to see a Debug ID from Zotero for clicking Add/Edit Citation, immediately after restarting Zotero and your browser.

I want to export my APA ref list en masse, click some buttons and then get a Chicago-style bibliography.

I don't really know what you mean by this. You cite things in Zotero by adding items to it and then citing them, generally with the word processor plugins, in one of thousands of supported styles. It is, indeed, just a few clicks.

But if you're saying you have an existing text document with an APA bibliography in it, you would need to import those items into Zotero before citing them. See Importing Formatted Bibliographies for the various options, depending on how you created that reference list.

KathyMBW

Thank you! On the importing formatted bibliographies, I don't see anything for Google DOcs. As you stated, Zotero doesn't work w Word online, which is the free version I have fr my university. Are you saying I have to import/copy each citation, one by one (vs. importing a ref list) ifI use Zotero? Thanks again.

dstillman

Google Docs is irrelevant — for this purpose, it's just like any plain-text bibliography, as described on the linked page. You could just as easily copy the bibliography from Word Online. The fact that you're citing in Google Docs using the Zotero plugin is a totally separate step that is irrelevant until you have items in Zotero.

KathyMBW

Thank you. I now have a file in my Zotero library. All I want to do is change the reference list fr APA to Chicago Style. It's now in APA style. I clicked in the style to Chicago style, but am still loss. I feel like I'm missing a step. How do I do this? Thanks again.

dstillman

I now have a file in my Zotero library.

I don't know what you mean by this.

I explained how this works above. You need to 1) import items into your library, following Importing Formatted Bibliographies if that's what you have, and 2) generate a bibliography using one of the various ways to do that in Zotero. These are totally separate steps.