How to Make an Annotation in a Group Library

AidaMSmith
Hello!

Any tips on how to add an annotation to a .pdf in a group library? I'm given the option to search for annotations in a left-hand sidebar, but I can't figure out how to create an annotation that can be seen by the group.

Thanks much for any help.

-Aida
  • fcheslack
    Adding and editing annotations to PDFs in a group library works the same as your personal library as long as you have permission to edit files for the group. If you're able to attach a stored copy of a file to an item in the group, you should be able to add annotations to PDFs normally as well.

    The web library currently only supports reading annotations, so they can only be added from a Zotero desktop or iOS app.

    The messages in the annotation sidebar will make this more clear soon.
  • AidaMSmith
    Thank you for the reply!

    I'm the group owner and I'm having issues adding annotations to the PDF files I've added to my group. It's as if the options for doing this are missing. What icon should I be looking for to make this happen? I see an option for searching the annotations, but not an option for creating annotations. Perhaps I'm just missing an icon?
  • fcheslack
    The toolbar above the PDF has various annotation tools available. Highlight, Add Note, Select Area. The default is highlight, which lets you select text in the PDF and apply a highlight color. The highlighted text will then show up as an annotation in the sidebar.
  • AidaMSmith
    edited August 29, 2022
    This functionality is missing when I access a PDF from a web group library using the browser interface to Zotero. I see it when I access the PDF from my desktop version of Zotero.

    If I make an annotation on a PDF in a group library using the desktop version of Zotero, the annotation is not visible to the group using the web version of Zotero.

    Is this the correct functionality? Thank you so much for your insights.
  • fcheslack
    As I said, the web library currently only supports reading annotations, so they can only be added from a Zotero desktop or iOS app.

    If you make an annotation in the desktop app and sync, you should also see it in the web library version.
  • AidaMSmith
    Can you clarify further what "reading annotations" includes? Text notes? Highlights? I'm bit confused on this point. None of the annotations I make in the desktop version of Zotero are not syncing. Thank you.
  • fcheslack
    All annotations will show up in the web library, but you cannot add new ones or edit them there.

    https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/changes_not_syncing
  • AidaMSmith
    Thank you.
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