Does Zotero work at all with any word processor

JC1955
or is it just a useful aggregator of data?

I have spent all day trying to get it to work with OpenOffice and LibreOffice.
  • dstillman
    edited July 9, 2023
    Yes, of course. It works with Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs. We haven't supported OpenOffice in years.

    https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_integration

    If you're having some problem, you'll need to say what the actual problem is that you're experiencing.

    https://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_problems
  • tim820
    edited July 10, 2023
    @dstillman that page of Zotero documentation that you linked does contain a link at the very bottom to a youtube video "Zotero and OpenOffice" (although the video has currently been made private). Given "We haven't supported OpenOffice in years", would it be best to remove that link so as not to give the wrong impression ? ;)
    https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_integration

    Edit: Looks like you've removed it now. Thanks.

    Anyone wanting to use word processors that do not have supported Zotero plugins could use the (supported) RTF-Scan option (and even in supported word processors, some users might prefer its simpler form of citing).
    https://www.zotero.org/support/rtf_scan
  • JC1955
    When I attempt to link Libre Office with Zotero, I am told that a Java Kit is required from Oracle. I go to Oracle where there are several options. How do I know which one to choose? I have tried downloading a couple, but then I need the internet again to find software to unzip the Java. But even when I do that, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the Java file.
  • dstillman
    edited July 10, 2023
    Install the latest Java JDK for your computer. Which one depends on what OS you're using. If you're using Windows, you would want the x64 Installer:

    https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/#jdk20-windows

    Note that this isn't specific to Zotero. The plugin is a standard Java-based LibreOffice extension. Some functionality in LibreOffice just requires Java.
  • JC1955
    edited July 10, 2023
    Thank you dstillman, I have successfully downloaded the Java Development Kit, and this has enabled the installation of the Libre Office Add-Inn to Zotero.

    Should I be seing a Zotero icon somewhere in LibreOffice when I have a document open? If I want to drop a citation into a doc, I'm not seeing where the link to Zotero is. I have restarted the machine.
  • dstillman
    The plugin adds a toolbar to LibreOffice.

    https://www.zotero.org/support/libreoffice_writer_plugin_usage

    https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#toolbar_is_missing
  • JC1955
    edited July 11, 2023
    The links provide a description of the Zotero toolbar, but I can't see how to add the toolbar
  • adamsmith
    You asked what you should be seeing, that's what dstillman answered in link 1. If you don't see that, troubleshooting steps are in link 2
  • JC1955
    edited July 11, 2023
    This line is in documentation which I get to from Link 1.

    'Installing the Zotero LibreOffice plugin adds a Zotero toolbar to LibreOffice.'

    How do I know if I've installed it or not?

    How do I get to the page where I should find it from the Zotero webpage https://www.zotero.org/ ? The options there are:
    Web Library
    Groups
    Documentation
    Forums
    Get Involved

    Apart from that I have a Zotero MyLibrary desktop app which I have listed several publications, but that has no visible Cite function or any link to word processors.

    In the trouble-shooting link it says: "Check if there's an entry for Zotero under View → Toolbars." I can't find a page with View or Toolbars

    Perhaps it's one of those things that's obvious when you know how.

  • adamsmith
    The Toolbar would be in LibreOffice, not Zotero, and that's what View--> Toolbars refers to.
  • JC1955
    OK thank you. Should I see the Zotero icon there or do I have to click on 'customise' or another function to fetch it?
  • JC1955
    OK I've reinstalled LibreOffice in Zotero and that has made the Zotero icons appear in the tool bar on my Windows machine.. Great, now we'll see if they work.

    On my iMac, Zotero has a lot of missing stuff from the top of the front page - I've lost File - Edit - View - Tools - Help. I've tried re-opening it, but it only has My Library.
  • JC1955
    the functionality seems sketchy to say the least. I think Zotero is a useful aggregator to cut and paste from, but the cite and biblio functions don't seem to work and time is pressing.
  • dstillman
    Zotero is used happily by millions of people. Honestly you just seem very confused.

    You keep talking about "pages". There are no "pages" in Zotero or LibreOffice. Those are programs that run on your computer. All documentation is referring to those programs. You seem to be looking at this website and mistaking that for the Zotero software.

    If you're having trouble with something, take a screenshot of what you're looking at, upload it somewhere (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), and post a link here, and explain what you're trying to do. But if you just keep insisting that core Zotero functionality used by millions of people is somehow broken, you're just going to annoy people and you're going to be on your own.
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