Tutorials
Connect Zotero and import a file from your library
This tutorial will guide you through connecting your Zotero library to Anara and importing PDFs from your research collections, making it easy to bring your existing bibliography into Anara’s AI-powered environment.
Step 1: Access the Zotero import
- Click the + icon in the left sidebar
- Select Import → Zotero
- The Zotero import dialog will appear
Step 2: Connect your Zotero account
If you haven’t connected Zotero before:- You’ll be redirected to Zotero’s login page
- Enter your Zotero username or email
- Enter your password
- Check “Remember Me” if you want to stay connected
- Click Login to Zotero
Anara will only access the collections you explicitly select. Your Zotero credentials are never stored.
Step 3: Select collections to import
Once connected, you’ll see your Zotero library structure:- Browse your collections in the list
- Use the search box to find specific collections quickly
- Select collections by clicking on them - you can choose multiple
- Each collection shows the number of documents it contains
Available collections include:
- Your personal library collections
- Shared group collections you have access to
- Subcollections within each main collection
Step 4: Import your PDFs
After selecting your collections:- Review your selections at the top of the dialog
- Click the Import button
- Anara will begin importing all PDFs from the selected collections
- Progress will be shown as files are imported
Only PDF files will be imported. Other file types in your Zotero library (like notes or web snapshots) are not currently supported.
Step 5: Access your imported documents
Once the import is complete:- Navigate to your Library from the left sidebar
- Your imported PDFs will appear in the table
- Documents retain their metadata from Zotero:
- Title
- Authors
- Publication date
- Journal information
Advanced features
Organizing imported content
- Create folders to group related papers
- Documents are automatically processed for AI chat capabilities
- All Zotero metadata is preserved and searchable
Reimporting and updates
- You can import from Zotero multiple times
- New imports won’t duplicate existing documents
- Select different collections to expand your library
Tips for effective Zotero integration
- Import by project: Select collections related to specific research projects
- Check file availability: Ensure PDFs are attached in Zotero before importing
- Use group libraries: Import from shared collections for collaborative research
- Regular syncing: Periodically import new additions to your Zotero library
Next steps
Now that you’ve imported your Zotero library, explore:- Chatting with your research papers
- Creating folders to organize by topic
- Annotating important findings in your imported documents