This is so great! It's a game changer! I always highlight what I think is interesting in papers, but it was not very useful since it would be so tedious to review every paper and the highlights when i'm looking for something. This extracting highlights as notes is exactly what i needed! Thanks you so much for explaining how to use it
Thanks so much! Also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
I agree with Ludmilla!!! I don't know how many times I've re-read something because I hi-lighted it and can't find the latest version of a pdf and then transferring my notes to a word document. Thank you so much for the tutorial. I love Zotero as a data management system, but had not yet figured out how to use it to manage my annotations as well. Thank you!!
also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
@@lorenaoenglish5741 you're welcome. And I took your hint and donated to the folks that made the ZotFile available. Definitely think that's the right thing to do and I appreciate you suggesting it. Most would not. Well done!!
Thanks so much! Also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
Hi Lorena I've just come across this interesting video. But I am frustrated my zotero version can't allow me to perform correctly your valuable instructions. Zotefile menu on advanced parameters does not show the same menu as in your video and . In in my "message attatchment' I can only see two instructions (instead of three)! I can"t see "extract annotations" Any help from you please??
Sometimes you just realize you need to flip how you think about something. I've been saying add the old annotations to the new ones, but then you have to capture all the stuff you added manually (if you did this)to the Zotero Note that the first annotation extracted to. Actually, why not add the new extracted annotations to the original extracted annotation in the appropriate places. Or, you can create Zotero Notes for annotations by chapter (or other logical breaking points) and then add it any later new annotations to the older ones manually. I really need to re-do this video. When I do I will post a link here.
Thanks for the video, 2 questions: 1. what would be the most usable format for exporting the notes? 2. is there a possibility of tagging the notes/highlights so that I could later aggregate all the notes I have taken related to a specific issue?
This is such a great video, thank you so much. During all this morning, I've been looking for a step-to-step on how to install and use Zotfile, this video does it greatly. I have a question, when I extracted my notes, it doesn't capture the correct page number, but the PDF number. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks again!
3/10/2020 Important Update - I forgot to mention that if you have written notes to yourself in an extracted note, you don't want to delete it! In that case, just copy any later extracted annotations from their Note and paste them into the Note that has your comments written inside Zotero, and then delete the later annotation. I'll try to edit this video and add that later.
Hi Lorena. Thanks for this really helpful video. One question: how can I make sure when I extract annotations it doesn't create a new file each time I make new annotations on the PDF?
It does create a new file, including all past annotations along with your new one and I don't think you can change that. That's why its important to copy over any *additional stuff you've written in the annotation Note*, if that makes sense (I find using a different color for my own comments makes it easier to find them and move them over, but its clunky at best). Still, however, its worth it to me!
Hi Lorena, this is helpful, thank you. Is there a way to import the extracted annotations into a word document (Word for Mac 365)?. Or is it a regular copy and paste from there? Thank you.
That's a very good question. I'm not a Mac user, but I would l think you can use the Summarize Notes option in the print menu (then do print to file), then paste that into a Word document and then cut and paste directly from that.
Would prefer a how you use it on a tablet such as an iOS device. I know I have to use the browser, since they do not yet have a native iPad OS app, but how does zot file work with iPad OS. Onwards with my search I guess. I really did like your video, it was quite informative. Though in the future, say out loud what you are clicking on as you do it, that way us auditory people can follow along easier. I had to reverse the playback a few times to catch on.
Hi Lorena, I have a question about what to do with the extractions once you have them. How do you incorporate the quoted text you extracted into word? Is there a better system than copy-paste?
Hmmm...not really as far as I know (if anyone does know of an option and sees this, please respond). What you can do is create one big note for each citation and put in all the extracts you want to use as quotations (or paraphrasing, but you have to be careful with those - I put and around them so I know they are my own paraphrases!) all together with pages, etc for citing, and then just copy and paste them as you go.
Yes, that is also an important question, because, in the example it looks like, the annotations are created by a PDF reader. Not ZotFile nor Zotero. So then would arose the question, of whether ZotFile could handle annotations of all PDF readers. For example, I have Avril and that does not look to be able to create annotations at all. So I could install the one that could, but the question is if it will work then. These ZotFile videos are missing one important moment, that is to mention, which PDF reader they use.
thanks so much : i had problem i extract annotations and it works very well but when i open my pdf and add more note and annotation , then go to zotero to extract annotations , it does not work ? thank you .
Arge, I see what you mean. I need to be more careful. The annotations go in order, with the second one following the first one on the list of Notes (or more properly, the list of what Zotero calls "child files." So for what I'm doing its oldest annotation, newer annotation, then the actual PDF. I hope I answered your question!
You have to have a PDF viewer - either one that comes on your computer (i.e. Apple's Preview) or the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, or something else. There are a bunch of free or free/mium options out there! If you want to annotate, your PDF software or app will also need to have highlighting and note options as well.
@@lorenaoenglish5741 As I said above. I am not sure it would work with whatever PDF reader. At the moment the relationship between ZotFile and PDF reader is unknown.
This is so great! It's a game changer!
I always highlight what I think is interesting in papers, but it was not very useful since it would be so tedious to review every paper and the highlights when i'm looking for something. This extracting highlights as notes is exactly what i needed! Thanks you so much for explaining how to use it
Thanks so much! Also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
I agree with Ludmilla!!! I don't know how many times I've re-read something because I hi-lighted it and can't find the latest version of a pdf and then transferring my notes to a word document. Thank you so much for the tutorial. I love Zotero as a data management system, but had not yet figured out how to use it to manage my annotations as well. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for putting your time into making this video! Have the nicest of days!
Thanks so much!
also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
Thanks for posting this. Helped me solve my issue with Zotero right away. Great video.
Thanks so much!
@@lorenaoenglish5741 you're welcome. And I took your hint and donated to the folks that made the ZotFile available. Definitely think that's the right thing to do and I appreciate you suggesting it. Most would not. Well done!!
Thank you so much for sharing this video Lorena!! What you taught us here is a true game changer!
Thanks so much! Also, the upcoming Zotero 6 will include PDF annotation --> Zotero Notes directly in the app, but the notes are a layer in Zotero, not a layer in the actual PDF so you may still find yourself using both.
Hey! Loved the video, any chance you know the solution if the extract annotations option isn't coming up?
thanks this is so useful tip! hope you keep making videos for beginner!!!
Hi Lorena
I've just come across this interesting video. But I am frustrated my zotero version can't allow me to perform correctly your valuable instructions. Zotefile menu on advanced parameters does not show the same menu as in your video and . In in my "message attatchment' I can only see two instructions (instead of three)! I can"t see "extract annotations"
Any help from you please??
Thank you !
Which software do you use to open and annotate PDFs? Which PDF reader does ZotFile support?
Sometimes you just realize you need to flip how you think about something. I've been saying add the old annotations to the new ones, but then you have to capture all the stuff you added manually (if you did this)to the Zotero Note that the first annotation extracted to. Actually, why not add the new extracted annotations to the original extracted annotation in the appropriate places. Or, you can create Zotero Notes for annotations by chapter (or other logical breaking points) and then add it any later new annotations to the older ones manually. I really need to re-do this video. When I do I will post a link here.
Thanks for the video, 2 questions:
1. what would be the most usable format for exporting the notes?
2. is there a possibility of tagging the notes/highlights so that I could later aggregate all the notes I have taken related to a specific issue?
Well, I guess that if you export notes, you can add them as a regular citation to Zotero so that you can attach them with tags.
This is such a great video, thank you so much. During all this morning, I've been looking for a step-to-step on how to install and use Zotfile, this video does it greatly. I have a question, when I extracted my notes, it doesn't capture the correct page number, but the PDF number. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks again!
3/10/2020 Important Update - I forgot to mention that if you have written notes to yourself in an extracted note, you don't want to delete it! In that case, just copy any later extracted annotations from their Note and paste them into the Note that has your comments written inside Zotero, and then delete the later annotation. I'll try to edit this video and add that later.
Done really fast before my dogs started to bark ;-)
How does zotero add a unique number to an imported document?
Hi Lorena. Thanks for this really helpful video. One question: how can I make sure when I extract annotations it doesn't create a new file each time I make new annotations on the PDF?
It does create a new file, including all past annotations along with your new one and I don't think you can change that. That's why its important to copy over any *additional stuff you've written in the annotation Note*, if that makes sense (I find using a different color for my own comments makes it easier to find them and move them over, but its clunky at best). Still, however, its worth it to me!
@@lorenaoenglish5741 thank you very much. Most helpful.
Hi Lorena, this is helpful, thank you. Is there a way to import the extracted annotations into a word document (Word for Mac 365)?. Or is it a regular copy and paste from there? Thank you.
That's a very good question. I'm not a Mac user, but I would l think you can use the Summarize Notes option in the print menu (then do print to file), then paste that into a Word document and then cut and paste directly from that.
UPDATE:
The annotation function is now integrated in zotero itself.
Thank you so much!
Would prefer a how you use it on a tablet such as an iOS device. I know I have to use the browser, since they do not yet have a native iPad OS app, but how does zot file work with iPad OS. Onwards with my search I guess. I really did like your video, it was quite informative. Though in the future, say out loud what you are clicking on as you do it, that way us auditory people can follow along easier. I had to reverse the playback a few times to catch on.
Thanks for the reminder to narrative my steps! I'm working on that. You may already know that Zotero now has an iPad app,. which is great!
@@lorenaoenglish5741 i cannot find the iPad app when I look on the App Store. I check pretty much every day.
@@Stormbrise I should have added its in beta! More info: www.zotero.org/support/mobile
Hi Lorena, I have a question about what to do with the extractions once you have them. How do you incorporate the quoted text you extracted into word? Is there a better system than copy-paste?
Hmmm...not really as far as I know (if anyone does know of an option and sees this, please respond). What you can do is create one big note for each citation and put in all the extracts you want to use as quotations (or paraphrasing, but you have to be careful with those - I put and around them so I know they are my own paraphrases!) all together with pages, etc for citing, and then just copy and paste them as you go.
@@lorenaoenglish5741 OK. Thank you. I am going to try that. Good tips!
im not sure how the zotfile relates to the annotations vs saving/syncing it (annotation data files) direct to zotero ? thanks
Hmm - that's not something I've actually done. If its easier for you than using the ZotFile middleman, go for it!
Yes, that is also an important question, because, in the example it looks like, the annotations are created by a PDF reader. Not ZotFile nor Zotero. So then would arose the question, of whether ZotFile could handle annotations of all PDF readers. For example, I have Avril and that does not look to be able to create annotations at all. So I could install the one that could, but the question is if it will work then. These ZotFile videos are missing one important moment, that is to mention, which PDF reader they use.
thanks so much :
i had problem i extract annotations and it works very well but when i open my pdf and add more note and annotation , then go to zotero to extract annotations , it does not work ? thank you .
Make sure you have saved the PDF after making the new annotations - Zotero can only extract from a saved PDF.
@@lorenaoenglish5741 thank you . i will do that , thank you ..
at 6:50 do we miss the new annotations at the top (i screen is lopped off the top?)
Arge, I see what you mean. I need to be more careful. The annotations go in order, with the second one following the first one on the list of Notes (or more properly, the list of what Zotero calls "child files." So for what I'm doing its oldest annotation, newer annotation, then the actual PDF. I hope I answered your question!
also I forgot - the annotations all have date stamps - date and time
Do u have u get a PDF viewer or is it built-in in Zotero?
You have to have a PDF viewer - either one that comes on your computer (i.e. Apple's Preview) or the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, or something else. There are a bunch of free or free/mium options out there! If you want to annotate, your PDF software or app will also need to have highlighting and note options as well.
@@lorenaoenglish5741 As I said above. I am not sure it would work with whatever PDF reader. At the moment the relationship between ZotFile and PDF reader is unknown.
You're talking to fast!
I do that :-( I'll try to do better. Luckily you can replay it over and over ;-)