![[Zotero 7 now launched.png]] Zotero, the popular open-source reference management software, has released its most significant update in 18 years [1]. Zotero 7 brings a host of improvements in design, performance, and functionality, making a significant improvement in reference management software for researchers and academics worldwide. Although it is designed for the academic domain, there is no reason why it cannot be used in any organisation as a store of locations for reference data. # Major Redesign and Interface Improvements ## New Item Pane Zotero 7 introduces a completely redesigned item pane, replacing the horizontal tabs with collapsible vertical sections and a side navigation bar. This new layout allows for easier access to information and improved usability. The pane now includes sections for attachments, notes, libraries and collections, tags, and more, which can be expanded or collapsed as needed. The expandable and collapsible pane makes it much quicker to move between areas or view more than one area at once. ## Customizable Header The top of the item pane now features a customisable header, allowing users to choose what information to display, such as title, author, date, or even a full bibliography entry in their chosen citation style. ## Dark Mode One of the most requested features, dark mode, has finally arrived in Zotero 7. The entire interface has been designed with dark mode in mind, providing a visually appealing and eye-friendly option for users who prefer it. In the past I have used a plugin to achieve dark mode, but the new native mode is a great improvement. ## Density Options in View Zotero 7 offers two density options for the user interface: Compact and Comfortable. The Compact view resembles the traditional Zotero layout, while the new default Comfortable view provides a more spacious and approachable experience. ## New App Icon To complete the visual overhaul, Zotero 7 has a new app icon, giving the software a fresh and modern look. # Performance Enhancements Zotero 7 boasts significant performance improvements across the board. It is still too new at this stage to make comment on this claim however, although it would be surprising if speed improvements were not evident given the speed of new releases. It now also offers native support for Apple Silicon Macs, 64-bit Windows, and Windows on ARM, ensuring smooth operation on the latest hardware platforms. A Linux version is also available. ## Improved Reader Functionality Zotero 7 offers enhanced reader features, including improved annotation capabilities. However, it’s important to note that annotations made within Zotero’s built-in reader are stored in Zotero’s database, not directly on the PDF file. As a result, these annotations won’t be visible when opening the PDF in external applications. This information is confirmed by Zotero’s official documentation on PDF reading and annotation [2]. ## EPUB Support Zotero 7 now supports EPUB files natively, allowing users to open, read, and annotate EPUB documents directly within the Zotero interface. This feature enhances the reading experience, especially for users who prefer the reflowable text and customisable font options of EPUB files. ## Webpage Snapshots The new reader automatically displays webpage snapshots, enabling users to annotate saved web pages as easily as PDFs. ## New Annotation Types Zotero 7 introduces new annotation options, including ink annotations (ideal for touchscreen devices), underline annotations, and text annotations for adding notes directly to the page. ## Smart Reference Popup A new feature allows users to hover over citations or internal links to view associated references or figures without leaving the current page. ## Smarter Citing The citation dialog in Zotero 7 has been improved to automatically suggest items that are selected in the items list or open in the reader. This enhancement streamlines the citation process, making it faster and more intuitive when importing citations to MS Word, Google Docs or Obsidian. # New Organisational Features ## Collection Search Users can now quickly find and jump to specific collections using a new search feature, improving navigation within large libraries. ## Tabs Menu A new tabs menu provides a vertical list of all open tabs, allowing users to filter, jump between, close, or reorder tabs efficiently. ## Trash Management Deleted collections and searches are now moved to the trash, just like items, making it easier to recover accidentally deleted content. ## “Libraries and Collections” List A new section in the item pane shows all the collections and libraries the current item belongs to, improving organisation and item management. ## Customisable File Renaming Zotero 7 introduces more flexible options for automatic file renaming, allowing users to create complex rules to ensure filenames contain all necessary information. This is handled from the Zotero preferences or settings under the File Handling tab. # Plugin Compatibility and Challenges While Zotero 7 brings numerous improvements, it has introduced challenges for users who rely on plugins. Many popular plugins are currently incompatible with the new version and require updates from their developers. ## Affected Plugins Two notable plugins that are currently not working with Zotero 7 are: 1. **Scite**: Scite is well known academic software and this plugin shows supporting or disputing citations for references in a library. Scite have advised they are still working on an update to the plugin but do not have a estimated release date at present. 2. **Aria (AI Research Assistant)**: This plugin, powered by Large Language Models, does not work in Zotero 7 and no information can be located regarding planned updates. ## Alternative Solutions While waiting for plugin updates, users can consider the following alternatives: - Use built-in Zotero 7 features that may cover some functionality of unavailable plugins. - Explore other AI-powered research tools separately from Zotero. - Consider keeping both Zotero 6 and Zotero 7 installed for now, using Zotero 6 when specific plugins are needed. - Set a Google alert for mentions of the plugins. ## Plugin Upgrade Links Here are links to the plugins that I use within Zotero that will work in the new version. To install, download the .xpi file and in Zotero go to Tools/Plugins then click on the gear icon and “Install plugin from file”. - [Better BibTex](https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-better-bibtex) — improved bibliographic data particularly for Latex users - [Better Notes for Zotero](https://github.com/windingwind/zotero-better-notes#readme) - [Sci-PDF](https://github.com/syt2/zotero-scipdf#readme) — can source many articles in PDF format - [Zoplicate](https://chenglongma.com/zoplicate/) — Detects duplicate entries - [Zotero Preview](https://github.com/dcartertod/zotero-plugins) — Shows citation and bibliography in selected format in the right hand pane. # Upgrading to Zotero 7 Users can upgrade to Zotero 7 by checking for updates within the Zotero 6 application or by downloading it directly from the Zotero website. It’s worth noting that the database structure has not changed, allowing users to roll back to Zotero 6 if needed. Alternately, keep a copy of both on your system. # Conclusion Zotero 7 represents a significant leap forward in reference management software. With its redesigned interface, improved performance, and new features, it offers an enhanced reference management experience for researchers and academics. However, users should consider their plugin dependencies before upgrading. As the Zotero ecosystem adapts to this major update, it is hoped there will be a renewed enthusiasm in the community for improved enhancements through plugins. <div class="video-container"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvzw7dmeeeI?si=p6frPXE3ZBd2lJFh" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <iframe src="https://tally.so/embed/3j55DQ?alignLeft=1&hideTitle=1&transparentBackground=1&dynamicHeight=1" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"> </iframe> References: [1] [https://www.zotero.org/blog/zotero-7/](https://www.zotero.org/blog/zotero-7/) [2] [https://www.zotero.org/support/pdf_reader#using_an_external_pdf_reader](https://www.zotero.org/support/pdf_reader#using_an_external_pdf_reader)