Zotero + Octree: The Perfect Research Workflow

Two Tools, One Workflow

Zotero organizes your research. Octree writes it. Together, they create a seamless workflow from reading to publication.

Why Zotero + LaTeX?

Zotero strengths:

• Capture citations from anywhere

• Organize with folders and tags

• Sync across devices

• Generate BibTeX automatically

LaTeX strengths:

• Professional typesetting

• Precise citation formatting

• Academic standard

Combined: Research organization meets publication quality.

Setting Up the Integration

Step 1: Configure Zotero for BibTeX

1. Install Better BibTeX plugin for Zotero 2. Go to Preferences → Better BibTeX 3. Set citation key format: [auth:lower][year] 4. Enable auto-export

Step 2: Export Your Library

1. Right-click your library in Zotero 2. Export Library → Better BibTeX 3. Check "Keep updated" 4. Save as references.bib in your Octree project

Now your Zotero library auto-syncs to your LaTeX project.

Step 3: Use in Octree

Your citations are now available:

AI-Enhanced Citation Workflow

Finding the Right Citation

Traditional: Remember which paper said what, search your library.

With Octree AI: "Cite the paper about transformers for time series from 2023"

AI searches your bibliography, finds the match, inserts the citation.

Batch Citations

Request: "Add citations to support this claim about climate change"

Result: AI suggests relevant papers from your library.

Citation Formatting

Request: "Change all citations to natbib author-year format"

Result: AI updates \cite to \citet and \citep appropriately.

Managing Large Bibliographies

Problem: 500+ references, hard to navigate

Solution 1: Tag in Zotero

• Tag by chapter: "chapter-intro", "chapter-methods"

• Export tags to BibTeX keywords

• AI can filter by keyword

Solution 2: Split .bib files

Solution 3: AI cleanup "Remove bibliography entries not cited in this document"

Common Issues and Fixes

Issue: Citation key mismatch

Symptom: "Citation undefined"

Cause: Zotero citation key changed

Fix: "Find all undefined citations and suggest matches from bibliography"

Issue: Duplicate entries

Symptom: Same paper listed twice with different keys

Fix: "Find and merge duplicate bibliography entries"

Issue: Missing fields

Symptom: Incomplete citations in output

Fix: "List bibliography entries missing required fields"

Tips for Power Users

1. Use Zotero Groups

Share bibliographies with co-authors. Everyone's exports stay in sync.

2. Annotate in Zotero

Add notes to papers. Export notes as comments in .bib file.

3. Use Citation Styles

Better BibTeX can export with style-specific fields.

4. DOI Integration

With DOI in your .bib, Octree can fetch missing metadata.

Example Workflow

1. Find paper: Browser → Zotero connector saves it 2. Read paper: PDF in Zotero with annotations 3. Auto-export: Better BibTeX updates references.bib 4. Write in Octree: "Cite the Smith paper about neural networks" 5. AI inserts: \cite{smith2023neuralnetworks} 6. Compile: Bibliography renders perfectly

Total friction: Almost none.

Streamline your research workflow. Octree + Zotero = effortless citations. Try Octree at https://useoctree.com.