Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- attaching_files [2020/03/19 09:42] – [Stored Files and Linked Files] convert linked files to stored files moved to "Tools" menu fflamerie
+++ attaching_files [2020/03/27 16:35] – [Child versus Standalone Attachment Files] dstillman
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ===== Child versus Standalone Attachment Files =====
-Files can be added either as //standalone items//, or as //child items// to [[adding_items_to_zotero|regular Zotero bibliographic metadata items]]. It is generally always a good idea to work with files as child items. Standalone files cannot be used with many of Zotero's features, including citing, My Publications, and most types of searching, because they lack bibliographic metadata.
+Files can be added either as //standalone items// or as //child items// to [[adding_items_to_zotero|regular Zotero bibliographic metadata items]]. It is generally always a good idea to work with files as child items. Standalone files cannot be used with many of Zotero's features, including citing, My Publications, and most types of searching, because they lack bibliographic metadata.
-If you have standalone files in your library, you make them into child items by dragging them onto a regular Zotero item, using the [[retrieve_PDF_metadata|Retrieve PDF Metadata]] function, or right-clicking on the standalone attachment and choosing "Create Parent Item".
+If you save a PDF directly to your library, Zotero will attempt to retrieve metadata for it and create a parent item automatically. If the item can't be recognized, you'll be left with a standalone attachment. You can either add a parent item another way (e.g., via the web browser or Add Item by Identifier) and drag the standalone attachment onto it or, if all else fails, right-click on the standalone attachment, choose "Create Parent Item", and enter metadata manually (but this is rarely necessary).
 ===== Stored Files and Linked Files =====