Differences

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

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
kb:web_vs_desktop [2022/10/20 05:23] dstillmankb:web_vs_desktop [2023/10/25 15:18] dstillman
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== Is the Zotero web library the same as the Zotero desktop app? ====== ====== Is the Zotero web library the same as the Zotero desktop app? ======
  
-The Zotero desktop app is the primary way of using Zotero and offers complete functionality. When people talk about "Zotero", they're almost always referring to the desktop app.+The [[/download|Zotero desktop app]] is the primary way of using Zotero and offers complete functionality. When people talk about "Zotero", they're almost always referring to the desktop app.
  
-The Zotero web library is a complementary tool for accessing your Zotero data when you're away from your main computer or using a platform that can't run Zotero (locked-down institutional computers, some Chromebooks, etc.). The web library also allows you to share a Zotero library publicly with people who might not use Zotero.+The [[/mylibrary|Zotero web library]] is a complementary tool for accessing your Zotero data when you're away from your main computer or using a platform that can't run Zotero (locked-down institutional computers, some Chromebooks, etc.). The web library also allows you to share a Zotero library publicly with people who might not use Zotero.
  
 A desktop app allows for vastly more functionality than a website. Here's an incomplete list of features that only the Zotero desktop app provides: A desktop app allows for vastly more functionality than a website. Here's an incomplete list of features that only the Zotero desktop app provides:
Line 9: Line 9:
   * A local database fully under your control, with optional syncing   * A local database fully under your control, with optional syncing
   * Fast, offline access to all your data — whereas the web library can only load a subset of your data at a time, the desktop app allows you to access and modify everything much faster   * Fast, offline access to all your data — whereas the web library can only load a subset of your data at a time, the desktop app allows you to access and modify everything much faster
-  * Ability to work with a large number of references — certain operations, like export and bibliography generation, are limited to 100 items in the web library for technical reasons +  * Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs plugins that let you insert citations and bibliographies directly from Zotero and keep them updated automatically
-  * Real windows that you can interact with via Cmd-Tab/Alt-Tab, resize, etc. — not just an interface within a single browser tab +
-  * Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs plugins that let you insert citations and bibliographies directly from Zotero +
-  * Local filesystem access — e.g. adding PDFs directly from your documents or creating links to files on the local disk+
   * A better experience when saving items from the Zotero Connector (+ [[:connector|other features]])   * A better experience when saving items from the Zotero Connector (+ [[:connector|other features]])
 +  * The ability to work with a large number of references — certain operations, like export and bibliography generation, are limited to 100 items in the web library for technical reasons
 +  * Real windows that you can interact with via Cmd-Tab/Alt-Tab, resize, etc. — not just an interface within a single browser tab
 +  * Local filesystem access — e.g., adding PDFs directly from your documents or creating links to files on the local disk
   * Automatic retrieval of metadata for PDFs   * Automatic retrieval of metadata for PDFs
   * Find Available PDF to locate open-access versions of files   * Find Available PDF to locate open-access versions of files
   * An advanced PDF reader with annotation support (currently read-only in the web library)   * An advanced PDF reader with annotation support (currently read-only in the web library)
   * Importing of references from a file or from other reference managers   * Importing of references from a file or from other reference managers
 +  * PDF full-text indexing (coming soon to web library)
   * Advanced search and saved searches   * Advanced search and saved searches
   * Retracted item notifications   * Retracted item notifications
Line 23: Line 24:
   * CSL style editor   * CSL style editor
   * Custom citation styles   * Custom citation styles
-  * Unfiled items collection+  * Unfiled items collection (coming soon to web library)
   * Duplicate items collection and item merging   * Duplicate items collection and item merging
   * Ability to create related items   * Ability to create related items
kb/web_vs_desktop.txt · Last modified: 2024/07/29 07:48 by tnajdek