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kb:web_vs_desktop [2022/10/20 05:27] – dstillmankb:web_vs_desktop [2023/12/20 23:40] (current) – dstillman
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 ====== 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:
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   * 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
 +  * Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs plugins that let you insert citations and bibliographies directly from Zotero and keep them updated automatically
 +  * 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   * 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   * 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   * 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]]) 
   * 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) 
   * 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
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   * 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.1666258029.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/10/20 05:27 by dstillman