MALAT WebSpace - Optional Plugins - Zotpress

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Please note: Zotpress is for students who are enrolled in the MALAT program and have a MALAT WebSpace.

What is it Zotpress and Zotero?

Zotpress is a WordPress plugin that connects to your Zotero account and searches your Zotero library.

It creates a shortcode and displays the formatted citation on your WordPress post or page. It is an optional plugin and can be activated under dashboard → Plugins.

Zotero is a community-based cross-platform citation manager that integrates with your browser and word processor. Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research. You can sort items into collections and tag them with keywords. Or create saved searches that automatically fill with relevant materials as you work.

Login to your Zotero account


  1. Go to Zotero.org


2. Login or Create a new Zotero account

Generate a key

  1. Click on Settings at the top of the screen (if you don't see it, click on the My Library tab first)
  2. On the Zotero Settings screen, click on Feeds/API



  3. Click on Create a new private key. Note: the UserID number located on this screen (not your username) will be used in the Zotpress plugin settings.



  4. Fill in information and copy key:
    1. Type in a description for your key. E.g. RRU WebSpace. Default settings are okay. Click the Save Key button.
    2. Copy the generated API key and go to your MALAT WebSpace site.
    3. At some point, go back to Zotero and add some books, web pages, references, etc. to your online library.

Zotpress Plugin

Log into your MALAT WebSpace

  1. Under Dashboard → PluginsZotpress → click Activate



  2. Under Dashboard → click the Zotpress menu top open it



  3. On the Welcome to Zotpress screen, click Next
  4. Add your Zotero Account information:
    1. Account type: User or Group  (select User if you aren't using groups in Zotero)
    2. API User ID: #######  (in Zotero, look for the number on the Feeds/API screen - "Your userID for use in API calls is #######")
    3. Private Key: ###############   (e.g. YTEzk1k1PaQBGX5PPIDAA2BZ)
    4. Nickname (optional)
    5. Click Validate. If successful, it ask you to confirm and set some Default Options.
    6. Set Default Citation Style for Importing: select APA or another style from the drop down menu.
    7. Click Finish.

Search and add a citation to a post or page

  1. Open and Edit a post or page
    1. In the right hand column, scroll down until you see the Zotpress Reference block. In the search field, type in a title or search text



    2. Select the item that comes up
    3. Click Generate Shortcode



    4. Copy and paste the shortcode, scroll back up and paste the code into the editor. E.g. [zotpress items="ZQ8RBFP4" style="apa"]



    5. Publish to save the post or page.
    6. View the page - you should now see the citation in APA formatting or your selected style on the page.




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