Subfolders are like a filing system within your filing system. They allow you to organize your papers, whether in your personal folder or your group folder by project component. Examples may be "Literature Review," or, in group folders, each collaborators name. This will make it much easier to find the exact citation you need at any given moment.
Unlike Groups, Subfolders need to be created in the desktop application and cannot be created online.
To create a subfolder, simply right-click on the folder and choose New Subcollection. You will be asked to name the new subfolder, and it as simple as that!
What is the advantage? When you add an article to the group folder, everyone on your team instantly has access to it. This prevents you from accidentally duplicating research, as you can see what your teammates have already found. It creates a centralized hub for all your research, making it easy to see all of your unique papers in one place. This will save you time, keep your work organized, and ensure you correctly cite all the necessary sources for your project deliverables.
Note: Please choose one person in the group to create a Group Folder; this will help you avoid doing extra work and make this process faster.
Zotero allows you to create groups so that you can easily work with collaborators. To create a group, you need to log in to the online platform; this cannot be done in the app.
Once you log in, you will see the 'Groups' link at the top of the page
A new screen will open. Then click on Create a New Group at the top.
You will need to name your group before continuing. You can choose to make your group Private so that only those in your group can see what papers you are using if you like.
This will take you to a new screen where you can choose several settings. The last two options, Library Editing and File Editing, should be set to Any Group Member to make your group folder functional for a group project. Then click the Save Settings button at the bottom.
Once you have done that, click on the Groups button at the top again to ensure that your Group is ready.
Scroll down, and once you can see your Group, click on the Manage Members to add people to the group.
This will open a new window, and at the bottom, you will see an Add New Members prompt. Click on this so that you can invite your group members. Add each person's email, separated by commas. They will be invited to the Group, and you are ready to start work!
