Tags

Organize your library with tags. 

Step 1: Create a Tag

Click on the item that you want to apply a tag to. Scroll down the right-hand pane until you find the section titled 'Tags.' 

The Zotero program, displaying 'Tags' on the right hand column. The + symbol is highlighted by a red circle.

 

Click on the '+' button beside 'Tags.' Start typing the name of your tag. Click away when you're finished.

You will notice that your tag will appear on both the right-hand pane and also on the left-hand panel, near the bottom of your screen. 

The Zotero program, showing adding a tag.

 

You can add any number of tags per item. There is no limit to how many tags you can have in your Zotero library.

You can rename or delete a tag by right-clicking (or equivalent) over the name of the tag in the bottom left pane, then selecting either 'Rename Tag' or 'Delete Tag.' 

Step 2: Color-Code Your Tags

Tags are organized alphabetically in the bottom left pane. You can pick up to 9 tags to highlight with a color and bring to the top of the tag list. 

Right-click (or equivalent) on your tag of choice, and choose the option 'Assign Color.'

The Zotero program, displaying a list of tags. One tag has been selected and the option 'Assign Color' is highlighted.

 

Choose a color from the available options (which you can view by clicking on the rectangle beside the word 'Color'), and then click 'Set Color.'

(The first tag you color-code will automatically be placed in position 1 - that is, top of the tag list - but once you have made a second tag, you will be able to choose a position for each one.) 

The Zotero program's 'Choose a Tag Color and Position' menu is displayed.

 

You will now see that tag appear at the top of the tag list, highlighted in the color of your choice. Small squares of that same color appears in the center pane beside the titles of each item, so you can identify which items have this tag at a glance.

The Zotero program, displaying colored tags.

 

Step 3: Sort Your Library with Tags

Click on a tag (or multiple tags) in the bottom left-hand panel to display the results that have those tags.

In this example, perhaps you want to view articles about assessment that you haven't yet read - so you click on the tags 'assessment' and 'to read.' The two articles that have both tags appear in the center pane. 

The Zotero program, displaying the library sorted by two tags.

 

When you want to view your entire library again, simply click on those tags again to de-select them.