Organizing Your Annotations within a PDF

There are two methods of organizing your annotations within a PDF. 

Option 1: Color-Coding

To change the color of an annotation you've already made, click on the three vertical dots beside the entry in the left hand menu. Click on the color option of your choice. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. Three dots beside the first annotation are highlighted. A menu appears beside it.

 

To set the color of a new annotation before you've made it, select the type of annotation you'd like to make then click on the small square of color in the PDF toolbar. If you hover over that square, it reads 'Pick a Color.' Select a color of your choice, and then make your annotation. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. A purple circle highlights the color options at the top of the page.

 

When you have more than one color annotation, you'll notice that small squares of those colors will appear at the bottom left-hand corner of your Zotero program. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. An arrow points at the list of colors appearing below the comments.

 

If you click on one of those color squares, you will be shown only the annotations that are assigned that color. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. A few annotations appear, all designated purple.

 

Clicking on that square again will de-select it, and all annotations will be displayed again.

 

Option 2: Tags

To add a tag to an annotation you've already made, click on that annotation on the annotation list that appears on the left hand side of the page. The words "Add tags" will appear under that annotation. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. The first annotation has been selected. The option "Add tags..." is now visible.

 

Click on those words ("Add tags") and type your tag. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. A tag is being added to an annotation.

 

Hit the 'Enter' key on your keyboard, or click anywhere else on the screen when you've finished typing that tag. The tag will appear at the bottom left corner. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. The list of tags appearing below the comments is highlighted.

 

To sort by a tag, click the tag at the bottom left. Only annotations that have that tag should now appear. To deselect that tag and display all of your other annotations, just click on the tag at the bottom of the screen again. 

The Zotero program, displaying a PDF. Only the annotations with one tag are visible, as that tag has been selected.

 

Do note that if you select two tags, Zotero does not limit the display only to annotations that include both of those tags. Instead, it displays all annotations tagged with either the first tag, the second tag, or both.