Zotero integrations in Overleaf
At UiO, you can use the web based LaTeX editor Overleaf in premium version (log in with UiO's SSO) to work with LaTeX documents. After you have completed the set-up steps for Zotero integration, you will have access to various integration functions.
Advanced reference search searches all the references you have linked to Zotero and makes it easy to cite with autocomplete. Use this advanced feature in combination with one of the other two solutions which will sync/refresh with the changes you do in Zotero. Follow the links above to set up.
Example of project setup
In this example, I have chosen to connect a Zotero-linked .bib file to a project. I link to the .bib file under File → File upload → From Zotero. I name the .bib file references.bib. In the preamble, after I have specified documentclass, I add the following commands:
\usepackage{biblatex} %This imports the BibLaTeX package, which is a newer and better package for references than the older BibTeX system.
\addbibresource{references.bib} %This adds the .bib file that I have linked to.
\begin{document}Here I can begin to write and cite with
\cite{…}At the bottom I will add the refrence list
\printbibliography %This generates the reference list
\end{document}In the end I click Recompile to make Overleaf compile the commands and generate a PDF.
Better BibTeX for stable citation keys
Install the Zotero plugin Better BibTeX to ensure stable citation keys in Overleaf.
Yale Library has a nicely illustrated guide:
BibLaTeX vs BibTeX
BibLaTeX is the recommended package for reference management instead of the older BibTeX system. Biblatex operates with biber as the backend program where biblatex takes care of how the references appear in the document while biber is the engine running in the background, sorting and processing your reference data. When you recompile, biber is activated and must therefore be available in the editor, which it is in Overleaf, where it is the default engine for processing reference data.
Working offline with Overleaf
Overleaf can be used with UiO Dropbox. This means that you can work offline and synchronize with UiO Dropbox, or clone the document using Git, edit it, and synchronize the changes when you are back online. (UiO cloud services)