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Zotero itself is a reference manager, not a built-in Crazyrouter client. In practice, the integration path is usually: install a Zotero AI plugin first, and then enter Crazyrouter’s OpenAI-compatible URL, API key, and model inside that plugin. The most important rule for this page is not “any Zotero AI plugin will work”. You should first separate plugins into two groups:
  • directly usable: plugins that support a custom Base API URL, API URL, or Endpoint
  • not a good public default: plugins that only accept an official OpenAI key and do not expose a custom upstream URL

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Start Here

The recommended public Crazyrouter path in Zotero is:
  • choose a Zotero AI plugin that supports a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint
  • enter https://crazyrouter.com/v1 as the base URL
  • enter sk-xxx as the API key
  • use gpt-5.4 as the first validation model
Not every Zotero AI plugin supports a custom upstream URL. If a plugin only exposes an “OpenAI API Key” field and does not provide a Base URL or API URL setting, it usually cannot be redirected to Crazyrouter directly. That kind of plugin should not be the default public guide.

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Why This Guide Is Written This Way

Because the Zotero AI plugin ecosystem varies a lot:
  • Zotero’s own plugin documentation explains that plugins are community-built, with a common installation flow but different capabilities
  • some plugins explicitly document a configurable base API URL
  • other plugins publicly document only an OpenAI API Key
So the public Crazyrouter guide should teach users to choose a plugin that supports a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint, rather than assuming every plugin can connect directly.

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Who This Guide Is For

  • Users who want paper summarization, translation, and Q&A inside Zotero
  • Users who want literature reading and Crazyrouter model calls in one workflow
  • Users who want AI help while reviewing items, reading PDFs, or organizing notes
  • Users who prefer a GUI workflow instead of writing scripts

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Prerequisites

ItemNotes
Crazyrouter accountRegister at crazyrouter.com first
Crazyrouter tokenCreate a dedicated token for Zotero
Zotero desktop appPlugins mainly run in the desktop app
AI pluginIt must support a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint
Papers or PDFsPrepare at least one test item
Suggested first-pass allowlist:
  • gpt-5.4
  • claude-sonnet-4-6
  • gemini-3-pro-preview

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Install Zotero

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Windows

  1. Open the Zotero download page
  2. Download the Windows installer
  3. Run the installer
  4. Launch Zotero

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macOS

  1. Open the Zotero download page
  2. Download the macOS build
  3. Move Zotero into Applications
  4. Launch Zotero

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Linux

  1. Open the Zotero download page
  2. Download the official Linux package
  3. Extract it and launch Zotero following Zotero’s official instructions
  4. Confirm Zotero starts normally
According to Zotero’s official documentation, plugins are mainly installed in the desktop app. These AI plugin flows are not a good first-pass setup route from mobile.

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How To Choose A Zotero AI Plugin

For public documentation, prefer plugins that provide:
  • a Base API URL, API URL, or Endpoint field
  • an API Key field
  • a manual model field
  • ideally a preferences panel inside Zotero

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A practical public rule

If a plugin’s public docs mention capabilities like these, it is usually a better Crazyrouter candidate:
  • Customize base API URL
  • API URL
  • Custom endpoint
  • Model preferences
For example, the public README for zotero-chatgpt explicitly mentions a configurable base API URL; by contrast, the public README for Aria focuses on entering an OpenAI API Key and model preferences, and does not present a custom upstream URL as the main public path. So the safer Crazyrouter baseline is to choose a plugin that clearly supports a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint. The exact field names vary by plugin, but for a first pass use this pattern:
Plugin fieldRecommended value
Base API URL / API URLhttps://crazyrouter.com/v1
Full Endpointhttps://crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions
API Keysk-xxx
Modelgpt-5.4
If the plugin asks for a “base URL”, prefer https://crazyrouter.com/v1. Only use https://crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions when the plugin explicitly asks for the full chat endpoint.

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Configuration Steps

1

Step 1: Create a dedicated Crazyrouter token for Zotero

For the first pass, only allow:
  • gpt-5.4
  • claude-sonnet-4-6
Do not open a large model list on day one. A narrow scope is easier to debug.
2

Step 2: Install the Zotero desktop app

Install Zotero for your platform and confirm that you can open at least one paper item or PDF normally.
3

Step 3: Download and install the AI plugin

Based on Zotero’s official plugin installation documentation, download the plugin .xpi file first. Then in Zotero:
  • open Tools
  • open Plugins
  • drag the .xpi file onto the Plugins window
Restart Zotero after installation.
4

Step 4: Open the plugin settings

Common entry points include:
  • Edit → Preferences
  • the plugin’s own preferences page
  • a plugin sidebar or toolbar entry
The exact location depends on the plugin, but the goal is always to find the API and model configuration area.
5

Step 5: Enter the Crazyrouter URL, key, and model

If the plugin supports a base-URL style configuration, enter:
  • Base API URL: https://crazyrouter.com/v1
  • API Key: sk-xxx
  • Model: gpt-5.4
If the plugin supports only a full endpoint field, use:
  • Endpoint: https://crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions
6

Step 6: Restart Zotero if the plugin requires it

Some plugins need a Zotero restart after changes to the API key, model, or preference fields. After the first setup, a restart is a safe default.
7

Step 7: Run the smallest academic validation

Do not begin with a complicated literature review. For the first pass, only:
  • select one item with an abstract
  • or open one small PDF
  • run one summarization, translation, or simple Q&A action
A good first prompt is:
Summarize this paper in 3 bullet points.
Move in this order:
  1. Confirm Zotero and the plugin both open correctly
  2. Validate gpt-5.4 first
  3. Test single-paper summarization
  4. Test translation next
  5. Only then try multi-paper comparison, long-form analysis, or batch tasks
ScenarioRecommended modelWhy
First connection testgpt-5.4Verified successfully in production on March 23, 2026, and best for plugin-to-Crazyrouter validation
Deep analysis and explanationclaude-sonnet-4-6Better for long explanations, comparison, and method-level interpretation
Gemini fallback pathgemini-3-pro-previewUseful as a second compatibility-validation path

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Good Zotero Workflows For Crazyrouter

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Single-paper summarization

This is the best first validation because the context is small and the output is easy to judge.

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PDF translation

Start with one page or one short passage before expanding the scope.

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Multi-paper comparison

Do not use this as the first test. Try it only after single-paper summarization and translation are already stable.

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Note generation

If the plugin can write results back into Zotero notes, begin with short summaries first instead of generating long notes in bulk.

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Token Best Practices

SettingRecommendationWhy
Dedicated tokenRequiredDo not share it with IDEs or automation
Model allowlistStrongly recommendedStart with only one or two models
Spending limitStrongly recommendedLong PDFs and repeated summaries can amplify usage
Use-case separationRecommendedSeparate personal academic usage from team-shared usage
Leak responseRotate immediatelyReplace the key if it appears in demos, recordings, or screenshots

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Validation Checklist

  • Zotero desktop is installed
  • An AI plugin with a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint is installed
  • A dedicated Crazyrouter token was created for Zotero
  • The base URL or full endpoint was entered correctly
  • sk-xxx was entered correctly
  • gpt-5.4 was used as the first model
  • Zotero was restarted if the plugin requires it
  • A single-paper summarization or translation test succeeded
  • The request appears in Crazyrouter logs

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Common Errors And Fixes

SymptomCommon causeFix
The plugin only has an OpenAI key field and no Base URLThe plugin does not support a custom upstreamSwitch to a plugin that supports a custom Base API URL or Endpoint
401 unauthorizedToken is wrong, incomplete, or expiredGenerate a new token and enter it again
404The base URL or full endpoint is wrongReset it to https://crazyrouter.com/v1 or https://crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions
403 / model not allowedThe token does not allow that modelAllow the model in Crazyrouter token settings
model not foundThe model name is wrongSwitch back to gpt-5.4 and do a minimal validation
The plugin shows no response or ignores new settingsThe plugin needs a Zotero restartRestart Zotero and try again
Summarization fails without a clear API errorThe item has no abstract, the PDF is missing, or the plugin did not receive enough contextSwitch to an item with an abstract or an attached PDF
Long-document jobs are very slowThe PDF is too long or the task is too heavyReduce the scope to one paragraph, one page, or one paper

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FAQ

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Can Zotero itself connect to Crazyrouter directly?

Usually not through Zotero alone. The common route is to configure Crazyrouter inside an AI plugin that supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints.

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What kind of plugin is best for Crazyrouter?

Prefer plugins that support a custom Base API URL, API URL, or Endpoint.

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What if the plugin only accepts an OpenAI API Key?

That plugin usually cannot be redirected to Crazyrouter directly, so it is not a good public default. It is better to switch to a plugin with custom endpoint support.

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What base URL should I enter?

Prefer https://crazyrouter.com/v1.

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What should the first model be?

Start with gpt-5.4.

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When should I try multi-paper analysis or complex review prompts?

Only after single-paper summarization and single-paper translation are already stable.
If your goal is “make Zotero work with Crazyrouter first”, the key is not choosing the fanciest plugin. It is confirming that your plugin truly supports a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint, and then validating a single-paper summary with gpt-5.4.