> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.crazyrouter.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Zotero Setup Guide

> Connect Crazyrouter to Zotero through AI plugins that support OpenAI-compatible endpoints, and clearly separate directly supported plugin types from ones that are not a good public default

> Last updated: 2026-06-06

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

## Start Here

The recommended public Crazyrouter path in Zotero is:

* choose a Zotero AI plugin that supports a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint
* enter `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1` as the base URL
* enter `sk-xxx` as the API key
* use `gpt-5.5` as the first validation model

<Warning>
  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.
</Warning>

## 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.

## 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

## Prerequisites

| Item                | Notes                                                        |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Crazyrouter account | Register at [crazyrouter.com](https://crazyrouter.com) first |
| Crazyrouter token   | Create a dedicated token for Zotero                          |
| Zotero desktop app  | Plugins mainly run in the desktop app                        |
| AI plugin           | It must support a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint          |
| Papers or PDFs      | Prepare at least one test item                               |

Suggested first-pass allowlist:

* `gpt-5.5`
* `claude-opus-4-8`
* `gemini-3.1-pro`

## Install Zotero

### Windows

1. Open the [Zotero download page](https://www.zotero.org/download/)
2. Download the Windows installer
3. Run the installer
4. Launch Zotero

### macOS

1. Open the [Zotero download page](https://www.zotero.org/download/)
2. Download the macOS build
3. Move Zotero into `Applications`
4. Launch Zotero

### Linux

1. Open the [Zotero download page](https://www.zotero.org/download/)
2. Download the official Linux package
3. Extract it and launch Zotero following Zotero's official instructions
4. Confirm Zotero starts normally

<Note>
  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.
</Note>

## 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

### 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.

## Recommended Configuration Shape

The exact field names vary by plugin, but for a first pass use this pattern:

| Plugin field           | Recommended value                                 |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Base API URL / API URL | `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1`                  |
| Full Endpoint          | `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions` |
| API Key                | `sk-xxx`                                          |
| Model                  | `gpt-5.5`                                         |

<Tip>
  If the plugin asks for a "base URL", prefer `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1`. Only use `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions` when the plugin explicitly asks for the full chat endpoint.
</Tip>

## Configuration Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Step 1: Create a dedicated Crazyrouter token for Zotero">
    For the first pass, only allow:

    * `gpt-5.5`
    * `claude-opus-4-8`

    Do not open a large model list on day one. A narrow scope is easier to debug.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Step 5: Enter the Crazyrouter URL, key, and model">
    If the plugin supports a base-URL style configuration, enter:

    * `Base API URL`: `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1`
    * `API Key`: `sk-xxx`
    * `Model`: `gpt-5.5`

    If the plugin supports only a full endpoint field, use:

    * `Endpoint`: `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions`
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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:

    ```text theme={null}
    Summarize this paper in 3 bullet points.
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Recommended Validation Order

Move in this order:

1. Confirm Zotero and the plugin both open correctly
2. Validate `gpt-5.5` first
3. Test single-paper summarization
4. Test translation next
5. Only then try multi-paper comparison, long-form analysis, or batch tasks

## Recommended Models

| Scenario                      | Recommended model | Why                                                                                                  |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| First connection test         | `gpt-5.5`         | Verified successfully in production on March 23, 2026, and best for plugin-to-Crazyrouter validation |
| Deep analysis and explanation | `claude-opus-4-8` | Better for long explanations, comparison, and method-level interpretation                            |
| Gemini fallback path          | `gemini-3.1-pro`  | Useful as a second compatibility-validation path                                                     |

## Good Zotero Workflows For Crazyrouter

### Single-paper summarization

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

### PDF translation

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

### Multi-paper comparison

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

### Note generation

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

## Token Best Practices

| Setting             | Recommendation       | Why                                                                |
| ------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Dedicated token     | Required             | Do not share it with IDEs or automation                            |
| Model allowlist     | Strongly recommended | Start with only one or two models                                  |
| Spending limit      | Strongly recommended | Long PDFs and repeated summaries can amplify usage                 |
| Use-case separation | Recommended          | Separate personal academic usage from team-shared usage            |
| Leak response       | Rotate immediately   | Replace the key if it appears in demos, recordings, or screenshots |

## 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-5.5` 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

## Common Errors And Fixes

| Symptom                                                 | Common cause                                                                               | Fix                                                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| The plugin only has an OpenAI key field and no Base URL | The plugin does not support a custom upstream                                              | Switch to a plugin that supports a custom `Base API URL` or `Endpoint`                            |
| 401 unauthorized                                        | Token is wrong, incomplete, or expired                                                     | Generate a new token and enter it again                                                           |
| 404                                                     | The base URL or full endpoint is wrong                                                     | Reset it to `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1` or `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions` |
| 403 / model not allowed                                 | The token does not allow that model                                                        | Allow the model in Crazyrouter token settings                                                     |
| `model not found`                                       | The model name is wrong                                                                    | Switch back to `gpt-5.5` and do a minimal validation                                              |
| The plugin shows no response or ignores new settings    | The plugin needs a Zotero restart                                                          | Restart Zotero and try again                                                                      |
| Summarization fails without a clear API error           | The item has no abstract, the PDF is missing, or the plugin did not receive enough context | Switch to an item with an abstract or an attached PDF                                             |
| Long-document jobs are very slow                        | The PDF is too long or the task is too heavy                                               | Reduce the scope to one paragraph, one page, or one paper                                         |

## FAQ

### 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.

### What kind of plugin is best for Crazyrouter?

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

### 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.

### What base URL should I enter?

Prefer `https://api.crazyrouter.com/v1`.

### What should the first model be?

Start with `gpt-5.5`.

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

Only after single-paper summarization and single-paper translation are already stable.

<Note>
  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-5.5`.
</Note>