How to use Avidnote

To add a new paper, you can upload a PDF file either manually by clicking on the “Upload papers PDF” button in the left sidebar (recommended) or by searching for a paper on the research database.

The second option is a new beta feature which needs to be enabled in the settings. To enable it, you go to settings by clicking on your username in the top-left corner –> settings –> advanced settings.

Once this has been enabled, you can perform searches by typing in the search bar in the top left sidebar.

Tags are a powerful way to organize your papers and notes. 

Create a tag

Click on a PDF paper that you have uploaded and inside the PDF view, click on the tag icon above PDF viewer on the right. From there, write your tags, click enter and then save before closing the window.

Filter using tags

Go back to the Dashboard view, your created tag will be shown in the right side. You can use the same tag for different papers. If you click on the tag, it will sort your papers based on that tag.

Delete tags

Go back to the Dashboard view, select the tag you wish to delete, and then click on the trash can that appears.

1. Export references from Zotero/Mendeley

Before you can import your references to Avidnote, you need to export your references from Mendeley/Zotero as a BibTeX file (see below for details).

2. Import to Avidnote

You can import your reference library by clicking on the import reference button. This button is shown inside the settings page. To go to the settings page, click on your username in the top-left corner, then on “settings” —> manage my data.

From there, click import references and select the BibTeX file that you exported earlier.

// Exporting from Zotero

To export your references from Zotero, go to Zotero and click on the menu item File and then click on Export and choose BibTeX as your file format. Only the reference information (not PDF) will be exported. You can then import this file into Avidnote by clicking on the import references button in Avidnote. You can add the PDFs manually by clicking upload PDF in Avidnote.

// Exporting from Mendeley

Use the ‘Export All’ option that you find in the file menu and select the BibTeX format. Only the reference information (not PDF) will be exported. You can add the PDFs manually by clicking upload PDF in Avidnote.

You can export your references in the settings page, under ‘manage my data’. These references can be imported into your reference management apps (e.g. Zotero/Mendeley). 

Similarly you can export your notes under manage my data and download them as an Excell file.