> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/knowledge-base/076-how-to-search-for-references-in-an-overleaf-project.md). # How to search for references in an Overleaf project This article explains Overleaf’s features for searching references within your project’s `.bib` files and reference managers linked to premium accounts. To learn how to link reference managers to your Overleaf account, visit our articles on [Mendeley](/latex/knowledge-base/070-how-to-link-mendeley-to-your-overleaf-account.md), [Zotero](/latex/knowledge-base/073-how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account.md), and [Papers](/latex/knowledge-base/071-how-to-link-papers-to-your-overleaf-account.md). ## How can Overleaf help to find and cite references? Overleaf provides two styles of search to streamline finding and citing references: * [**Simple search**](#how-to-use-simple-search): available to all users, **simple search** lets you browse and filter a list of the citation keys contained in your project’s `.bib` file(s). * [**Advanced reference search**](#how-to-use-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature): available to premium accounts via the Overleaf **Menu** option [**Reference search**](#how-to-select-a-reference-search-style-premium-feature). It generates a list of references by searching your project’s `.bib` files and reference managers linked to your account. Both search methods rely on Overleaf’s auto-completion to recognize citation commands as you type. Ensure **auto-complete** is enabled, or reference searching won’t work. ### How to enable Overleaf’s auto-complete Select the Overleaf **Menu**, browse to **Auto-complete**, and ensure it is set to **On**. ![Image showing how to configure Overleaf's autocomplete feature](/files/rzJm7QBkeln5Fi4uxiS4) ## How to search for references in Overleaf The following examples provide short video clips and step-by-step overviews that show how to use **simple search** and **advanced reference search**. ### How to use simple search **Simple search** lets you browse and filter a list of the citation keys contained in your project’s `.bib` file(s). The following short video clip demonstrates **simple search** using the steps listed below. {% embed url="" %} 1. Type a citation command such as `\cite`. 2. Start typing between `\cite`’s braces, using text that could appear in a citation key, such as `Knuth`. 3. Overleaf will automatically filter the list of citation keys to display keys containing Knuth. The results are listed under the heading FROM YOUR PROJECT to highlight the source of these references. ![Image showing Overleaf's Simple search feature](/files/nxI4oYvGyMZtumoJitYr) 5. Select the desired citation key to complete the `\cite` command, such as `\cite{Knuth_textbook_1986}`. This completes the **simple search**. ### How to use advanced reference search (premium feature) Before we explain how to select **advanced reference search**, and configure it, here is a short video showing how to use it. Our example is based on the steps listed below: searching for references containing the word `metafont`. {% embed url="" %} 1. Type a citation command such as `\cite`. 2. Type your search term between `\cite`’s braces, using `metafont` as the search term—because it will likely appear in the reference title. ![Image demonstrating the use of Overleaf's advanced reference search.](/files/7AKTtxwuBKb1yFwBDER3) 4. The search results list each reference under a heading showing where the reference was found; those headings are: * FROM YOUR PROJECT * FROM PAPERS * FROM ZOTERO * FROM MENDELEY 5. Select the desired citation key to complete the `\cite` command. 6. As shown in the video, a Mendeley reference with citation key `TeX1979` is selected and added to the project `.bib` file named `refmanagers.bib`. ### Benefits of advanced reference search Advanced reference search allows you to search fields such as title and author rather than just the citation key: * For `.bib` files it uses citation key, author, journal, title, year, and date. * For reference managers, the searchable fields vary based on the features provided by each platform. Additionally, **advanced reference search** lets you directly search linked reference managers and pull individual references into an Overleaf `.bib` file. This offers several benefits: * All reference data added from a linked reference manager is fully editable by all collaborators. * It avoids the need to refresh a linked file every time you add a new reference to your linked reference manager. * The `.bib` file remains streamlined, minimizing file size and reducing compilation time by adding only the references used in your document. ## How to select a reference search style (premium feature) Premium accounts can configure their projects to use **simple search** or **advanced reference search** via the **Reference search** option in the main Overleaf **Menu**. 1. Select the Overleaf **Menu,** and browse to the **Reference search** option. ![Image showing how to select the Overleaf reference search style](/files/iFHw4K79Ce0Ypw1CEwSg) 3. Select **Settings** to display the **Reference search** **settings** window. ![Overleaf's Reference search settings modal use to configure your search preferences](/files/iN81zOwyh1IxrDC87fsG) 5. From the **Reference search settings** window, use the drop-down menu to select your preferred **Reference search style**. ## How to configure advanced reference search (premium feature) 1. Select the Overleaf **Menu**, and browse to the **Reference search** option. ![Image showing how to select the Overleaf reference search style](/files/iFHw4K79Ce0Ypw1CEwSg) 3. Select **Settings** to display the **Reference search settings** window. ![Overleaf's Reference search settings modal use to configure your search preferences](/files/iN81zOwyh1IxrDC87fsG) 5. From the **Reference search style** drop-down menu, select **Advanced reference search** to display its configuration options. Any reference managers linked to your account are listed with an option to include them in your reference searches. For convenience, we are showing [Mendeley](/latex/knowledge-base/070-how-to-link-mendeley-to-your-overleaf-account.md), [Papers](/latex/knowledge-base/071-how-to-link-papers-to-your-overleaf-account.md), and [Zotero](/latex/knowledge-base/073-how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account.md), but most users will have only one of these. ![Overleaf's advanced reference search settings modal window](/files/6kT7yCRl0EKPxHH8I5AO) 8. Select the reference manager(s) you want to include in your search. Some reference managers will have additional configuration options. At present, Mendeley doesn’t but Papers and Zotero do. * To use Mendeley, go to the [next section](#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-mendeley). * To use Zotero, go to [Configuring advanced reference search to use Zotero](#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-zotero). * To use Zotero, go to Configuring advanced reference search to use Papers. **Note:** To learn how to link reference managers to your Overleaf account, visit our articles on [Mendeley](/latex/knowledge-base/070-how-to-link-mendeley-to-your-overleaf-account.md), [Zotero](/latex/knowledge-base/073-how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account.md), and Papers. ### Configuring advanced reference search to use Mendeley 1. Select [**Include results from your Mendeley account**](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature). ![Configuring Overleaf's advanced reference search to use Mendeley](/files/AQ7p7Fayi7AwzgJuchqV) 3. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Mendeley. Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways: 1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file**: When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Mendeley, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it. 2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file**: Overleaf will automatically select this file for you. 3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files**: Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you. **Note:** Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager. ![Graphic showing the Overleaf message each time a new reference is added to the .bib file selected](/files/gL6MPbCc2b67iMQ6CaIk) 8. Select **Close** to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Mendeley reference manager. ### Configuring advanced reference search to use Zotero 1. Select [**Include results from your Zotero account**](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature). 2. Overleaf provides a drop-down list of the libraries in your Zotero account. **Note:** The following graphic shows how libraries are named and listed in Zotero and Overleaf’s drop-down menu. ![Graphic showing how libraries are named and listed in Zotero and Overleaf’s drop-down menu](/files/OPwUNoVjnuVwK81P6RCp) 5. Select the Zotero libraries you want to include in your reference searches. ![Configuring Overleaf's advanced reference search to use Zotero](/files/A3SnYRmMmo4YkEzHLixn) 7. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Zotero. Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways: 1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file**: When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Zotero, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it. 2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file**: Overleaf will automatically select this file for you. 3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files**: Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you. **Note:** Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager. ![Graphic showing the Overleaf message each time a new reference is added to the .bib file selected](/files/kgD47a0TlYHp40VZReP0) 12. Select **Close** to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Zotero reference manager. ### Configuring advanced reference search to use Papers 1. Select [**Include results from your Papers account**](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature). 2. Overleaf provides a drop-down list of the libraries in your Papers account. 3. Select the Papers libraries you want to include in your reference searches. ![Configuring Overleaf's advanced reference search to use Papers](/files/tDsQtXHmvNQ1RJ1BiYAs) 5. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Papers. ![Selecting a .bib file to hold references pulled from Papers libraries](/files/ofqgbo2qVjRIM39TTUPJ) Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways: 1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file**: When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Papers, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it. 2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file**: Overleaf will automatically select this file for you. 3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files**: Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you. **Note:** Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager. ![Graphic showing the Overleaf message each time a new reference is added to the .bib file selected](/files/kFKBN6ZcfPVH4u7yD5HD) 11. Select **Close** to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Papers reference manager. ## Further reading If you’d like to further explore topics related to using bibliographies in LaTeX, the following Overleaf articles may be of interest: * [How to link Mendeley to your Overleaf account](/latex/knowledge-base/070-how-to-link-mendeley-to-your-overleaf-account.md) * [How to link Zotero to your Overleaf account](/latex/knowledge-base/073-how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account.md) * [How to link Papers to your Overleaf account](/latex/knowledge-base/071-how-to-link-papers-to-your-overleaf-account.md) * [Creating and Managing Bibliographies with BibTeX on Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/blog/532-creating-and-managing-bibliographies-with-bibtex-on-overleaf) * [Using bibliographies on Overleaf](/latex/knowledge-base/145-using-bibliographies-on-overleaf.md) * [Bibliography management in LaTeX](/latex/more-topics/05-bibliography-management-in-latex.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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