Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that helps you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research. These guidelines will help you get started and make the most of Mendeley.

1. Installing Mendeley

  • Download Mendeley: Visit the Mendeley website and download the latest version.
  • Installation: Run the downloaded file and follow the instructions to install Mendeley on your computer.
  • Create an Account: After installation, create a Mendeley account or log in if you already have one.

2. Adding Documents

  • Adding PDFs: You can add PDF documents to Mendeley by dragging and dropping the files directly into the application.
  • Sync with a Folder: You can set Mendeley to automatically sync with a specific folder on your computer, so any new PDFs added to that folder are automatically imported into your Mendeley library.

3. Managing References

  • Organization: Create folders or organize your documents by topic, project, or other relevant categories.
  • Annotations and Notes: You can add notes, highlight text, and create bookmarks within the documents to aid your research.

4. Citing in Documents

  • Install Word Plugin: Mendeley provides a plugin for Microsoft Word that allows you to insert citations directly into your document. This plugin usually installs automatically, but you can also install it manually from Mendeley’s settings.
  • Inserting Citations: In your Word document, use the Mendeley plugin to insert citations. You can select references from your Mendeley library and add them to your text.
  • Creating a Bibliography: Once you’ve finished writing, you can automatically generate a bibliography based on the citations you’ve inserted.

5. Syncing and Backup

  • Sync: Make sure to regularly sync Mendeley with your online account to ensure that all your references and documents are safe and accessible from other devices.
  • Backup: Mendeley stores data locally on your computer and in the cloud. You can also export your library for additional backup.