CardCite has two connected parts: a Chrome extension that saves fully formatted citations while you research, and a Google Docs™ add-on that inserts those same citations into your document. This page covers how they work together and how to get help.
Bug reports, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. Email the developer directly and you'll typically get a reply within 2 business days.
Google Docs™ add-on
The add-on is a sidebar inside Google Docs™ that connects to your saved CardCite library so you can search your citations and insert them straight into your document.
Q How do I open the add-on?
Open any Google Doc, then use the Extensions menu to launch the CardCite sidebar:
The CardCite sidebar opens on the right side of the document and stays available while you write.
Q How do I sign in?
Sign in with the same Google account you use for the CardCite Chrome extension. That shared sign-in is what links your saved library to the add-on, so your citations appear in the sidebar automatically.
If sign-in doesn't complete, grant the requested permissions when prompted. The add-on needs them to read your citation library and insert citations into the current document. Once permissions are granted, sign-in finishes and your library loads.
Q Why does my library look empty?
Citations aren't created inside the add-on. You save them using the CardCite Chrome extension while researching on the web, and they then appear automatically in the Google Docs™ sidebar for that same account.
If the sidebar is empty, confirm you're signed in with the same Google account you use for the extension, and that you've saved at least one citation with the extension. New citations sync in automatically.
Q How do I insert a citation?
In the sidebar, search or scroll to find the citation you want, then click Insert. The fully formatted citation appears at your cursor in the document, with its formatting intact and no retyping or reformatting needed.
Chrome extension
The free Chrome extension is where citations are captured while you browse. Everything you save here flows into the Google Docs™ add-on for the same account.
Q How does a citation get saved while I'm browsing?
On any webpage or PDF, open the CardCite extension from your browser toolbar (click the puzzle-piece icon, then CardCite, or pin it for one-click access). The extension reads the page and fills in the author, credentials, date, publication, and URL, producing a fully formatted citation.
Save it to your Citation Library, and when you're signed in it syncs to your account so it's ready to insert from the Google Docs™ add-on on any device.
Q Where do the extension settings live?
Open the extension's options page to customize your citation format: field order, brackets vs. parentheses, author on/off, font size per section, and your team name. You can reach it two ways:
You can also open it from the settings link at the top of the citation popup. Changes save to your Google account and sync across your devices.