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Zettlr overview

Zettlr is a reliable companion for writing scientific texts and taking notes. It is made for academics in the humanities and arts and is intended to keep your content apart from your design, but close to the notes you take. To reach this goal, Zettlr incorporates several important features:

  • File-agnostic editing. Zettlr does not store any information about your files, except in your files. This way you can always switch to and from Zettlr. Every file you see inside the preview pane corresponds to a file on your disk. With no special additions that might render the use of your files difficult for other editors.
  • Zettelkasten-Methods implemented directly into the app. With Zettlr, you can link files and searches using "Wiki-Links" in the format [[your search text|@ID:ID]], give IDs by typing @ID:Your-ID-Here and tag your files using Twitter-like hashtags: #hashtag. Holding down the Alt-key and clicking on links will try to open exact-match files and also initiate searches, while Alt-clicks on tags will simply initiate searches. More features are likely to come.
  • A directory list. This list contains all open directories and files. You can open new directories by pressing Cmd/Ctrl+O. New files can be opened simply by double clicking them in your file browser or by dragging them onto the app. Every time you start the app, all previously opened paths will be re-loaded.
  • A preview pane that lists all the files that are inside the currently selected directory and separates them by their subdirectory. Just click on a file to open it in …
  • … the editor, which takes the most space and is the crucial component that actually makes Zettlr an editor. You are able to write Markdown-files in the area, a slim text format that keeps formatting to a bare minimum.
  • Exporting options. Using the open source software pandoc and LaTeX, Zettlr enables you to export all files on the fly in a variety of formats; currently HTML, DOCX, ODT and PDF. Just open a file and press Cmd/Ctrl+E.
  • Searching. Zettlr enables you to quickly search through your files to find what you are looking for in a fraction of the time you'd need if you store all your information in several word documents that you'd have to open and search.
  • A toolbar containing all functions in handy button-form.

Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.

What’s new in version 2.3.0

Updated on Dec 06 2022

GUI and Functionality
  • Fixed the recent documents menu on Windows
  • Fixed wrong character count if counting without spaces
  • Fixed wrong word count for indented lists
  • Fixed wrong keyword/tag CSS class names
  • Fixed jumping of the code editor in the assets manager
  • Fixed wrongly positioned tabstops during snippets autocomplete
  • Fixed an error that would erroneously render citations in footnote previews or

Full list of changes available here

View older Zettlr updates

Information

License

Free

Size

125.6 MB

Developer’s website

https://zettlr.com/

Downloads

2805

App requirements

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0.0
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Michael-Vilain
Michael-Vilain
Dec 27 2021
2.0.3
2.0
Dec 27 2021
2.0
Version: 2.0.3
V 2.1 still crashes on 10.13. They've isolated the problem with the Electron framework. Sadly, I've supported other electron-based projects that were orphaned by them. So this is a hard-pass for me. Luckily FSNotes works great on MacOS. Don't need android, Linux, or Windows for now.
Michael-Vilain
Michael-Vilain
Nov 14 2021
2.0.3
2.0
Nov 14 2021
2.0
Version: 2.0.3
Still crashes on 10.13
Ptk3
Ptk3
Jul 26 2019
1.3.0
4.0
Jul 26 2019
4.0
Version: 1.3.0
Zettlr is incredibly powerful : you can create files and write them in GFM markdown (that means table of content and footnote, tables), plus extras, like folding text (really useful when you write long papers).
It uses Latex and Pandoc parser to export in a huge range of format (including .docx or .odt, of course PDF, ePub and other text format), and academics can use Zotero to manage bibliography.
You can manage extra folders without moving them (excellent: you store your files and folders wherever you want, just drag and drop them to Zettlr), and transform folder to project, meaning you can export a project as an only one merged file).
I just miss the preview feature, which is not fully implemented, but I asked the dev and I'm sure it will come soon.
This app is a gem, the dev is open and responsive, it's just an incredible free and open source app, as powetful as Ulysses, but you're not trapped in a subscription model, and the arrogance of the devs.

I recommand it to any one who want to manage a big writing project, like a paper, a novel, a bunch of short stories, a book (scientific books are welcome, as it can deal with latex and mathjax syntax).
Marcelo Leite
Marcelo Leite
Apr 18 2019
1.2.3
3.5
Apr 18 2019
3.5
Version: 1.2.3
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