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Google Docs

Bring a Google Docs draft into Citation as DOCX, review its sources and writing, then export a copy to continue in Google Docs. A configured account connection can import one selected document.

Choose a transfer

For a draft with formatting, use DOCX exchange. It works without connecting your Google account to Citation. If Google account access is configured, you can instead select a Google document from the integration's browser.

Both routes create a new Citation draft. Later edits, comments and collaboration activity in the Google document are not synchronized. Keep the original and decide which copy you will continue editing.

Import a Google document as DOCX

  1. Open the draft in Google Docs. Choose File, Download, then Microsoft Word (.docx). You need permission to download the document.
  2. Keep the DOCX file within 4 MB. Sign in to Citation and open Google Docs under Integrations in settings.
  3. Choose Choose file for Google Docs, then select the DOCX file. Read the warnings and text preview under Review import.
  4. Choose Save as new draft. The integration saves a copy in your personal workspace. Open the saved document to inspect the complete import.
  5. Check headings, lists, tables, images and reference text against the Google document before continuing your work.

The integration also accepts separate Markdown and TXT files. Markdown syntax stays editable text. The ordinary draft import supports DOCX and TXT; use the integration entry for Markdown.

Use a configured Google connection

  1. Open the Google Docs integration and check its connection status. If it needs service setup, use DOCX file exchange.
  2. Choose Connect Google Docs and review the Google account and access request before approving.
  3. Return to Citation and choose Browse items. Use Find an item to search by name and Next page to see more results.
  4. Choose Preview beside the Google document you want. Citation retrieves that document as DOCX for conversion.
  5. Review the preview and warnings, then choose Save as new draft. Open the result before using it as your working copy.

A connection does not bypass the owner's download restrictions. Google Docs browsing selects native Google documents. Use the Google Drive integration or a downloaded file for other supported files.

Connect the draft to its sources

A visible citation such as (Example, 2026) in an imported draft remains text. Import does not recreate a Zotero field, a Google Docs citation field or a connection to a source in Citation.

  1. Open Cite in the imported document and add or import the sources the draft uses.
  2. Review each source's metadata and choose the required citation style.
  3. Insert a connected citation beside a supported claim. Remove the old citation text only after checking that the new citation is correct.
  4. Review the bibliography and any quotation page numbers before exporting.

Return to Google Docs

  1. Wait for the Citation draft to save. In the Google Docs integration, select it under Citation document and choose Download DOCX.
  2. Open the downloaded file in Google Docs using its file upload workflow.
  3. Compare the imported pages, headings, tables, citation text and bibliography with the Citation version.
  4. Continue in the copy you selected. If you later bring it back to Citation, import it as another copy and review the differences.

The integration can also download Markdown or TXT. Those formats carry text rather than the document's rich page layout. Exported citations do not become live Google Docs citation fields.

Check a first transfer

Before moving a long manuscript, try a short draft containing one heading, two paragraphs, a list, a small table and one citation. Import it, connect its source in Citation, then export DOCX and open it in Google Docs. Confirm the parts you need before transferring the full draft.

Original pagination and advanced Word formatting may differ during conversion. Treat comments, suggestions and version history as material to review in the original app, rather than assuming they will transfer.

If the document will not import

  • Download permission denied: ask the document owner for a downloadable copy or the required permission.
  • The file is too large: split the draft or compress embedded images, then download a fresh DOCX. A file below 4 MB can still exceed the editor's content limits.
  • An embedded image is too large: remove it or compress it below 750 KB before importing again.
  • Formatting is missing: compare the original, simplify the affected section and import a fresh copy. Use TXT only when preserving text is sufficient.
  • The account connection expires or cannot find a file: confirm the connected account and document access, reconnect if needed, or use DOCX exchange.