Citation cards

See which paper a citation like [12] or (Smith, 2017) points to without leaving your page — and open it with your notes if it is in your library.

Applies to Mendeley and Zotero editions Windows · Mac · iPad Partly included in the purchase

Show a citation card

  • iPadTap a citation such as [12] in the text. In the PDF it opens as a small bubble; in Reading Mode, as a sheet.
  • Windows · MacRest the pointer on a citation for a moment. Citations Rectoly can read have a faint underline.

What the card shows

The card shows the entry from the paper's reference list.

  • Mac · iPadIt also tells you whether that paper is in your library: In your library, Title matches a paper you have, This is the paper you are reading or Not in your library.

Buttons on the card:

  • Mac · iPadOpen with my notes opens the cited paper from your library, with your highlights and notes.
  • Mac · iPadSearch your library looks for the paper when it was not matched.
  • Windows · Mac · iPadCopy reference copies the entry's text.
  • Windows · Mac · iPadOpen DOI, Open on arXiv or Open link opens the paper on the web.
  • WindowsShow in reference list jumps to the entry; Back to where I was reading returns you.

Mentions of figures

  • Windows · Mac · iPadFor a mention such as "Figure 3" you get a small preview of the figure, with Show beside (puts it in the figure panel) and Jump to figure or table.

Citations that are not recognized

Some citations cannot be matched to the reference list.

  • WindowsSuperscript numbers, footnotes, "ibid." and Japanese author–year citations are not recognized.

Citation cards are free. Opening the cited paper in a second pane beside the one you are reading is included in the purchase — see Two panes.

Updated September 20, 2026