As a dedicated Chrome extension, Google Scholar PDF Reader is simplifying the academic research process for students and scientists. This free tool transforms static PDF documents into interactive resources, seamlessly integrating with Google Scholar’s vast academic database.
This reader, available directly from the Chrome Web Store, is designed to minimize disruption and enhance comprehension when viewing dense academic documents. Once installed, it automatically activates when opening a PDF file from Google Scholar or other academic websites, and can even be configured to open local PDF files.
Installation: Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for “Google Scholar PDF Reader.” Click “Add to Chrome” to install the extension.
Key Features Designed for Researchers:
The Google Scholar PDF Reader boasts a suite of features tailored to the needs of the academic community:
Direct display of citation links: One of the most highly-praised features is the ability to click on in-text citations. This action opens a pop-up window displaying the abstract and other details of the cited work, allowing researchers to quickly assess its relevance without losing their place in the main document. For example, in the paper in the image below, when I click on citation number 9, a pop-up window appears showing some details about the paper. On this pop-up window, you can click the “Save” button to save it to your library on Google Scholar, or click “Cite” to display the citation for the paper shown in the pop-up window.
To display the citation for the current paper (the one you are reading), click on the area circled in purple in the image above. If you click on the green icon next to it, you will see the following options:
- Cited by (number of citations)
- Related articles
- All 3 versions
- Save to my library
- My library