Collections

Collections let you group references for specific purposes like projects, papers, or shared reading lists. Unlike categories, collections are designed for working sets of references.

Collections vs. Categories

Feature	Collections	Categories
Purpose	Working groups	Permanent organization
Visibility	Can be private or shared	Usually public
Use case	“For my thesis”	“Biology papers”
Access control	Per-collection permissions	Site-wide
Reference membership	Manual curation	Classification

Creating Collections

From the Collections Page

1. Go to References > Collections
2. Click Add New Collection
3. Enter collection name
4. Optional: Add description
5. Set visibility (Private, Shared, Public)
6. Click Create Collection

While Viewing References

1. Select references in the list
2. Bulk Actions > Add to Collection
3. Choose existing or create new

Collection Settings

Name

The collection title, visible to those with access.

Description

Optional description explaining the collection’s purpose.

Visibility

Setting	Who Can See
Private	Only you
Shared	Specific users you invite
Public	Anyone (if enabled)

Cover Image

Optional image displayed in collection listings.

Adding References to Collections

From Reference Edit Screen

1. Edit any reference
2. Find the Collections panel
3. Check collections to add to
4. Save

From Reference List

1. Go to References > All References
2. Check references to add
3. Bulk Actions > Add to Collection
4. Select collection(s)
5. Apply

From Collection Page

1. Open a collection
2. Click Add References
3. Search or browse references
4. Click to add
5. Changes save automatically

Managing Collection Contents

Viewing Collection References

1. Go to References > Collections
2. Click a collection name
3. See all references in that collection

Reordering References

Collections support manual ordering:

1. Open the collection
2. Drag references to reorder
3. Or use Order dropdown for automatic sorting

Removing References

1. In the collection view
2. Hover over a reference
3. Click Remove from Collection

This removes from the collection only – the reference itself remains in your library.

Sharing Collections

With Specific Users

1. Edit collection settings
2. Set visibility to “Shared”
3. Click Manage Access
4. Add users by email or username
5. Set their permission level

Permission Levels

Level	Can Do
Viewer	See collection and references
Contributor	Add/remove references
Editor	Edit collection settings
Admin	Full control including delete

Sharing Links

Generate a link to share:

1. Edit collection
2. Click Get Share Link
3. Copy link
4. Recipients access via the link

Public collections appear at: yoursite.com/collection/collection-slug/

Collection Use Cases

Research Project

Create a collection for each project:

• “2024 Dissertation Research”
• “Climate Paper Draft”
• “Grant Application Sources”

Add references as you research, reorder by relevance.

Course Materials

Instructors can create reading lists:

• “BIOL 101 Required Readings”
• “Week 5 – Cell Biology”

Share with students or make public.

Collaboration

Share collections with coauthors:

1. Create collection “Paper with Dr. Smith”
2. Invite collaborator as Contributor
3. Both can add references
4. Both see the shared set

Literature Reviews

Track progress through literature:

• “To Screen”
• “Full Text Review”
• “Included in Review”

Move references between collections as you progress.

Exporting Collections

Export a collection’s references:

1. Open the collection
2. Click Export
3. Choose format (BibTeX, RIS, etc.)
4. Download

Useful for:

• Sharing with non-WordPress users
• Creating bibliographies for papers
• Backing up curated lists

Collection Statistics

Each collection shows:

• Total references
• References by type
• Date range of publications
• When last updated

Frontend Collections

If enabled, collections appear on your site:

Collection Archive

yoursite.com/collections/

Lists all public collections with descriptions.

Single Collection

yoursite.com/collection/collection-name/

Shows all references in that collection.

User Collections

Users can manage their own collections from the frontend dashboard.

API Access

Collections work with the REST API:

GET /wp-json/abt/v1/collections
GET /wp-json/abt/v1/collections/{id}
GET /wp-json/abt/v1/collections/{id}/references

Useful for building custom interfaces or integrations.

Troubleshooting

Collection not appearing

• Check visibility settings
• Verify you’re logged in (for private collections)
• Check user permissions

Can’t add references

• Verify you have Contributor or higher access
• Check reference is published
• Try refreshing the page

Shared collection access issues

• Recipient needs account (unless public)
• Check invitation was sent
• Verify email address is correct

Collection export fails

• Try smaller batches
• Check server timeout settings
• Verify references exist in collection

Best Practices

1. Descriptive names – Use clear, specific collection names
2. Regular cleanup – Remove outdated collections
3. Use descriptions – Help collaborators understand the purpose
4. Consider visibility – Start private, share when ready
5. Backup important collections – Export periodically

Next Steps

• Categories & Tags – Permanent organization
• Exporting References – Export collections
• Search & Filter – Find references to add