How do I calculate my storage requirements on the Zotero server?

algemmell · December 3, 2009

I have a large Zotero database, but I am not sure just how much storage space I should purchase on the Zotero server to accommodate it. I can obtain the storage space requirement on my computer by simply looking at properties of the database folder, but I do not know if the way in which items are held on the Zotero storage facility allows me to use that figure as a meaningful guide to space requirements there. Is there a more reliable way of finding out how much space I need?

Al

sean · December 3, 2009

At the moment you can check the size of your zotero/storage directory. Go into Zotero preferences, and under the Advanced tab you can click the "Show Data Directory" button to locate your Zotero data directory. Once there, you can check the size of your "storage" subdirectory.

adamsmith · December 3, 2009

and that's going 1:1 into the online Zotero storage? i.e. no packing or anything of the like - if my storage directory is a little less than 1GB I should get 1GB of storage?

sean · December 3, 2009

Yes, it should be 1:1, though files synced from groups with owners other than you will not count against your total. If you're not pulling a bunch of files from other groups, the 1 GB account sounds right for now. If you regularly add files, however, you're probably going to bump up against the ceiling soon and might want to consider the 5 GB subscription, though you can always upgrade later, too.

sean · December 3, 2009

My earlier response was slightly inaccurate. I've edited for clarity.

algemmell · December 4, 2009

adamsmith's situation sounds just like my own one. Up to now I have been unable to sync at all, because I get messages saying that my database is too large for the system to cope with. Following you suggestion, I just checked the size of the Storage folder, and it is 1.0 GB (1.18 GB on disc) so I guess that I will have to purchase 5GB storage. Will this solve the error messages I have been getting that my database is too large, and I should try again soon?

adamsmith · December 4, 2009

no that's a different error - Zotero cannot sync very large databases at the moment (roughly >10.000). That's independent of the file syncing, so it is going to remain an issue even with file-syncing turned off.