I've used zotero, mostly offline. I'd like to create a single compilation of collections from different computers and projects. What is the best way to do this?
If they're all fully offline, i.e. have never been synced, syncing them all to the same account will work great. Be *very* deliberate as you do this and mindful of warnings displayed in the process -- if you did sync a library previously to a different account and are trying to sync it to a different one, you will delete its entire local content.
Adam, I want to make sure I understand the dynamic of losing a local library if it's been synced to a different account previously. Am I understanding that if I have already added material to a library and then set up syncing to an account, it will sync the local material out to the web library. But if I then stop the syncing, add more material locally, then attach to a different account and sync, the web library will overwrite the local, rather than syncing with the existing material? Why would it not sync all materials on both sides together?
But if I then stop the syncing, add more material locally, then attach to a different account and sync, the web library will overwrite the local, rather than syncing with the existing material? Why would it not sync all materials on both sides together?
Because the assumption is that if you're the same person, you'll have the same account. If you're syncing with a different account, Zotero assumes you're, say, a different person on the same computer and we don't want to mix up two people's libraries, which would make a terrible mess. It's also conceptually difficult -- the item identifiers have the original library ID embedded in them, does that now change after syncing with a different account? What happens to old documents using those items? Etc.
There's a local identifier prior to syncing (you don't need to sync to use Zotero, after all, but it gets attached to the synced account on first sync, yes.
Once you've synced, and then you choose not to sync anymore, is there a residual change in your local data that would alert a brand new account that this data was once synced elsewhere?
Yes, as per your question above: if you've ever synced your library with an account, it's associated with that account. Syncing with a different account will delete it locally (and you'll receive a clear warning that's going to happen when you try to do so)
Good to know. Thanks so much, Adam! So an account that has been synced needs to be imported, rather than simply attached to the account that will be the holder. And every computer will be getting the entire master library on its local drive?
Hi Adam, Not all computers are active. I have the sqlite files and storage folders. I don't know if there are duplicate identifiers for different records, among the various collections over the years. How can I put all of these - either via a single computer, or directly online (which I can then sync and move forward with, on the latest computer). many thanks! Meg
So as per the above, if they have never been synced _or_ they have all be synced with the same account, just starting Zotero with the sqlite & storage folder (I'm assuming here you know how to do this since you mention these) and then syncing, then replacing sqlite & storage folder with the next one, etc., thus gradually syncing all files to the full account (and the deduplicating) would be ideal. The one caveat here is that you'll run into issues with free file storage for sync -- you can either just invest in that, sync with a WebDAV services, or you can work around that (you can literally merge the content of all the storage folders involved).
If you've synced with different accounts, this becomes a bit more complex. You can still work on one computer, load up one sqlite & storage file, export to Zotero RDF (including files and notes) and then move on to the next sqlite + storage. In the end, you can import the various Zotero RDF files one by one to the Zotero profile you want to keep using. Again, deduplicate at the end of the process.
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Be *very* deliberate as you do this and mindful of warnings displayed in the process -- if you did sync a library previously to a different account and are trying to sync it to a different one, you will delete its entire local content.
Will this mean that the growing library will have to be able to sync to computers, that may be challenged with the total volume?
Not quite sure I understand. Yes, the library would sync across computers. What's the volume challenge you're concerned about, specifically?
@DonnaCoxBaker Because the assumption is that if you're the same person, you'll have the same account. If you're syncing with a different account, Zotero assumes you're, say, a different person on the same computer and we don't want to mix up two people's libraries, which would make a terrible mess.
It's also conceptually difficult -- the item identifiers have the original library ID embedded in them, does that now change after syncing with a different account? What happens to old documents using those items? Etc.
Not all computers are active. I have the sqlite files and storage folders.
I don't know if there are duplicate identifiers for different records, among the various collections over the years. How can I put all of these - either via a single computer, or directly online (which I can then sync and move forward with, on the latest computer).
many thanks!
Meg
If you've synced with different accounts, this becomes a bit more complex. You can still work on one computer, load up one sqlite & storage file, export to Zotero RDF (including files and notes) and then move on to the next sqlite + storage. In the end, you can import the various Zotero RDF files one by one to the Zotero profile you want to keep using. Again, deduplicate at the end of the process.
I think I get that. I'll try when I've the time and am rested.