How do I mass import papers into Zotero without creating stored files?

kolkrabe

Hi, I am new to Zotero.

I have well-managed folder structure containing papers.

\topic
\subtopic1
\subtopic2

I’d like to import these papers into Zotero as bibliography entries and with linked files, not stored files. When pulling a folder onto Zotero (v7 beta), the files are stored, not linked.

What are my options?

Thank you,
kolkrabe

migugg

see here: https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files

dstillman

The documentation doesn't really address this, though.

There's a plugin that can import a hierarchy of folders:

https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-folder-import

I'm not sure if it's been updated for Z7.

A future version of Zotero will support this natively.

tim820

I believe that plugin will *duplicate* the PDFs in those OS folders in local Zotero storage, in a collection structure that matches the folder structure.

@kolkrabe asked for the PDFs to be saved as linked files, ie linked back to where they are currently stored (without duplication).

I don't believe there is a plugin that does the same thing (collections created to match folders) but with linked files.
[Correction: the plugin does apparently have an option to do that]

But to add PDFs from an existing folder to an *existing* collection as linked files, you can drag and drop them into Zotero while holding down Ctrl+Shift (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option (Mac) [drop them *between* existing items, not on an item, or they will be added to that item only] ...
https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files#adding_files

You would first have to (manually) create the same collection structure in Zotero (and then drag/drop each set of files from each folder to each collection - best done in small chunks anyway). I don't think there is a plugin that just mimics a folder structure as a collection structure (without touching the files in those folders).

The benefits of maintaining a complex existing folder structure in your OS for linked files moving forward should be weighed against a flat, single folder of linked files in the OS, linked to a hierarchical collection structure in Zotero. You may be best to move your PDFs into a single folder early on. Linked file setups are best kept as simple as possible, especially for new users.

Also consider the limitations of linked files: they don't work for Groups, the web library, nor the mobile apps. It is however relatively easy to move linked files to stored files should you need those features at a later date (and have the online storage quota to support stored files).
https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files#linked_files

dstillman

I believe that plugin will *duplicate* the PDFs in those OS folders in local Zotero storage, in a collection structure that matches the folder structure.

I'm pretty sure it has an option for creating linked files.

emilianoeheyns

It does.