Need to restore version 6 library files

Rlinnabary1

I lost everything a few months ago. I have version 6 files on an old backup, but I need to know where the library files are stored if not in the program files (x86) directory. I can retrieve everything in the program files (x86) directory, but I need to know where the files related to the libraries are kept. I am trying to salvage what I can from the old backup to reinstall everything and upgrade to the newest version. I can get Zotero back online, but when I try to update the citation info in some old files that I have, it isn't able to find the information from the library files leaving me without the citation info.

dstillman

https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data

when I try to update the citation info in some old files that I have, it isn't able to find the information from the library files leaving me without the citation info

Not sure what you mean by this, though.

First, if you were syncing, you'd have the same data locally and online, and syncing an empty library to pull down the data would get you the exact same data that would work the same way with any existing word processor documents.

Also, even if you do have a document with citations created from a different library, you can still use those citations as they were at the time, as the metadata is embedded in the document. You just wouldn't be able to change the metadata if necessary without adding the items to your library again and replacing the existing citations.

Rlinnabary1

The file that I am working on is incomplete. I have some citations in the MS word document, but nothing on my references page. When I try to update the references page it cannot find the information. How do I pull my library information from the old backup that I have? I recovered everything from the program files (x86) dir, but the info for the libraries must be kept someplace else. Can you give me the key places to look for the rest of the library data?

enozkan

Unless you changed it, the default locations of the data folders are as here:

https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data

C:\Users\<User Name>\Zotero most likely for you. Make sure you have the zotero.sqlite file there (and that it is much greater than 5 MB in size).

Data is not (and should not be) stored under Program Files or an Applications folder. You can download and install Zotero 6 or 7 from https://www.zotero.org/download/. Version 6 and 7 libraries are compatible, so it may not be a problem opening a restored library with either.

Of course if you had turned on syncing your library before, just sync it down to recover it. That's the easiest option. Even without paying for a storage plan, your library data (without the attached files) would have been synced fully if you turned on syncing.

when I try to update the citation info in some old files that I have, it isn't able to find the information from the library files leaving me without the citation info.

A properly inserted zotero citation in Word or LibreOffice should keep on working fine in that file and will generate expected citation and bibliography if Zotero is running. Even with an empty Zotero library. It is possible your document was flattened. See "Your citations may have become inactive for a few reasons" in https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/existing_citations_not_detected

Rlinnabary1

After restoring the Zotero.sqlite file from my old backup, I could reinstall Zotero and get my libraries back up and running. Zotero support, you are the best! Thank you!

enozkan

Moving in the whole Zotero data folder is the better way to do it. From that page:

https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_data_from_a_backup1

For example, storage subfolder from your backup would also allow you to also recover the locally saved pdfs and other attachment files, if that was something you were doing before. As a safety measure, I'd also turn on syncing, so that the database is backed up automatically.