ZotMoov Setup for Syncing PDFs

rafisics
I’m setting up ZotMoov to sync my Zotero PDF files in Dropbox so I can access them from both my Linux laptop and iPad.

Steps I Followed:

1) Installed the ZotMoov plugin on my laptop.
2) Set the option 'Directory to move/copy files to' as: /home/username/Dropbox/zotero-lib in ZotMoov settings.
3) Reopened Zotero, selected all items in a collection, and clicked the option "ZotMoov: Move Selected to Directory".
4) It shows my PDF attachments are successfully moved and linked to the Dropbox folder.

What would be the best practice if I want to change the ZotMoov directory name or path later without losing any data or breaking the file links? Do I need to do this manually, or will files automatically move to the specified directory?
  • tim820
    edited 12 days ago
    No, they won't be moved automatically.
    Edit: That means *existing* linked PDFs. New PDFs downloaded by the Zotero web connector will be moved automatically to the new "move to" folder location.

    Edit: If you want to move those existing linked PDFs to the new location ...

    You would need to enter the new "move to" folder in Zotmoov, and then repeat the move process to move the linked files from their current location (baked in the Zotero database) to the new location where you want them.

    In general, linked file setups are simplest when all linked files are in a single folder. Subdirectories for linked files can get very complicated. If you are trying to match Zotero collections to OS folders, they are also problematic because Zotero collections are not like OS folders - so a 1:1 mapping of PDF locations is not possible.
    https://www.zotero.org/support/collections_and_tags#the_zotero_collections_model

    With all linked PDFs in a single folder you simply rely on your collection structure in Zotero for organization. Zotmoov should make the displayed file title the same as the file name (not just "PDF"), so it should be easy to find the matching linked PDF in your OS outside Zotero whenever necessary (or by using right-click Show File from within Zotero desktop).


  • rafisics
    Ok, I am confused. Can you please elaborate on the "repeat the move process"? I thought it is supposed to be automated after choosing or changing the "move to" directory.

    Here's my Zotmoov settings:
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u5247800/h1y35a7ks6at881w0tfp.png

    After this, I need to select my items and click the option "ZotMoov: Move Selected to Directory"? Or do I have to do anything else?
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u5247800/n9c7bpw7x87616ox3mcx.png

    One more thing, I am using only my laptop and iPad only, not any other pc. Do I still need to set "Linked Attachment Base Directory"?
  • tim820
    edited 12 days ago
    The location move (by Zotmoov) is only automatic for future, new PDFs downloaded by the Zotero web connector. You seemed to be asking about changing your "move to" directory and getting *existing* linked files moved to that different folder. That has to be done manually via Move Selected to Directory. I will clarify that distinction in my original reply.

    If you change the "move to" folder later without doing that manual move on existing linked PDFs, you would simply end up with older linked files at the old location (but still locate-able by Zotero, since their location is baked into the database), and future linked files (automatically) stored to the new location. And having different locations for linked files could however create complications over time. For example if you wanted to set up the same linked files on a second computer (making sure they are all copied over from their different locations would be more tedious).

    You only really need a Linked Attachment Base Directory (LABD) if your linked files are at different locations on different computers (eg under D:\ on one computer and E:\ on another). The LABD only affects where Zotero *looks* for linked files. It has no effect on where they get stored. People do often confuse the Zotmoov/Zotfile 'move to' folder and the LABD. They may both be set to the same folder, but they do different things.

    Since linked files don't work with the mobile apps, the LABD is irrelevant for those. So if you only have one computer, you don't need a LABD. But adding one does not cause any real problems, even if you don't really need it; only that if you later have Zotero on another computer, you will need to remember to add a LABD there too (even if the linked files are in the same location on both computers).
  • rafisics
    edited 12 days ago
    Hi, thanks a lot. Can you please explain a bit more on the use of the three options for my case of laptop-dropbox-ipad config?
    Correct me if I am wrong.

    1) "ZotMoov: Move Selected to Directory" = Move my selected items' PDF attachments to the Dropbox folder

    2) "ZotMoov: Move Selected to Custom Directory" = Is it any way necessary in my workflow, maybe not, right?

    3) "ZotMoov: Move Selected from Directory" = Move my selected items' PDF attachments back to Zotero's native storage folder. Or something else?

    ----
    One more thing, is it okay to keep Zotero's native feature enabled to attach new PDFs while using ZotMoov?
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u5247800/9lw7npkv4xgyzxgcmdn4.png
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u5247800/js5rwv2egfkvwvk6g85j.png

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