Syncing issue: Local Computer1 > Web Library > Local Computer2

SergioERC
edited yesterday at 5:06pm
Dear guys, I first looked up if this problem was already reported and solved and didn't find a solution (but apologies if I overlooked).

The problem: In Computer 1 (Macbook latest OS) I have all my papers saved locally in pdf format with annotations and so on. I wanted to access some of these papers in Computer 2 (Macbook latest OS) and realized the paper shows up, but not the pdf file.

After reading the documentation, I checked that Computer 1 is set to syncing via Zotero Storage (and I have bought a lot of storage), and synced it several times. However, the Web Library does not show the pdf file, As I understand it, I cannot access the pdf file with my annotations in Computer 2 if such pdf does not get uploaded to the Web Library.

So, the issue I am running with here is, why do some (random?) pdf files do not seem to sync with Web Library despite repeated attempts? I want to be able to access my pdf files with anotations in Computer 2.

Let me know if you need more infor from my side.

Thanks a lot
  • adamsmith
    Carefully run through https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/files_not_syncing and if that doesn't fix the problem report the information specified there.
  • SergioERC
    Dear @adamsmith, thanks for the prompt reply. I had looked at the link you shared to discard the obvious reasons, but I will check it out once more in detail to see if I missed something.
  • SergioERC
    edited yesterday at 5:05pm
    Ok, I think I solved my problem. And I explain here for future reference.

    In Computer 1, I have different collections. I realized I was having a problem with one specific document in Collection A: the pdf file was present in Computer 1, but not in Web Library and thus neither in Computer 2.

    I realize I had this document and its pdf file duplicated in another Collection (Collection B). This was the file and pdf with my annotations, and I was not aware it was duplicated in Collection B. I then deleted the doc and its pdf from Collection A and dragged the correct doc and pdf from Collection B to A.

    I synced my library in Computer 1, then checked if the doc and pdf was present in Web Library, synced it, and then Synced Computer 2.

    Finally, the doc and its pdf with my annotations correctly appeared in Computer 2.

    My conclusion is that duplicated files can cause syncing problems. In my case, the wrong doc and pdf file of paper X (ie., without my annotations) was being synced, but not the duplicated one (the right one) which happened to be in a different collection (potentially important: this collection is shared with other colleagues). It seems that items in my main collection (not shared with anyone) are the ones being synced (do they have priority?), but not the ones in shared collections.

    I hope this is useful to others.
  • dstillman
    No, duplicate items have no effect on syncing whatsoever.

    The linked page explains the info we need to help troubleshoot a problem like this. Without that, there's no point speculating.
Sign In or Register to comment.