Legacy Library folders

I have used Zotero over several computers, and right now I am doing a clean up and find several old Zotero Library folders. I also maintain an ample storage account on the Zotero servers, which has been active for about three years. I have used Zotero for about five.

I wonder if there could be valuable information in these folders not contained in the server sync storage, or my current library folder. One folder has several "reports" I once created, while my current library has a long list of .dll files.

I considered merging these folders with DirectoryCompare, which copies the more recent version of a file to the new location. However this didn't work well back in the days of DOS, and I worry about breaking links.

I could create a second instance of Zotero on my computer and give the legacy folders a chance to live. But then I worry about the sync function. Will I then just get updates on both ends (acceptable)? Will the servers be flumoxed by two instances (opened separately of course) of Zotero calling from my desktop?

Importing (not in the existing sense) would be best. A function that allows Zotero to open a legacy folder and assimilate data that is not in the newer iteration. This would provide the cleanest and safest method of bringing old data into an existing iteration (unlike the example in the help files which relies on the new library folder being empty). This seems like an obvious missing link to me, since there is already a help page that discusses strategies to move the local library folder from one location to another. Having a specific function to import a legacy folder would give Zotero a chance to sort and reject files and folders with obsolete or conflicting links.

thank you team, I have enjoyed Zotero over the years as a reliable residence for my research.
  • One folder has several "reports" I once created, while my current library has a long list of .dll files.
    Not sure what you mean by this. If you're saying there are actually .dll files there, that wouldn't be a Zotero data directory — that would be a Zotero application directory (assuming there's also zotero.exe). What's the path?
  • My paths won't help you because they are non-standard. But I assume you can see the images of the directories. I labeled them primary and legacy. legacy is actually a merged file of two older legacy folders, so I am not feeling safe to point zotero at it. but again, I am only concerned about recovering information that might be useful, and those word files might be the entirety of it.

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u7715979/mb1kgk33iojr32kl3l4h.png
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u7715979/cqen19j0c5eg58nl5xhr.png

  • edited 10 days ago
    "Data" and all the .docx and .bib files are things you put there and wouldn't affect Zotero. It looks like you were using AnyStyle in 2021 and using the Zotero data directory as as a temporary folder.

    If you're actually concerned about Zotero library data and want to see what's in the zotero.sqlite file, you can just disable auto-sync and point Zotero at those folders from the Advanced → Files and Folders section of the Zotero settings. Otherwise, you can delete these, assuming there's nothing in Data you want.

    (I'm still not sure what .dll files you're referring to.)
  • It turns the .dll files occur in the Zotero Application Installation location. So there should be no overlap and no confusion between these subfolders and those in the base file or data file, which Zotero allows the user to place in an unrelated folder.

    Turning off sync and then pointing at the data folder sounds like a good idea to explore the contents of the legacy folder. I'm not sure yet what the base file is, as against the data file, but I will look for definitions in the help files.
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