Database backup

srcassidy

I want to backup Zotero weekly to a jump drive and did this once but have never succeeded in doing it again.

Here's the problem. I downloaded Firefox portable and Zotero. I can see the records and the database works fine. I've since added dozens of new records on my laptop and want to save them to the jump drive. How is this done? I tried dragging and dropping the Zotero folder without success. Help!

(I work on a Mac laptop, System OS X and have tried unsuccessfully to follow the directions. Maybe they could be rewritten in the documentation section.I love using Zotero. It's a boon to historians.)

Thanks for any instructions you can provide,

Stephanie

noksagt

I tried dragging and dropping the Zotero folder without success. Help!

What does "without success" mean?

srcassidy

Hi,

Thanks for responding quickly.

I copied the Zotero folder, but when I started up the portable Firefox to use the Zotero database from the jump drive just to check for the update, those new sources I'd added didn't appear.

What's the procedure for this?

Thank you,
Stephanie

noksagt

So, let me just verify this:

You have two copies of firefox? A local/nonportable version on your Mac harddrive and a portable version on the jump drive? Rather than merely "backing up" your zotero data, you wish to synchronize your local data to the jump drive? Is this correct?

If so: if you only use Zotero on your laptop, why do you need firefox portable? If you use it elsewhere, why not ALWAYS use the portable version?


Assuming that you want to do what it seems that you're trying to do:

Close all copies of firefox. Copy the zotero directory (that has a storage subdirectory & several sqlite files) from your local copy (kept in your firefox profile directory (~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default/ on OS X) by default) to the jump drive, replacing the zotero directory that is on the drive.

If it works, the database in portable firefox should be the same as on your desktop. If you see old sources but not new sources, it means you aren't really replacing the data on the jump drive (verify the storage location in zotero's preferences & then verify that you've actually replaced files).

srcassidy

Hi,

I finally figured it out. I hadn't found Zotero's storage location within the portable Firefox, so I was just saving the file to the Jumpdrive. With Spotlight, I did and now all is synced.

Thanks for your timely explanation.

Stephanie