Question: file server and changing paths for all links in a library

JonEP

I'm interested to use Zotero with documents stored on a server. My question is below, but first perhaps it is useful to provide a brief bit of background. I use Zotero on three (Windows 7) computers, with Zotero synching across all machines. On each computer, all PDFs are stored in a specific folder within my Documents directory. Usernames and file structures are identical across computers. I use Windows Live Sync to sync that folder of attached files, so when I save a file in the zotero folder and then create a link to it (via "attach link to file ..." or zotfile), that link works on all three computers once all synching is complete.

I'm now thinking I'd perhaps like to store all of my files online, so they could be accessed by a mobile device, too (ie., since mobile devices don't have enough file storage space for my whole PDF library, but can use resources from a web server).

So, two questions:

1. I've seen discussion about WebDav servers in the Zotero documentation, and I think that's what I need, right? Basically, this means that I could create a link to a file on a server instead of on my computer. Can I ask a quick question: how does it work? That is, if I have a reference in Zotero, and I want to create a link to a document stored on the server, would I still use "attach link to file..." or is there some other process for creating the link? Sorry for not being able to figure this out yet.

2. Is there a way to re-route all of the current attachment links that are tying my zotero library to the PDFs in my documents folder? Ie., some way to change the path for all links so that links to C://user/documents/zotero_folder become links to http://serveraddress/user/zotero_folder?

Thanks for any help and guidance you can give me.

JonEP

I've looked into this a bit more. Most (all?) webdav server applications (like idisk and jungle disk) create a path in the operating system that resembles a path to a normal hard drive, so it seems that if all of my documents were stored in a folder on the server, I could use the "attach link to ..." and point to that folder without a problem, yes?

So I think that answers question one. As for question two: is it possible to bulk-edit the attachment links in order to move all linked files to a new directory (in this case to a server)?

Thanks!

dstillman

If you're doing anything with linked files, you're not using Zotero's syncing capabilities, since linked files aren't synced. Mapping of WebDAV folders to your filesystem has nothing to do with Zotero's WebDAV syncing.

If you search, you'll see that #2 has been answered many times. Short answer: yes, but not through the UI.

JonEP

Thanks. OK, so WebDav syncing is only for attached, not linked, items.

I'm looking in the forums for answers to #2, how to bulk-edit all attachment paths. So far no luck but will keep looking. Thanks.

dstillman

You have to do it with an SQLite client.