Upgrade StorageReally struggling to understand how to file manage with Zotero
I've used Zotero for many years now.
Previously, I used ZotFile. The repository location was on a Google Drive folder. Files were renamed nicely, which meant I could easily access them using a desktop fuzzy finder or file search, in addition to phone searches.
Eventually I decided to move to Zotero cloud storage for two reasons:
1. I thought I could then share files with group libraries
2. I thought it would make accessing papers on the phone easier
Unfortunately now I find that I simply cannot access cross-platform files. Find a file is saved in Zotero, it goes into an *unsynced* folder:
/Users/mememe/Zotero/storage/NYY84URC/paper.pdf
This is because I have been warned NOT to use cloud synced folders for file storage.
Here are the sync options I use: https://shottr.cc/s/21Au/SCR-20260620-l1s.png
Now, when trying to access files on other computers, it simply cannot find the files.
Sorry if I am not being super clear but the process just seems very random. Please can others share how they are hosting their files?
Previously, I used ZotFile. The repository location was on a Google Drive folder. Files were renamed nicely, which meant I could easily access them using a desktop fuzzy finder or file search, in addition to phone searches.
Eventually I decided to move to Zotero cloud storage for two reasons:
1. I thought I could then share files with group libraries
2. I thought it would make accessing papers on the phone easier
Unfortunately now I find that I simply cannot access cross-platform files. Find a file is saved in Zotero, it goes into an *unsynced* folder:
/Users/mememe/Zotero/storage/NYY84URC/paper.pdf
This is because I have been warned NOT to use cloud synced folders for file storage.
Here are the sync options I use: https://shottr.cc/s/21Au/SCR-20260620-l1s.png
Now, when trying to access files on other computers, it simply cannot find the files.
Sorry if I am not being super clear but the process just seems very random. Please can others share how they are hosting their files?
https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/files_not_syncing
Although it's weird that you'd get "paper.pdf" as a filename -- Zotero should rename files properly, this has never been limited to ZotFile (and has been much improved in recent Zotero versions).