File Backups

kensabel

I've just learned of Zotero and from what I can see it is an enormously helpful tool. I have some concern though before committing all my research work to it. What backup facility do I have to insure my data is safe? When I export the whole library to a back up disk, can I import that one file to another computer and have the entire library saved?

thanks

dstillman

http://www.zotero.org/documentation/frequently_asked_questions

lpurdy

I've been experimenting with backups, import, export, etc., to see if I can move my library between different computers, not too successfully so far.
1. One issue is that I seem to be able to backup my files, but only individual files, not the folders that contain them.
2. A second issue is that so far I've been unable to get one machine to notice the new files imported from another machine via thumbdrive. (am following instructions in FAQs, as far as I can tell. When I attempt to use the import function, it looks as though I must transfer folders/items one by one, as I am unable to use shift to mark all the ones in the file.
I'm afraid that the documentation here needs to be considerably more detailed, as moving libraries is key to the usefulness of this otherwise apparently fabulous program.

Tjowens

The documentation on backups, import and export leaves something to be desired, and it is on my list. But for the time being I can clarify your issues. What may be confusing is that there are two distinct ways of moving items from one machine to another.

You cannot import a Zotero Database. The import function is for importing files with references in them. (Zotero RDF, RIS, refman, mods, etc) You can use the import function to move information from one Zotero collection to another, but this requires you to export the items from the other database in one of the aforementioned formats. (Zotero RDF, RIS, refman, mods, etc) As you correctly note, the import function will only import individual files, this is how it is intended to be, as the exported collections you want to import will be individual files.

Now, the other way of to do this is to copy the Zotero folder from your Firefox profile, or wherever you are storing it.(It is now much easier to do since the recent update added a pref to the advanced pane in your preferences menu which allows you to see exactly where your files are stored on your machine.) You then delete the Zotero folder on the new machine and replace it with the Zotero folder you copied. This will replace the existing Zotero collection with the copy of the collection you made from the other machine.

Does that clear things up at all?

lpurdy

No. Here's what I did. I went to my zotero file, copied the 3 items (the storage file, and zotero.sqlite and zotero.sqlitebak. Then I went to a second computer, and pasted those items under the zotero folder. It asked whether I wanted to replace the old with the new, and I said yes. But the second computer doesn't automatically show the new library, and is in fact hung up, with a message that says "loading items list."

Any further suggestions?
Laura

erazlogo

laura--
you should update zotero on both computers to the latest version before moving the files--this way you'll know the versions of zotero are the same on both. you could try moving and replacing the entire folder rather than the files, as trevor suggests. don't forget to close firefox while you're moving files around.
best,
elena

lpurdy

Elena--Success! Thanks both to you tJowens for taking the time to help me with this.
Laura