exporting data to a local location

marineturtle
Hello,

I understant that to make a local copy of your zotero library you need to export all the data.
I did that, I created a folder in an external disc with the name of zotero. Now all my folders are not organize, I mean, you cannot distinguis between folders and subfolders, they have lost their names and I only can open the pdf files.
I am new in this and i have been reading the forums but I still have not a solution.
Maybe the problem is that there is another way to make a copy of the data rather than exporing it.
I would appreciate any help,

Thanking you in advance,

Estefanía Gómez Cotino
  • arggem
    Yes, there is another, better, way.

    Read this page: https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data

    Part way down is a section on backing up your Zotero library. It ends with 2 warnings.
    Warning — Syncing: Syncing is not a substitute for backing up. For example, if you accidentally delete items in your library and sync your Zotero library, you won't be able to recover these items from the Zotero server.

    Warning — Import/Export: Zotero allows you to export your Zotero library as a Zotero RDF file. However, exporting and importing your library via RDF won't result in an exact copy of your library, and it isn't recommended as a backup strategy.
  • aurimas
    What exactly are you trying to achieve? If you are looking to create a backup of your data (which you should), then follow the instructions linked by arggem. Sounds to me like you are trying to navigate/browse the exported data, which indicates that you may be trying to accomplish something else.
  • marineturtle
    Thank you for your answer.
    What I am trying to do is to create a backup of my data and I followed the instructions from arggem.
    I went into the ADVANCED bottom in PREFERENCES, and then "show data directory". There are 2 sections:
    In the first section or BASE DIRECTORY -not sure if this is the right translation from spanish- I choose the folder I want my data to be stored. The data is not storing properly as I have in my zotero folder of fire fox or in my library.

    The second section, LOCATION OF STORAGE -not sure if this is the correct name in english- I choose the second option (SPECIAL) and browsed the folder where I choose the data to be stored. And then I realised than in my firefox place of zotero all my data was not organized anymore as I had it.
    I have all the folders organized in my library, though, but no in the zotero firefox.

    I dont know if I am explaining myself.
    I hope you can help me,
    Thanking you in advance, again....

    marineturtle
  • adamsmith
    Maybe you could step back and explain what exactly you're trying to do as Aurimas requests above? Can be in Spanish if that's easier.

    To back up your library you needn't and shouldn't change any of the settings under advanced --> files and folder. You just make copies of existing folders.
  • aurimas
    edited September 29, 2013
    In the first section or BASE DIRECTORY -not sure if this is the right translation from spanish- I choose the folder I want my data to be stored. The data is not storing properly as I have in my zotero folder of fire fox or in my library.
    The page that was linked above (http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data) does not say anything about modifying your Base Directory. You will want to undo this setting by clicking the button that says "Revert to Absolute Paths..."
    The second section, LOCATION OF STORAGE -not sure if this is the correct name in english- I choose the second option (SPECIAL) and browsed the folder where I choose the data to be stored. And then I realised than in my firefox place of zotero all my data was not organized anymore as I had it.
    I have all the folders organized in my library, though, but no in the zotero firefox.
    Again, the page above does not tell you to change this option. You will also want to undo this setting (at least for now), by selecting the "Use profile directory" option and restarting Zotero.

    At this point all of your items should show up again inside Zotero (I assume what you're referring to as "my library" is actually the zotero.org website)

    Then, please carefully read the following and do exactly as it says:

    To locate the directory where your data is located, open preferences, go to the Advanced tab, Files and Folders sub-tab, click on the "Show Data Directory Button" (second from the top). This will open up the folder where your Zotero data is located. Copy this entire directory as per instructions below.
    If you want to back up your Zotero library specifically, locate your Zotero library, close Firefox and/or Zotero Standalone, and copy your 'zotero' data directory to a backup location (copy the entire directory, including 'storage' and the other subdirectories), preferably on another storage device. As with all important data, it is a good idea to back up your Zotero data frequently.
  • marineturtle
    In the first section or BASE DIRECTORY -not sure if this is the right translation from spanish- I choose the folder I want my data to be stored. The data is not storing properly as I have in my zotero folder of fire fox or in my library.


    The page that was linked above (http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data) does not say anything about modifying your Base Directory. You will want to undo this setting by clicking the button that says "Revert to Absolute Paths..."

    The second section, LOCATION OF STORAGE -not sure if this is the correct name in english- I choose the second option (SPECIAL) and browsed the folder where I choose the data to be stored. And then I realised than in my firefox place of zotero all my data was not organized anymore as I had it.
    I have all the folders organized in my library, though, but no in the zotero firefox.


    Again, the page above does not tell you to change this option. You will also want to undo this setting (at least for now), by selecting the "Use profile directory" option and restarting Zotero.

    At this point all of your items should show up again inside Zotero (I assume what you're referring to as "my library" is actually the zotero.org website)

    THANK YOU, ADAMSMITH. ALL THE DATA IN "MY LIBRARY" IS OK, BUT NO IN THE FIREFOX SITE, IS THERE WERE EVERYTHING IS GONE.
    I AM SOOOOO CONFUSED, I AM GOING TO DO MORE INVESTIGATION AND WILL TRY TO FIND THE WAY AROUND.
    You don,t know how grateful I am, I,m in the middle of a project and I am not sure anymore if it was a good idea to try this storage tool. I thought it was really good but maybe it was not the right moment.

    Marineturtle
  • adamsmith
    that was aurimas, not me, but glad it helped.
    If you still want to try to do whatever it was that you were trying to do, please start by telling us exactly what you are trying to do.
  • aurimas
    ALL THE DATA IN "MY LIBRARY" IS OK, BUT NO IN THE FIREFOX SITE, IS THERE WERE EVERYTHING IS GONE.
    This should still not be happening, but I'm not certain what exactly the problem is.

    Take a look at http://i.imgur.com/yay0Js4.png and http://i.imgur.com/NrkX5pD.png and tell us exactly which library is empty on your computer.
  • marineturtle
    I was using Zotero for firefox, and not for windows. I had all my data organized in the ZOTERO ADD ON IN FIREFOX and, as this was automatically syncronized, all this data was also in my ZOTERO.ORG. I was not using the ZOTERO STANDALONE.
    The two problems I have now are:

    1.- ALL MY DATA IS PROPERLY ORGANIZED IN THE ZOTERO.ORG BUT IS NOT ORGANIZED IN THE ZOTERO ADD ON IN FIREFOX. When I say that in the middle column I have all the data but in the library of the ZOTERO ADD ON IN FIREFOX there are not folders...and they were there before.

    2.- Now all the data is organized in folders that are properly stored in "my library" in the ZOTERO.ORG. But now I cannot save a doc or a web into my ZOTERO ADD ON IN FIREFOX, and I do not know how to do it in the ZOTERO.ORG.

    Am I explaining myself?

    I have downloaded now the standalone, will try through this way.

    Thank you a lot.
  • marineturtle
    Basicaly everything was working properly until I tried to backup all the data in my computer and I am so confused and have spent so many hours reading forums that I couldnt explain what happened.
    If you dont have a solution, Would you pleas tell me how can I keep saving data to my zotero.org? Since I cannot into the add on for firefox.
  • aurimas
    Ok. It would be best if for the moment you did not try to install or uninstall any Zotero related software. And for future reference, if you are having problems with Zotero, we prefer that you ask on the forums instead of trying to troubleshoot yourself with instructions that may not be clear to you.

    Now, regarding your problem (forget Zotero Standalone right now), can you tell us exactly what settings are set to what in Zotero preferences under the Advanced tab -> Files and Folders?
  • marineturtle
    Only USER THE USER PROFILE DIRECTORY
  • adamsmith
    One thing that could have happened is simply a display issue - you can collapse your library in the Firefox add-on. Next to "My Library" in the left-hand column - is there a little triangle? What happens when you click on it?
  • marineturtle
    I THINK ALL MY DATA APPEARED AGAIN!!! THERE WAS A RED ERROR SIGN BESIDES THE SYNC ICON AND ONCE I REPORTED THE ERRORS, EVERYTHING APPREARED IN THE ZOTERO FIREFOX, THANKS A LOT!!!!

    IF EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY, MY ONLY PROBLEM WOULD BE TO MAKE A COPY OF ALL MY DATA IN AN EXTERNAL DISC OR IN MY COMPUTER, BUT KEEPING THE ORDER AND THE NAME OF THE FOLDERS AND SUBFOLDERS.
    I,D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD HELP ME.
    AT THE MOMENT I HAVE EVERYTHING STORED BUT THE FOLDERS HAVE NO NAMES, BUT NUMBERS, AND THEY ARE NOT ORGANIZED.
    THANK YOU AGAIN,
  • adamsmith
    please don't use all caps. It's hard to read & looks like yelling.

    Just make a _copy_ (don't move, just copy) of your entire Zotero data folder (i.e the folder that opens when you click on "show data directory).
    This will not involve making any changes to any Zotero settings. The only thing you do in Zotero is to click on "Show data directory". Then close Firefox, and use your file system to copy the entire zotero folder to wherever you want. The back-up instructions
    http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library
    have a link to a step-by-step with images at Northwestern.

    Also, as that page says, ideally you should just be backing up your entire harddisk and not just Zotero.
  • marineturtle
    Hello, adamsmith.

    I have backed-up my zotero into an external hard disk. In the folder there,re two folders (Files and Zotero) and a .rdf doc called Zotero. All the data inside the File is not organized as I have it in my library, but I guess this is the right way.

    Thanks again for your help.

    Marineturtle.
  • adamsmith
    no, you have _exported_ your library. That's not a substitute for a back-up. Again - backing up your Zotero library is not something you do in Zotero. On the contrary, you should have Zotero and Firefox closed down when you back up your library.
    You just need to copy&paste the zotero folder that already exists to your external hard disk using your file manager. If you do anything in Zotero you're doing something wrong.
  • marineturtle
    adamsith, Where is the "show data directory" then? I had closed zotero and firefox before pasting it in my external disc, but first I copied the folder "show data directory" from the ADVANCED options in PREFERENCES in zotero firefox.
  • adamsmith
    have you looked at the guide at Northwestern?
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