Tried Webdav and Google Drive, deleted everything in Zotero

DNL26732

So I'm on Mac OS X 10.9.5 running stand alone Zotero with Zotfile installed.

All of my files are linked to a Google Drive folder and synced to the cloud. I was *trying* to get the webdav to work too. So, in settings I went to Advanced -> Files and Folders-> Linked Attachment Base Directory and changed the Base Directory to my Google Drive folder.

Did the same for the Data Directory Location.

One of these things listed above deleted Zotero's catelogging of my files (though my files still exist in google drive).

How can I get all my files cataloged back into Zotero using the PDFs that are still stored from Zotfile?

Thanks!

adamsmith

just change your data directory back to where it was, that should fix things. (and never change the data directory location to anything that syncs like google drive, dropbox, etc.)

DNL26732

Thanks for the response.

I did try that. But it couldn't find the linked files.

adamsmith

meaning what exactly? You see your Zotero library, but the links don't work anymore; or you're still not seeing your Zotero library?

DNL26732

You know how zotfile can move files? Which is how I have the files in Google drive. When I undid what was mentioned above the catalog showed up in zotero. But the files no longer link to the Google drive location.

adamsmith

So, run me through what you did exactly in what order. What I understood was that you set Zotfile to move files to gdrive, then you changed the data directory location. If you did that, then just restoring the original data directory location would give you your files back in Zotero.

DNL26732

Yes, you have understood correctly. However, we move the files reappeared in Zotero The links files "could not be found in "and I would have to search for the PDF inside of my Google Drive.

adamsmith

However, we move the files reappeared in Zotero

sorry, I can't follow this, what are you trying to say?

But also, I'd really like in your own words for you to tell me what exactly you did in what order in as much detail as possible. It's really not very likely that the Zotero library that used to have those links working (and that you've restored by changing your data folder back) suddenly doesn't have them working anymore unless you changed something else such as the location of the files in gdrive.

DNL26732

Sorry for the typo. I meant to say "the moved files reappeared in Zotero."

So, I tried to restore the zotero.sqlite which worked PERFECTLY for five min. But then the Zotero server's copy overwrote my local restored copy and I lost everything again. This time, likely, for good. :(

adamsmith

We always tell people to work from copies when doing this (https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup step 3. -- this also tells you how to prevent the server from overwriting your changes), but if you don't have a copy of the file you used to restore the .sqlite (I assume zotero.sqlite.bak ?), including in a back-up you made, then we can't help you restoring them that way.

Doesn't necessarily mean there's no way to restore the links.
I'll try this one more time:

I'd really like in your own words for you to tell me what exactly you did in what order in as much detail as possible.

if you want our help, you really do need to work with us.