Library disappears (Z standalone)

richard p

Hi - just opened my Zotero Standalone with some 6000 records & associated pdf storage etc, & my central column is blank, & the my "ZotRefs" folder icon in LH column missing. Have checked both Zotero & Zotfile settinga & all seems OK (ie where directory pointers are needed, they are correct - the folders "ZotRefs" with all associated files is still sitting on my HDD).

HELP ;-)

IF this is irretrievable & I have to redrag all my pdfs into the central column from File Manager (I am using Win8.1) can you idiot-walk me thro steps that prevent me/Zot duplicating all the refs & storage folders.

THANKS

adamsmith

Start here:
http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#where_did_my_items_go

and potentially here:
http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup

richard p

many thanks - I haven't gon thro everything listed, but the importance of the z*.sqlite got me thinking - I have recently used SugarSync to sync across PCs - sure enough, I have loads of these files (& *.*.bak) in my folder. Loss of my folder in Zot coincides with syncing. I will go in & relabel old sqlite file & see what happens.

Thanks for help - I'll let you know outcome

adamsmith

yeah, don't use sugarsync (or dropbox or anything like this) to sync the Zotero data folder--especially not the .sqlite Also, make a back-up of the data folder now, since some of the automated backups do get overwritten on Zotero restart.

richard p

Yup -just renamed & luckily everything looks OK!! :-))

THANK YOU

By data folder I assume you mean "storage" folder?

Cheers

R

adamsmith

no, the storage folder itself is actually normally OK to sync--it's possible you get some type of conflict occasionally (even that's unlikely), but nothing catastrophic can occur.

What you should never sync with a 3rd party tool is the folder that's by default named "zotero" that _contains_ the storage folder as well as the zotero.sqlite.

richard p

Ah - OK - the actual "programme folder" - in my case "Zotero Standalone" that sits in my Program Files (x86)? Contains subfolders "Components", "Defaults", Extensions etc

SugarSync did allow explicit control of syncing individual files - in their decision to "upgrade" & become more like MS - that is - this option no longer available.

dstillman

No, no one's talking about the program folder. You shouldn't sync the Zotero data directory in its entirety. 'storage' is a subdirectory of that and can be synced if you know what you're doing, but it can be complicated to set up.

adamsmith

no, not that one either.

When you go into the Zotero preferences under advanced --> Files and Folders and click on "Show Data directory" it will open the data directory. That will contain the storage folder, also a folder called "translators," "styles" as well as a number of zotero.sqlite-type files

Let's call this folder "zotero" because that's what it's normally called unless you moved it somewhere else.

I is never OK to sync the entire folder "zotero".
If you find a way to sync _just_ the subdirectory "storage" of that folder, i.e. ".../zotero/storage" that's OK.

richard p

Woah - you mean my "Zotero library"? OK - for a long time I downloaded all my pdfs etc (my references)to Folder A, & every week or so transfer Folder B - to my "Zotero library" ie where my "Data Directory" is.

This means I need to manually update files in A to B?

Thanks

R

richard p

RE Adamsmith - thanks you clarified my above.

Thanks BOTH for assistance