Lost file attachments?

jlepawsky

Hi there,

I have searched through discussion topics and have not come across something quite like I am experiencing. Apologies if I've missed it.

My trouble seems to be related to syncing between my computer at work and my computer at home. The problem is that some file attachments for references seem to become 'de-linked' from references in my Zotero library. If I select a given reference in my Zotero library, and then attempt to open its attached file (e.g., a pdf of an article) I can see an image for the file attachment but get the message: "The attached file could not be found. It may have been moved or deleted outside of Zotero."

In most cases when I click "Locate" Zotero finds the file again, but not always. When Zotero doesn't find the file I will do a Spotlight (Mac) search and I find the file, then re-attach it in Zotero.

This happens on both my work and home computer using Zotero.

The problem is mostly an annoyance as opposed to something truly dire. But every time it happens I get that deep fear of having potentially lost important data.

dstillman

Are these linked files or stored files? (Linked files don't sync, and either they need to exist in the same path on both computers or you need to use the Linked Attachment Base Directory feature.) Where exactly are you locating the files when you use the Locate button?

If these are stored files, see Files Not Syncing (and, generally speaking, don't try to Locate them).

jlepawsky

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your rapid response!

The problem seems to be with stored files. I am pretty sure that on much rarer occasions something similar has happened with linked files.

When I use the "Locate" button and Zotero finds the file in question, it is located in my Zotero library in the "storage" folder in a 'randomly' named subfolder (e.g., a folder with name like 'ZVMZFXBJ'). In cases where Zotero does not locate the file and I use Spotlight, the file turns up in generally the same place: Zotero Library> storage > "random folder name". In some cases, files have shown up in in Zotero Library > storage but not enclosed in a randomly named subfolder. It seems like maybe the sync process is somehow changing the name of some, but not all, randomly named subfolders in the "storage" folder--or inexplicably moving the files from their specific subfolder to the "storage" folder. Presumably, whatever is causing these switches of location then leads Zotero on one of my two computers to be unable to locate a given stored file.

I will check out, 'Files Not Syncing' more closely. I don't receive any sync errors from either Computer A or Computer B. But, I don't use the sync files option, just the sync data option (i.e., I am not using any Zotero web storage). Maybe there in lies part of the problem?

dstillman

But, I don't use the sync files option, just the sync data option (i.e., I am not using any Zotero web storage). Maybe there in lies part of the problem?

Well, yes... If you're not syncing files, files you create on one computer would never be available on other computers, unless you're syncing the 'storage' folder some other way.

In some cases, files have shown up in in Zotero Library > storage but not enclosed in a randomly named subfolder.

There absolutely shouldn't be files within 'storage' that aren't in subfolders, and Zotero definitely didn't do that on its own. And don't use Locate for stored files — it won't work and may have strange results. (Ideally it wouldn't even let you try to select outside of the original folder for stored files.) You just need to actually sync the files.