Converting pdfs stored in Zotero to linked files

debchatterjee

Is there is any way to shift out pdfs stored in Zotero to a folder outside Zotero but retain them as linked files? I can't do this by creating the links for each file as I already have too many stored in Zotero. I am thinking of storing the pdfs in Dropbox or Box so that they are accessible across devices. I have tried several ways to sync the files across devices - Zotfile, ZotPad, PaperShip, but none of them seem to work after a point. Thanks.

adamsmith

That's exactly what ZotFile is for -- what hasn't worked for you?

debchatterjee

Zotfile works fine, certainly for a few files at a time. But I need to plan ahead which files to send. This means that if want to go through a file that I hadn't uploaded through Zotfile in advance, then I can't access it on the iPad other than going to Zotero through a browser and downloading it. I haven't tried uploading the entire library through Zotfile though. In any case, it is a duplication of effort to upload files through Zotfile when they can be stored in a folder in say dropbox.

adamsmith

Oh OK, you used the "Send to Tablet" feature.
ZotFile also has a feature to automatically move every file in Zotero to a folder specified by you. (Custom Location of Files in the General tab of the preferences) and, of course, you can just designate your Dropbox/Box.com folder as the target for that. Works very well.
You should then also use the "Relative Link" feature in the advanced tab of Zotero so it'll work across machines.

debchatterjee

Great. Shall try this out. Thanks for the help.

adamsmith

I should mention -- to trigger this for existing files, once you have the custom location set, you would use "Manage Attachments --> Rename Attachments" (the name of the function is a bit misleading: it will also move the attached files).

debchatterjee

Thanks a lot for the inputs. I have been trying this, and it works...generally. I think that using the rename feature on several items at the same time may cause some issues. Kindly review the error log at report ID 1116420678.

Thanks.

dstillman

Errors:

…AND collectionID IN (SELECT collectionID FROM collectionItems WHERE itemID=?) AND collectionID IN (SELECT collectionID FROM collectionItems WHERE itemID=?)] [ERROR: Expression tree is too large (maximum depth 1000)]

TypeError: attachment is undefined" {file: "chrome://zotfile/content/zotfile.js" line: 3343}

adamsmith

@debchatterjee -- for how many items is this? How have you set up your custom location for ZotFile (i.e. any specificed subfolders or so)?