Transfer Zotero Synced PDFs to Local Link?

jsmith967
For several years, I have attached PDFs to Zotero entries via the "Add Attachment/Attach Stored Copy of File" option. This has required me to buy storage to sync the PDFs to Zotero's servers (the 6GB option). Now, I wish to downgrade my storage to Zotero's free account of 300MB. Obviously, my multiple gigabytes of data on Zotero's servers will have to be deleted by Zotero. The reason I desire no longer to sync my attachments to Zotero's server is that I store my attachments in a local directory that is synced via Dropbox and therefore, I have no need for Zotero to sync it to their server. I also do not work between multiple machines which to me, is the great benefit to Zotero's syncing of attachments.

My question is, how do I transfer my 500 attachments (~3.5GB) that are synced to Zotero's servers to my local directory? That is, is there a way to "convert" the attachments that I originally chose "Attach Stored Copy of File" to "Attach Link to File" wherein the attachments will be downloaded from Zotero's servers and placed in my local directory as a link only?

Thanks for any help on this.
  • adamsmith
    1. You don't need to buy storage to store items as attachments. Those are still stored locally and you don't need the file storage for them. That's only needed if you want to sync them to the zotero server. You can disable attachment syncing (or all syncing) in the sync tab of the Zotero preferences.

    2. If you do want to convert stored attachments to linked files, you can use the Zotfile extension for that purpose -- www.zotfile.com

    3. Be a bit careful placing the Zotero data directory into Dropbox: You can do so safely as long as Dropbox is only linked to a single computer (i.e. as a backup), but never use it to actually sync the Zotero database between computers. That can cause database corruption.
  • jsmith967
    Thank you for your reply.

    1. Good to know

    2. How do I go about this? I have used and donated to the Zotfile add-on but I am still a bit unsure how to make the transfer. Under "General Settings/Location of Files" I have selected "Custom Location" for my PDF files so that they are stored in my Dropbox. However, it does not appear that those PDFs that were originally synced to Zotero's server have been transferred to my Dropbox folder. Of course, all new files are stored locally but my old attachments that have typically been synced to Zotero's server have not transferred to my Dropbox.

    3. I always only put my attachment PDF files on Dropbox but leave the Zotero directory with all of the Zotero database files in the default location. If I understand you correctly, this should protect me from the corruption you mention.
  • adamsmith
    2. Use the somewhat poorly labeled Manage Attachments --> Rename Files to convert files to links in the specified custom folder.
    3. Correct, yes. The warning is just about the database, not the PDFs.
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