Lost the 3-panes arrangement of my old library

brauliot

After doing "Refresh Firefox", I got a a new 3-panes library, but it is empty !. I can see my old library pressing "My Library" button, but what I want is to recover the 3-panes arrangement of my old library. Please, let me know how to do it.
I already tried the "Restoring Zotero after using "Refresh Firefox"" procedure but it did not work; after its step # 3, I have to rename the zotero.sqlite file to zotero.sqlite.old and the "storage" directory to "storage.old", but the renamed file and directory are no further use.

dstillman

If you did a Firefox reset, https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/restore_after_firefox_reset definitely has the steps you need to follow to recover your data locally. I'm not sure what you're saying isn't working.

brauliot

Step 1: done.
Step 2:the name of my new Zotero data directory is C:/Users/Braulio/AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/mcr0767v.default-1473507032293/zotero; it has a folder named "zotero". I kept this folder open and closed Firefox.
Step 3: I renamed file "zotero.sqlite" to "zotero.sqlite.old" and folder "storage" to "storage.old"
Step 4: the "Old Firefox Data" in my desktop has 2 folders: 1)nj5ty3mg.default and 2)v24fxcvh.default-1473271160084. In the first one there is a folder named "zotero"
Step 5: from "Old Zotero Data" (folder "zotero"), I copied the "zotero.sqlite.old" file and "storage.old" folder to the new Zotero data directory, that now has (among others files and folders): 1) folder "storage" and "storage.old" and 2) files "zotero.sqlite" and "zotero.sqlite.old"
Step 6: I restarted Firefox, but my library is not restored.
Which is the mistake I am making ?

adamsmith

Step 5: from "Old Zotero Data" (folder "zotero"), I copied the "zotero.sqlite.old" file and "storage.old" folder to the new Zotero data directory, that now has (among others files and folders):

Just to be sure you have this right: This is Old Firefox data, yes? And the files you're copying don't have the .old extension, do they?

What's the size of zotero.sqlite that you're copying? (in MB)

brauliot

Correction: in Step 5, I erroneously wrote "Old Zotero Data" instead of "Old Firefox Data".
The files I copied do have the .old extension. The size of zotero.sqlite is 1.188 MB.

By the way, what is the purpose of adding ".old" to the file "zotero.sqlite" and folder "storage" ? To have a backup of them ?

adamsmith

That's basically an empty library. Is there no zotero folder in the other old profile?

brauliot

1)You said: " That's basically an empty library". What do you mean with "That" ? ¿zotero.sqlite ?
2) There is not a "zotero" folder/file in the other old profile.

adamsmith

1) an sqlite file of about 1MB size is empty.
I'm still not quite sure I understand what you're copying though. In the zotero folder within "Old Firefox Data" -- what files are in there and what are there sizes?

brauliot

The contents of the zotero folder within "Old Firefox Data" is:
Folders: locate/storage/storage.old/styles/translations
Files: pdfinfo (1 KB)/pdfinfo-Win32 (584KB)/pdfinfo-Win32.exe.version (1 KB)/pdfinfototext (1 KB)/pdfinfototext.Win32 (580 KB)/pdfinfototext-Win32.exe.version (1 KB)/zotero.sqlite.old (1128 KB)

adamsmith

and there is no file zotero.sqlite in there? How many items, roughly, were in your database?
@Dan -- I think this is the 2nd time we're seeing this. Can you imagine a scenario were FF reset wouldn't copy the zotero.sqlite over?

brauliot

I have changed the original name (zotero.sqlite) to zotero.sqlite.old.
My database has1130 items

dstillman

Does either storage or storage.old have any subfolders?

brauliot

Old Firefox data, on my desktop, has 2 folders:
1)nj5ty3mg.default, with 19 subfolders; one of them is "storage", that has 3 subfolders ("default" (with 8 subfolders), "permanent" (with 3 subfolders) and "temporary" (with 7 subfolders));
2)v24fxcvh.default-1473271160084, with 13 subfolders; one of them is "storage", with just one subfolder ("permanent" (with 2 subfolders))

brauliot

Old Firefox data, in its nj5tymg.default subfolder, has:
1) a zotero/storage subfolder with 1057 elements (or subfolders);
2) a zotero/storage. old with 2 elements (or subfolders)

dstillman

I'm not quite following, but this

a zotero/storage subfolder with 1057 elements (or subfolders)

is correct. Those are your original Zotero attachment files as backed up by Firefox. So in the directory containing that 'storage' folder', there's not a zotero.sqlite* file that's larger than 1 MB?

brauliot

Yes, there is a (Firefox) file named "zotero.sqlite.old" of 1128 KB. I believe its former name was just "zotero.sqlite" and that I have added the .old extension.

adamsmith

OK, at this point, since you have your library online, I'd just sync:
https://www.zotero.org/support/sync
That shouldn't be necessary, but I'm not sure we'd be able to find the database on your harddisk still.
Make sure you can open attachments after syncing -- otherwise we'll be able to tell you how to fix that.

brauliot

I can open just about 50% of my attachments in the 3-panes

adamsmith

OK, copy the content of this:
zotero/storage subfolder with 1057 elements
into the storage folder that already exists in your current, active data directory, replacing existing files.

brauliot

OK. The zotero/storage subfolder with 1057 elements is at "Old Firefox Data" folder.
But, lest to make a mistake, please tell how I find "the storage folder that already exists in my current, active data directory"

adamsmith

that's
C:/Users/Braulio/AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/mcr0767v.default-1473507032293/zotero/storage

brauliot

My old and cherished 3-panes arrangement was not restored. Probably I do not understand the inner workings of Zotero. So, I will study carefully the Zotero guide and instructions before asking your help again. Anyway, thanks very much for your time and patience. I appreciate that a lot.

adamsmith

I'm confused. Could you post a picture of what you're seeing on a free image hosting site and link to from here?
(Edit: just to clarify -- whether you have a 3-panel Zotero display or not has nothing to do with restoring your back-up. That's just a question of where/how you look at this -- hence my confusion).

DWL-SDCA

I suspect that one of the columns is collapsed.

mcgregor.moira

I use Zotero on an older macbook and have 3 pane view in my Firefox browser. I find it a very useful way to work with Zotero.
Unfortunately when I installed Zotero on new macbook, I downloaded the recommended Zotero for Mac, and also the Zotero Firefox Connector thing.
Now, I am not able to see Zotero in the same way in the Firefox browser, and it's a poorer version in my opinion. Currently, if you save a citation from the browser into the standalone version it's a bit hit or miss if you save it into the correct library folder, etc.
Am I missing something in the set up on my new laptop? Is there a way to have the red 'Z' on the menu bar of Firefox browswer, and if it is clicked it opens up the Zotero interface, including libraries, in the lower part of the browser? I can mail a screenshot of the old set up if that helps.
Cheers

adamsmith

No, the Z in Firefox is gone.
I think you'll find that after couple of weeks getting used to the fact that Zotero is now a separate app, so doesn't open from within your browser, this really doesn't change anything. The reason for the change are explained here: https://www.zotero.org/blog/a-unified-zotero-experience/

DWL-SDCA

On the new, just like with Zotero 4, items are imported to the selected (open) collection within your library.

mcgregor.moira

Okay - thanks for the clarification Adam.

I think that it's a pity, and the user experience most certainly is degraded as a result - but I have read the reason for the change and appreciate why this has happened.

I think the changeover could have been more explicitly handled, I've wasted alot of time trying to figure out why Zotero wasn't working as before - including searching extensively on the Zotero website. Maybe I might suggest that the news story should be linked to from the download page rather than two enormous download buttons. And frankly, it's not the case that the interface is the same as suggested below!

"If you’re using Zotero for Firefox, you’ll be automatically upgraded to the new Zotero Connector for Firefox in the next few weeks, and you’ll need to install the standalone Zotero application — either 4.0 or 5.0 — to access your data going forward. The Zotero application offers the same interface and runs off the same database as Zotero for Firefox, so you’ll be able to pick up right where you left off."

dstillman

I think that it's a pity, and the user experience most certainly is degraded as a result

"most certainly" is a little strong — it's a perfectly reasonable perspective, but remember that Zotero Standalone has existed for many years, and many people prefer the separate app.

And frankly, it's not the case that the interface is the same as suggested below!

While I understand your point, I think it's pretty clear in context what that line means — it really is the same interface in a separate app, literally running off the same code. Zotero for Firefox and Zotero Standalone were designed to be interchangeable, and people often switched back and forth as they worked, with the same three-pane interface in both versions.

I think the changeover could have been more explicitly handled, I've wasted alot of time trying to figure out why Zotero wasn't working as before - including searching extensively on the Zotero website.

Sorry for the hassle. In our defense, this is explained in two of the three blog posts under "Zotero News" on the front page, and when you first run the Zotero Connector for Firefox and click the button there's a dialog that says this:

Looking for your Zotero data? If you were previously using Zotero for Firefox, you’ll need to download the standalone Zotero application to access your local Zotero data going forward. See A Unified Zotero Experience for more information.

And you have to click "Got it" to continue.

Maybe I might suggest that the news story should be linked to from the download page rather than two enormous download buttons.

We've added a prominent line to the top of the download page for Firefox users that links to the blog post.

We also haven't actually upgraded Zotero for Firefox users to the new version yet, so the change so far is limited to people manually installing the new version. We're going to try to push out another build of Zotero 4.0 for Firefox that gives a clear warning about the upcoming change when you open the Zotero pane.

mcgregor.moira

ROFL - Classic response. Just to be clear, I am giving you some 'user feedback' here, free of charge - and you're welcome! Maybe it's 'pretty clear' to you what some words on a webpage mean however here's me, the archetypal dumb user, telling you that it's not. I thought it may be helpful for you to know what I have actually experienced as a fairly longterm user of Zotero in Firefox, in order to avoid other customers having the same troubles... They may not be as committed to using Zotero as I am, they might go back to using some other product! Just trying to help :-)

dstillman

OK, so it looks like you're new to these forums and perhaps to open-source software, so you should understand that this is a pretty friendly place where Zotero developers and community members spend a huge amount of time engaging with users and discussing together how to improve the software.

I engaged with your criticisms, provided the reasoning behind a line that you disagreed with, apologized for your wasted time, explained the fairly extensive steps we've taken to manage this difficult transition (including an explicit notification that you clicked through), told you that we've already adopted one of your suggestions, and explained some additional steps we're going to take to avoid further confusion. If "ROFL - Classic response" and snark seem like an appropriate response to that, there's really no need to post here.