Help: one folder from my Library just disappeared!

srodriguezvazquez
Hi,

I do not understand why and/or how, but suddenly on of my sub-folders within my Library (in Zotero Standalone version) just disappeared :( It was the one which contained most of my references, and quite a number of sub-sub folders. When I check the sync online, I see exactly the same folder structure, where that one is missing.

Is there any way to recover that folder? Maybe through a backup? I am sure I have not deleted it.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Silvia
  • adamsmith
    You can try https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup

    but note that the items in that collection are almost certainly still in your library -- it's just the organization that's been lost (if it has).
  • srodriguezvazquez
    Yes, I still have all the items (thank God!), but I had quite a good folder structure that allowed me to locate items much faster. I still do not get why it just disappeared.

    I have auto-sync enabled, so when I check my Zotero account online I see the same folders that I have in my Standalone.
  • adamsmith
    right, the last automated back-up may still have the info, though. Certainly worth a try. Can't tell you why it disappeared, but honestly, it's much more likely for you to have done so inadvertently than for Zotero to mysteriously pick and delete a collection.
  • srodriguezvazquez
    Ok, will try. But if I deleted a collection, how are the individual items still available in the library? Is that possible?
  • bwiernik
    Collections are like playlists. An item can be part of many collections (or none). By default, deleting a collection doesn't remove the items from your library (or other collections), just from that collection.
  • adamsmith
    no, that's the default behavior when removing a collection
  • Gurdas_Sandhu
    Might be worth checking, if the "lost" collection did not get drag-dropped inside another collection or sub-collection.
  • adamsmith
    that's a good idea, yes. That's easier to do by accident, since you're not getting a warning. To delete a collection you'd first have to delete it and then OK the pop-up warning.
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