Standalone library reverted to old version... How to return to proper updated state?

danioore
edited April 7, 2017
For some reason my zotero standalone seems to have reverted to a state from 1 year ago (even though I just resynced my standalone to my online library, the other week and again the other day, and was using the standalone since then without issue).

the original pdf file attachments are still available and stored in the folders that zotero originally created for them, but most of these items do not show up in my zotero standalone searches because i had not yet added them (i can use my finder to locate the files by name). of the items that do show up in my standalone library, most have a blue circle outline (white centre), and i receive the prompt: "the attached file could not be found . it may have been moved or deleted outside of zotero."

my online library, however, seems to be updated with all my most recent additions. but my online library has none of the actual pdf file attachments (i rarely use the online library, except for backup of the standalone library).

how do i get my standalone library to revert back to the updated/current state (as reflected by my online zotero library), and reconnected to the pdf attachment file library?

thank you!
  • adamsmith
    This sounds like it switched to the wrong local version of your database. Which browser do you use with Zotero?
  • danioore
    I used to use firefox, but now I use chrome. (i don't know if i had firefox open when i did the most recent sync.)
  • adamsmith
    If you go into the Zotero preferences under Advanced --> Files and Folders, what does it say under "Data Directory Location"? If it says custom, the whole filepath (minus your username if you'd prefer to leave that out) would be helpful.
  • danioore
    edited April 7, 2017
    strangely, whereas an hour ago when i checked the data directory location (before posting my first query) it seemed properly set to custom (to a designated external hard drive), now it is selected to 'use profile directory'... when i just now checked the location of this folder, it looks like a very old backup version i had not deleted from my computer hard drive (not the designated external where my updated custom directory is located).

    ...is it safe to simply select custom back again?


  • adamsmith
    yup. It likely reverted to the profile because it didn't detect the HD when Zotero started up.
  • danioore
    edited April 7, 2017
    when i reselect custom, it forces me to re-choose the location folder, then when i restart zotero it has jumped back to the 'profile directory'. ??

    (when customizing, do i select the zotero profile folder or the the zotero folder? my attachment pdfs are all located in a neighbouring folder)
  • adamsmith
    the zotero folder, not the profile folder. The folder you're pointing to should contatin the zotero.sqlite file
  • adamsmith
    For the rest of your problems -- if this doesn't get away I'd start by testing somewhere other than the external HD. We do find people sometimes have problems running databases of external HDs.
  • danioore

    your solution seems to have fixed all problems!!! Thanks so much!

    (relatively few items remain with blue circle with empty white centre, and are not coming up in finder search.. not sure where or why.)

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