new profile isn't empty

Jon Rubin

Hi, just tried creating a new profile and rather than being blank, it's got all the details from my default profile. Which can't be right.
I'm starting the profile editor by

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Zotero\zotero.exe" -P

I create a profile with a different name, and then it starts, installs the word processor plugins, and then shows all my files from my default profile

Windows 10, Zotero 5.0.42

Am I doing something wrong, or is something borked in profile creation?

Jon Rubin

Oh and if I try and set up syncing, then I get a warning that the database was last used as my default profile and if I continue then all that data will be removed. Obviously this is defeating the purpose of profiles.

Jon Rubin

OK, so the problem is that it isn't creating a new storage directory, or offering me the choice to create one, when I create a new profile.

dstillman

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/multiple_profiles

Jon Rubin

Right, reread the instructions and got it working fine now, thanks.
In case it's not already obvious: I wasn't expecting a new profile to use an old profile's folder. Maybe an option when creating a new profile to create a new storage folder, mine's un-originally called 'Zotero.profile-name' ? Or a message to say that it's expected behaviour to use the default storage folder and you have to create a new one, then point Zotero to that new folder?

I think what threw me, is half memories from when Zotero files were stored in Firefox profiles, so that a new Firefox profile would automatically have a new Zotero storage folder & database.

dstillman

I think what threw me, is half memories from when Zotero files were stored in Firefox profiles, so that a new Firefox profile would automatically have a new Zotero storage folder & database.

Right — most people doing this now will just be following these instructions. But I agree that this could be easier, so in the latest beta I've changed it to automatically create a directory named after the profile ("Work" → "~/Zotero Work") and set that as a custom data directory if there's already a profile pointing to the default location.

Jon Rubin

Thanks Dan

pirio

Hello,

Sorry for writing in such an old thread. I have the same problem than Jon had. I had only on profile, so I decided to create a new profile.

I followed all the instructions at:

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/multiple_profiles

I have checked that the new profile folder is created, and I have checked out its new location in the Windows File Manager.

But when I open it from Zotero Profile Manager, using

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Zotero\zotero.exe" -P

and choosing the new profile name... the info that appears is from the old profile.

I also use Win 10, and Zotero 5.0.89.

Might there be any folder permissions problem? I have tried to create the folder:

a) Into the original Zotero profiles folder
b) Into a new folder in a different location

But none of these two options work.

Thanks in advance.

adamsmith

This shouldn't be necessary, but you can just manually set a new data directory in the new profile in the preferences under Advanced --> Files and Folders

pirio

Yes, it worked!! Thank you very much, and sorry for the delay to answer.