Tags not imported from Mendeley via RIS

dstillman

This discussion was created from comments split from: Can a function of "field" searching in the "tag search" be added in?.

josq

I have imported hundred of files from Mendeley using an ris file. I tagged all my files according to their previous folders so I could re-org easily when I switched back to Zotero. Unfortunately, when I use the bottom tag finder to find "trauma type", it comes up with nothing from my newly imported files. Any ideas? Thanks much!

bwiernik

@josq Generally better to start a new thread with an unrelated issue.

The best approach to importing a Mendeley database if you want to preserve folder structure is not to use a RIS file, but instead to use Zotero's native import function. See here for details: https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/mendeley_import

I recommend starting over and using that function for the least amount of difficulty.

josq

@BWIERNIK - thank you. I'm sorry, I thought this was a related forum. My mistake.

When I follow the import link and read how to do the import (I am using 1.19 of mendeley), it's very confusing. I follow the link there for how to locate my data director https://service.elsevier.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18153/ and when I follow those steps, it creates a zip file. When I use the Zotero import option for Mendeley there is a long string of numbers but it's from 2 days ago. Does this mean I have to download 1.18?

josq

Oh and I should correct the original post: I used a BibTex file not a Ris one.

bwiernik

Importing via RIS or BibTeX is a different (and inferior) process than importing following these directions: https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/mendeley_import

Yes, to follow the directions I linked to, you need to install Mendeley 1.18 and sync. Download links for Mendeley 1.18 are given on the page above.

josq

Thank you! Just a few more questions:

1. I don't understand step 2, "Move your database out of the Mendeley data directory to a temporary location." When I click that link it just helps me create a zip file. Is that the correct flow?

2. Would you recommend I uninstall the 1.19 version first?

dstillman

When I click that link it just helps me create a zip file. Is that the correct flow?

There are instructions on that page for locating your Mendeley data directory. That's the relevant part.

Would you recommend I uninstall the 1.19 version first?

You can just install Mendeley 1.18 over your current version.

josq

THANK YOU! Sorry for the confusion (I was still only able to get a zip backup on Mendeley I never really had to use) - but I finally transferred my files over successfully. Woot! I'm sure this seems like a very easy process, but I so appreciate the hand holding and suggestions ... as well as all the wonderful features on Zotero. Cheers!