Trouble syncing edited / modified pdf

How to reproduce the issue:
1. Open a pdf file in your library.
2. Modify it (e.g. highlight a word).
3. Save it.
4. Click the "Sync with Zotero" button.
5. Try to open the same file on a different computer.

If you select the pdf file on the computer you modified it (expanding the item clicking on the drop down arrow), the details panel will show the correct modified metadata but the column "Date Modified" in the library will not show the updated information.

The modified pdf will be uploaded to your Web Library but other computers will not sync the changes.

The issue happens when modifying a file on Mac and then trying to open it on Windows, or vice versa. I have not tried to modify and open the file in two different computers with the same OS.
  • @leoshibata: You're saying you see the updates when you view the PDF in your online library?

    If so, are you using the "as needed" file sync download mode instead of "at sync time"? There's a flaw in the current behavior where the updated file won't be downloaded due to the local file already existing, when it should instead re-download the file (as long as Zotero has synced and received notification of the change). We'll fix that soon, but for now the fix would be to either 1) use "at sync time" mode or 2) right-click on the file, choose "Show File", and delete the file, and then double-click on the item to download it again, which should give you the updated version from the online library.
  • Yes, I am using the "as needed" file sync download mode. Thanks for the feedback!
  • This should be fixed in the latest Zotero beta, and the fix will be included in 5.0.85. Files previously downloaded in "as needed" mode will now stay in sync automatically at sync time. (Files downloaded before this fix won't be synced at sync time in "as needed" mode, but they'll be re-downloaded on open if an update is available.)
  • Zotero 5.0.85 is available now with this fix.
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