Upgrade StorageUnable to synchronize Zotero
This discussion was created from comments split from: Can't open my library.
This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Before commenting here, you should strongly consider starting a new discussion instead. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.
What's the exact problem that you're experiencing, and what exactly are you doing?
Note that, starting in 5.0.86, which came out today, Zotero will warn you if you have the Zotero data directory in Google Drive or OneDrive, but that has nothing to do with Zotero syncing.
The Zotero database cannot be opened.
Make sure you have read and write permissions for all files in the Zotero data directory and that Zotero is not prevented by security software from accessing that directory.
You can fix this problem by moving the data directory to a new default location in your home directory. Zotero will automatically detect the new location.
(What I did unsuccessfully)
I've placed the application Zotero.app in the the folder: /Users//Zotero, as suggested in https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#where_did_my_items_go.
Likewise, I moved the folder Data Directory Contents [Zotero (including zotero.sqlite.bak)] to the same location.
(The link that invite me to check if Zotero is looking in the right place is not working: Zotero is looking in the right place for your data).
It would be so much easy for me to uninstall Zotero and sync on line with my library, but as you said: "Zotero can't read or write to the Zotero database in the Zotero data directory."
I need your help!
I don't know what you're doing here, but start by telling us where your Zotero data is currently, and what files you see.
/Users/<username>/Zotero".
Right now my Zotero.app is in .../applications/utilities.
Inside my Zotero folder I see:
locate
pdfinfo-MacIntel
pdfinfo-MacIntel.version
pdfinfo.sh
pdftotext-MacIntel
pdftotext-MacIntel.version
pipes
storage
styles
translators
zotero.sqlite.bak
And Zotero.app should be in /Applications, with all other third-party programs you've installed, not in /Applications/Utilities, which is for bundled Apple utilities. Move Zotero.app back to /Applications. Which Zotero folder, exactly? /Users/:username:/Zotero?
Are you saying there's no zotero.sqlite file in there? Are there subfolders in 'storage' corresponding with your previous usage of Zotero? What's the size and date of the zotero.sqlite.bak file?
Were you previously using a custom data directory? Did you transfer the data directory from another computer? Another macOS account? An external drive?
Just to be clear, this isn't a problem in Zotero. This is due to something you did on your system outside of Zotero that caused Zotero to no longer be able to read or write its own files. That can only happen outside of Zotero. We'll try to help you with it, but we don't know what you've done on your own system, so you'll need to be a bit patient.
Finally I was able to return the Zotero.app and the Zotero folder to UTILITIES (from Applications). However, the problem remains as describe. I guess that the problem was dut to one of those programs that allow to increase your space in your computer.
Here I go with my answers to your questions:
Which Zotero folder, exactly? /Users/:username:/Zotero?
Right now, there is no file or folder named Zotero in /Users/:username:/
Are you saying there's no zotero.sqlite file in there? ç
The zotero.sqlite file (42.1 MB) is inside the Zotero Folder in APPLICATIONS.
Are there subfolders in 'storage' corresponding with your previous usage of Zotero?
YES. They are inside the Zotero Folder in APPLICATIONS.
What's the size and date of the zotero.sqlite.bak file?
42.1 MB, May 1, 2020
Were you previously using a custom data directory? Did you transfer the data directory from another computer? Another macOS account? An external drive?
NO to all of these questions.
What I do have in the Applications folder is:
Zotero.app 128,6 MB
Folder Zotero includes:
- Folder Locate
file pdinfo-MacIntel 1,6 MB
file pdinfo-M...tel.version 4 bytes
file pdfinfo.sh 135 bytes
file pdftotext-MacIntel 1,7 MB
file pdftotext-...tel.version 4 bytes
Folder pipes
Folder storage (includes a large number of folders (my references) AND a zotero.sqlite 967 KB
Folder styles
Folder translators
file zotero.sqlite.bak 42,1 MB
There is also a Zotero folder in Library/Application Support/Zotero HERE it shows:
Folder Profiles
profile.ini
Zotero Alias
Folder zotero-go---ntegration
Hopefully, this information would allow you to help me (with all your patience)
The Zotero application belongs in /Applications with all your other programs (not /Applications/Utilities — I said to move it out of there and into /Applications, though maybe you did that and just wrote the opposite of what you meant).
The Zotero folder belongs in your home directory: /Users/:username:/Zotero. Zotero will look for its database at /Users/:username:/Zotero/zotero.sqlite, and it will look for attached files within subfolders of /Users/:username:/Zotero/storage. That's all.
But the zotero.sqlite file you have in your Zotero folder is an empty database (967 KB). Delete that, make a copy of the 42 MB zotero.sqlite.bak, and rename the copy zotero.sqlite within that directory, so that it exists at /Users/:username:/Zotero/zotero.sqlite. (Also copy that 42 MB file to your desktop so you have a backup while you're working on this.)
Then start Zotero and let me know what happens. Ignore that. (That's your Zotero profile directory.)
I have nothing in /Applications/Utilities
This is what I have now:
/Applications/Zotero.app 138,6 MB
In /Users/jskewes/Zotero
In /Users/jskewes/Zotero/zotero.sqlite.bak (42.1 MB)
In /Users/jskewes/Zotero/storage/zotero.sqlite (42.1 MB)
Ubicación actual: /Applications/Utilities
Ubicación recomendada: /Users/jskewes/Zotero
But as I said, I have nothing in /Applications/Utilities
In /Users/jskewes/Zotero/zotero.sqlite (42.1 MB)
I have no zotero.sqlite in /Users/jskewes/Zotero/storage
However, there is no way in which I could tell Zotero to go to a given ubication. The application gives me no alternative for editing. Thus, I cannot instruct it to use the default location. This is not an option in my Zotero version. (So I have no idea about how could I made that change)
The easiest thing to do is just to close Zotero, open your Zotero profile directory, and delete prefs.js. That should clear the old data directory setting and cause it to use the data directory in the default location.