I have have re-downloaded but it still won't open.
Yes, I do recive an error message. it says: There was an error starting Zotero.
Error: Error(s) encountered during statement execution: database disk image is malformed [QUERY: SELECT COALESCE(MAX(tagID) + 1, 1) FROM tags] [PARAMS: ] [ERROR: database disk image is malformed] Zotero.DBConnection.prototype.valueQueryAsync<@chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/db.js:711:13 From previous event: ZoteroService@file:///Applications/Zotero.app/Contents/Resources/components/zotero-service.js:352:7 @chrome://zotero/content/include.js:4:14
Ah, OK. Your database is corrupted, which generally happens from having your Zotero data directory in a cloud storage folder or network drive. If that's the case, you should move it back to the default location. You should never store the data for any database-backed program in cloud storage.
You can try to fix the damage with the DB Repair Tool, or, if this was in cloud storage or you have a local backup, you can restore from an earlier version of zotero.sqlite. If that doesn't work, and your data is all online, you can just delete the zotero.sqlite file (or move it somewhere temporarily for backup) with Zotero closed and then reopen Zotero and sync to pull down your library.
Oh okay. I believe I don't have much of an option since I am working with a shared zotero folder and that is why we are saving to the cloud. How do I restore an earlier version of zotero.sqlite? Or how do I move it to a backup?
Either that's a misunderstanding or you're doing something extremely ill-advised. To share a Zotero library, you use Zotero syncing — you don't put the data directory in a cloud storage folder. If you don't want to lose all your data, and if you want any support here in the future, you'll need to move your data directory to a local disk.
I provided instructions above for your options for recovering from your current situation.
No, you are right. We are using Zotero syncing. I'm sorry, I am just confused about all this. Since we are using Zotero Syncing, do I still use the DB Repair tool to fix my issue?
When it closes, do you get an error message?
Yes, I do recive an error message. it says: There was an error starting Zotero.
Error: Error(s) encountered during statement execution: database disk image is malformed [QUERY: SELECT COALESCE(MAX(tagID) + 1, 1) FROM tags] [PARAMS: ] [ERROR: database disk image is malformed]
Zotero.DBConnection.prototype.valueQueryAsync<@chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/db.js:711:13
From previous event:
ZoteroService@file:///Applications/Zotero.app/Contents/Resources/components/zotero-service.js:352:7
@chrome://zotero/content/include.js:4:14
I have the macOS version 10.14.6
Thank you!
You can try to fix the damage with the DB Repair Tool, or, if this was in cloud storage or you have a local backup, you can restore from an earlier version of zotero.sqlite. If that doesn't work, and your data is all online, you can just delete the zotero.sqlite file (or move it somewhere temporarily for backup) with Zotero closed and then reopen Zotero and sync to pull down your library.
I provided instructions above for your options for recovering from your current situation.
You'll need to repair your database or restore from a backup.
https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/354483#Comment_354483