Re: multiple zotero libraries

mhveitch

Hi,

I have zotero library set up on two different computers (referred to from here on as computer 1 and computer 2). In addition I have the zotero library online. These are all linked to the same account.

I spent many hours cleaning up and resorting the zotero folders and biblio entries on computer 1. However the zotero library between computer 1 and computer 2 and the zotero online were not synched up. Now I have three different versions of the zotero library.

I would like to retain the zotero library that I just finished cleaning up and sorting on computer 1. Can I deinstall the zotero library from computer 2 without it impacting the zotero library on computer 1?

In addition can I delete all folders and biblio entries on zotero library online (again without it impacting the zotero library on computer 1)? After this can I then resynch my zotero library on computer 1 with zotero library online so that both are consistent?

Finally what is the limit for the number of folders/biblio entries in zotero on my computer and online? Thank you!

dstillman

Unless you did something unusual here (e.g., use export/import to copy the library to another computer), if you want the libraries in sync, all you have to do is sync. Is there a reason you don't think you can do that?

Don't delete anything elsewhere unless you actually want to delete those items everywhere.

Just in case there's something you haven't mentioned, you should make sure you have a backup of your Zotero data directory on the computer where you did all the work before syncing, but this just works. You don't have to think about it.

Finally what is the limit for the number of folders/biblio entries in zotero on my computer and online?

There's no limit.

mhveitch

Hi

Thanks so much for responding so quickly, much appreciated. In the standalone library that I have on computer 1 there were originally over 1000 files which I will whittle down to around 450 files.

If I synch all the standalone libraries and the online library my understanding is that all the folders and files will be merged together hence bringing the number up again to around 1000 which I don't want (this would then wipe out the days of work spent cleaning up the library on computer 1).

In other words I want to replace the online library with my standalone library from computer 1 and get rid completely of the standalone library on computer 2 since I no longer need this. Also just a note at some point these libraries were synched up but then they got un synched so there are duplicate files and folders across the libraries.

Any suggestions?

mhveitch

p.s. in fall of last year I exported all the files on computer 2 onto computer 1 including zotero (they are both macs), so I am not sure if that impacts any of this. There did not seem to be any issues with the export and all the zotero files and folders were transferred over but the standalone libraries on computer 1 and 2 were not synched up (I did not realize this at the time).

Also with regards to backing up zotero data directory my computer is hooked up to an external harddrive and everything on my mac is backed up to this on a daily basis, including zotero.

adamsmith

If you're absolutely certain that you want to replace all version of your library -- online and on computer 2 -- with the version on computer 1, go to the Zotero preferences on computer 1, click on Sync --> Reset --> Replace online library

This can't be undone, so be sure there's nothing in the online library that you want to keep.

mhveitch

Thanks for getting back to me, that is a big help - ok so I understand that will replace the online library - I am still unclear about the the version on computer 1 - this is not yet synched up and I don't want to synch it up I just want to remove it entirely from my computer and from the system (computer 1 is on its last legs and really slow so eventually I will have to get rid of it and I no longer need the library version on there) - how do I remove zotero from there and if I remove it I want to make sure that it does not wipe out any files either online or on computer 2 Thnks:)

mhveitch

p.s. I have also done as instructed, i.e. reset/replaced the online library with the version on computer 2 and synched them up - the synch button is spinning non stop - is this usual or does it need to be fixed?

dstillman

If you want to completely wipe out what's on computer 1, you can just delete the Zotero data directory. When you start up Zotero, it will be empty and will pull down whatever's in your online library when you sync.

in fall of last year I exported all the files on computer 2 onto computer 1 including zotero (they are both macs), so I am not sure if that impacts any of this

Yes, that's the only thing that impacts it. Just to be totally clear, if you had just disabled syncing on two synced computers and then made lots of changes on one, you absolutely wouldn't have to go through any of these extra steps — you would just need to enable syncing again. It's only exporting and importing that creates totally separate items, which results in duplicates when syncing.