copy of file: use attach or directly store it?

jun.physics
It seems there are two ways to save a copy of pdf file. One is through the plus sign and choose "save copy of file", the other is through "attachment" and choose "attach stored copy of file". I would like to know their difference, and what advantage for using either of them? Thanks,
  • graham7@gmail.com
    A related question here -- when I use "attach stored copy of file" to upload a PDF, it creates a PDF link instead of uploading it. I have to use the Plus Sign, Store Copy of File, to actually get the PDF into Zotero, then drag it to the right reference, then delete the PDF link. This did not used to happen -- any suggestions would be appreciated. Using Standalone 3.0.8 on a Windows 7 machine. Thanks!
  • adamsmith
    A related question here -- when I use "attach stored copy of file" to upload a PDF, it creates a PDF link instead of uploading it.
    are you sure that's the case? (e.g. how do you know that it's a "pdf link"?) If that's indeed the case, that'd be a bug. If you can replicate that consistently, create a debug ID for the process of using "attach stored copy of file" to create a pdf attachment
    http://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output

    btw - you can also just drag a pdf to an item to attach a copy of a file.

    (as for the original question - the difference is that one attaches the file to an item, one saves it as a pdf in Zotero by itself - e.g. if you don't have any parent item and want to use "retrieve metadata).
  • evapasc
    Adam,
    Which one does which?
    Thank you
  • adamsmith
    sorry, that's too short of a question for me to understand. Which one of what?
  • evapasc
    Thank you, Adam. This was in reference to a discussion long ago about the difference's in the options uploading PDFs: "attach stored copy of file" and attach a PDF link.
  • adamsmith
    The difference is that stored copies are stored within the Zotero data folder and sync with Zotero File Storage/WebDAV, whereas links are just links to files that exist anywhere on a user's harddisk. Stored copies are the only option for sharing files in a group (you can sync linked files with any type of sync app like Dropbox, but they don't exist for groups.)

    Is that what you're asking? Otherwise, please take the time to write up what you're trying to do or what you're not understanding.
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