identify references or files using a lot of storage space

dmk · November 7, 2012

Hi,

Is there any way to identify which of my synchronized references or files are using a lot of storage space? I am near my limit, but this would mainly appear to be due to random large PDFs or snapshots that are in my database, many of which may not be necessary. Is there a way to visualize which folders or references are hogging the space?

Thanks,
David

Rintze · November 7, 2012

The easiest way to do this is probably just to inspect your Zotero data directory with a separate tool that visualizes disk space usage, such as http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/ for Windows.

dmk · November 7, 2012

In theory yes, but in practice it is very hard to go that route because storage is broken up into many oddly named directories that are hard to associate with a specific reference. I also am part of a number of zotero groups, whose storage doesn't belong to me, so most of the space eaters that show up looking at the data directory structure actually aren't mine and it is very hard to find those few that are.

Any other suggestions? If not, then it would be great to have at least some minimal way of doing this.

mark · November 7, 2012

(superceded)

dmk · November 8, 2012

I eventually found a couple of needles in the haystack that were eating up space, but it was quite difficult. Of the 767 pdfs I found, I have only come across 3-4 that were mine...

Rintze · November 8, 2012

One option would be to export your "My Library" and include attachments, and do a file size analysis on those files. That would make it easier to identify the largest files among the ones that are yours.