Does anyone know if the DropBox folder can be placed in the root directory (C:/)?

https://www.dropbox.com/help/89/en
But make sure you don't set your dropbox folder to root (instead of C:\dropbox)

The DropBox folder will need to be in the same place in the file structure of both PCs (Windows 7)

I'm not sure why that's the case. ZotFile settings can be different on each computer.

Additionally, you can now create directory junctions in Windows (sort of like symlinks in Unix). http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365006(v=vs.85).aspx http://support.microsoft.com/kb/205524 This allows you to link to an arbitrary directory from within the dropbox folder, so you can maintain your folder layout and don't have to move the dropbox folder around.

My setup is sort of similar. I use box.net to sync file attachments between computers. To sync between computers and Android tablet, I

1. use ZotFile to move the articles I am currently interested in to a DropBox folder.


2. On my tablet, I have DropSync (android app), which automatically syncs new attachments from that DropBox folder to the tablet and also syncs up any modifications I make on the tablet back to DropBox.


3. On the tablet, I use Adobe Reader to annotate the PDFs. It saves automatically on close (or when it's no longer in the foreground),


4. which triggers DropSync to upload it.


5. Back on the computer, you would have to use ZotFile to move the modified attachments back to Zotero.

The misunderstanding about the same location for Dropbox is the two ways you can use Zotfile:
What Aurimas describes is the "Send to Tablet" function - no need to worry about the location of the dropbox folder at all.

What eawtrey wants to do is to save _all_ attachments as links using Zotfile. That does indeed require dropbox to be in the exact same location on all computers (and I wouldn't recommend it for that reason).

I thought attachment upload/download works pretty nicely with the new mobile interface of Zotero, no?

@adamsmith: I tried the mobile site again. Uploading an updated version of an existing attachment creates a new attachment instead of overwriting the old one. I could fix that on an occasional basis, but that doesn't work for a primary work flow. Hence the dropbox solution, assuming my only hassle is wrangling symlinks or dropbox in wweird locations.

I do not know much how well symbolic links work on Windows, but on Mac it works well.

I would say that if you do not need to carry your library on the Android table at all times, using ZotFile and the "send to tablet" feature might be the best solution. If you were to use iPad, I would recommend ZotPad and Zotero file storage ;)

(Disclaimer: I am the developer for ZotPad)

Also doing a symbolic link in reverse could work: Just move the storage folder from Zotero data directory to Dropbox and then replace it with a symbolic link that points to the new location.

The downside of moving Zotero storage dir to Dropbox is that it might be difficult to find the right files using the tablet.

I am currently using Zotpad on an iPad, which is great since the syncing of attachments was added. I have a Nexus 7 on the way and am wondering if developing my own bare bones app that I can sideload wouldn't be the easier solution. Your Android workflow seems brutal.

Initially, I will probably just use the Nexus 7 for really long documents since it seems like way too much work for managing 5 page documents. I don't want to forget which versions are the most recent.

Zotero made it very difficult for me to commit to an Android tablet. Mikko is greatly to blame for that. Even EndNote has an iPad app coming out this January but no Android app. Weak.

I already have Zandy. I either need an Android solution now or never. I suspect I will just have to lug around the iPad since my research will be done for the most part in a few months.

Zandy might be useful after that for personal reading that won't involve annotating.

Yeah, I agree.

The zipped files on WebDav with funky naming removes a lot of options. I suppose I could move my local zotero database to my NAS if the performance is acceptable and make that accessible remotely.

I'll try a workflow with doing a two way sync with ZotFile. Seems like it will get the job done.

I see the problem with the OP was his multiple PCs. Since I don't have that problem, ZotFile should be sufficient.

If the worst mistake you ever made cost you $4, I think you're in pretty good shape ;-).
I have Zandy running on Android 2.1, and I believe Avram originally developed on something in that ballpark, so in general it's compatible.

I agree it's unfortunate that he doesn't really support or develop it any more, but also note that it's open source - https://github.com/ajlyon/zandy - so anyone interested in taking this further on Android has a very solid amount of work already done (see e.g. https://twitter.com/IAmAboutUs/status/291931361600733184 ). I'd hardly call that crippling. Problem of course is that especially on Android that type of app development is mainly idealism - the money that's to be made in relationship to the work-hours required almost certainly guarantees far below minimum wages, especially if you provide support, too.

(refmaster doesn't currently even offer any access to linked files, i.e. is in many ways less powerful than the mobile version of zotero.org. It doesn't have anything even remotely resembling the zotero bookmarklet)

I don't get people who get all bent out of shape because they are running a device with an old OS.

I wish people weren't so ignorant about the economies of mobile apps. An app like Zandy will be used by so few people that the developer is basically working for free. It may not meet my needs, but I don't get how anyone is going to be upset with the developer. At least they tried. It adds some value at least to people who already have used Zotero extensively and would like something on their Android device.

If Zotero isn't for you, that is fine. I prefer it over other software I have used due to how well it integrates when browsing in firefox. It does a great job of storing snapshots of web pages and grabbing PDFs from journal sites. Zotpad also helps a lot on the iPad. I don't have a great solution right now for the Nexus 7 and am forced to use a really sloppy hack using Zotfile and Dropbox, so I end up still carrying around the overweight iPad.

The Android OS is so splintered that most apps will fail on some of the devices, especially the older and cheaper devices. This is nothing new. Developers can't afford to go out and buy every Android device to test on. This should be obvious.

I'm curious, how many Android 2.3 devices have you tried Zandy on before claiming it works on no 2.3 devices?

No one is saying Zandy is a free app. The point you missed is that development time is typically not even close to compensated on projects like this that are for niche markets. That is why such projects get abandoned. Someone developed it and that is a service to the community of Zotero users. If you decided to use Zotero because of Zandy, you made a mistake. If you already were invested in Zotero and felt you would like to be able to see you library on an Android device, then the Zandy purchase can make sense.

This guy is not my "friend". Is that the way your mind works in discussions like this? If someone disagrees with you, they must have a vested interest?

As you can see from reviews, the app is half-baked. Why did you buy an app with such a low rating in the first place? In my view, this app is suitable for people who really want to have some sort of access to their Zotero system on their Android device and who prefer limited functionality over no functionality. If naive users buy it expecting more, it is an unfortunate situation that we see all the time with mobile app purchases. They will be disappointed. But if people research their purchases ahead of time, they know the state of the app before purchasing. The app still adds value to some users who aren't concerned with syncing, so I don't see why it should be taken off the market. As for compatibility with your particular device, that is the risk of buying into such a heterogeneous ecosystem like Android.

You stated:

"I don't get people who get all bent out of shape because they are running a device with an old OS."

I'm not using an old OS, but one that the developer allows to be sold thru the market as running on Android 1.5 and above -- it does NOT do that, and so is not "fit for purpose" -- he says nothing about limited capabilities for devices below v4 -- how many phones I run it on is irrelevant for this very reason.

You also stated: "I wish people weren't so ignorant about the economies of mobile apps." But it is YOU, not I, who is flaunting their ignorance, in the guise of greater "expertise"

The device I used was bought, after extensive market research, before Christmas and is thus not "older and cheaper"

You stated" " the developer is basically working for free" and that is why there're, and should be, so many free apps on the Market -- Zandy is not one of them, and certain things a buyer is entitled to expect of a paid app --- little things like it'll work unless previously advised it won't -- many responsible developers release "trial" / ad supported versions of their apps for this reason -- purchasers of Zandy have never had that option, unfortunately, or else I wouldn't be in this position.

So much for my explanation of your points: my points are valid, and the app should be withdrawn from the market, past purchasers should be refunded for buying a product "not fit for purpose"

the app was not so poorly rated when I first purchased it, but, it's not just me, MANY other people have had problems with it, that the developer has failed to respond to by releasing an update.

Since you and I don't know each other, I try to find some reason you would vouch for a product, such as: ""If someone disagrees with you, they must have a vested interest?" I presume you don't have any particular mal-intent towards me, so I can only presume it's ignorance, but it's good that you can acknowledge:
"If you find that Zandy doesn't fit your needs, satisfaction is guaranteed: just send me an email at zandy@gimranov.com, and I'll refund the purchase price."
but this was not his only misleading statement, but we finally agree:
"So if he is ignoring your emails (which he is), you definitely have a legitimate gripe. He should not have made that statement unless he was going to answer email."
As suggested in my earlier email: the app should not imo be discussed on this list unless one provides the recommendation that one first has something like a v4.1 tablet, and the app should be withdrawn from the Market and sold (as many are) on that basis.

I claim it does not work on Android v2.3 because it is NOT working on Android v2.3 -- who knows what devices those, few, who rate it highly are using -- this is not listed with the reviews -- Yes, there are people still getting benefit from the product --- some people may be using v4.1 android tablet type devices -- I never said it shouldn't be available BUT it should not be available, BY PURCHASE ONLY, to all users of mobile devices with v.1.5 Android, as it currently is now, to avoid wrongly selling it, without hope of refund -- as I said, many app developers ONLY sell their apps AFTER recommending people try out their trial versions, without incurring any cost.
AND there are some app developers who expend "great sums" in trialling their devices on multiple devices, after seeking donated devices, or after expending considerable financial resources on it (thinking of apps like CMarks, and Kingsoft Office, respectively). Both of which have excellent ratings, great pre-purchase arrangements permitting trial use before "purchase" (tho the latter is surprisingly entirely free) etc etc

Simple, ethical, solution -- withdraw it from market, re- release it AFTER reframing its requirements. Simple, ethical common sense, solution -- don't recommend it as it is unless providing a caution beforehand that one should have "something like v4.1" before using it -- either that or "use an iPAD with ZotPad instead." Mind you, that is based on my hopes, and ZERO experience with Zotpad. Tho, I've just checked the iTunes store and lots of people seem to have big probs with it too -- so the best bet, after all, might be to wait for a version of RefMaster that supports linked files :-(

and then use something to replace Zotero -- the world seems to be moving towards the replacement of desktops anyway.

Mine are not isolated complaints, as reflected in the apps current very low rating.