Zotero Data in DropBox

Cornelliuss
Hi support,

I installed the Zotero data folder in a shared DropBox folder, so that I could work on two pcs. Initially I thought that it was working great, but then I started to notice that some database entries that should be there to link the DB to the pdf files in the data folder were missing.

I was using it like this for about 5 months and have many folders in the data folder, and 150 less entries in the database. How to link the PDF and the Database? I thought that rebuilding the Index would solve this but nope.

In the mean time I figured out that dropbox sync is not always working so if I switch pc the Database file was not yet updated.

But now for the big question how can I link the pdf files that are in the Data folder with the database so that they are search able again.

Thanks for your help.
  • adamsmith
    we try to warn against this on every occasion and this is why. There is a reason Zotero has its own sync functionality.

    First, move your database folder out of dropbox.
    You could then try to set up file sync with one of the recommended settings (either webDAV or Zotero file storage) and see if that restores the PDF links. First try regular file sync, then try to reset the file sync history (do _not_ use any of the other reset options).
    Otherwise the only way would be to relink them one-by-one manually.
  • Cornelliuss
    Will the file sync work even if I never synced before?
  • adamsmith
    it will work simultaneously to a regular sync. Certainly worth a try.
  • Cornelliuss
    in zotero i clicked on tools > preferences > sync, filled out user name password and clicked on okay, but nothing happens.
  • adamsmith
    do you have automatic "Sync automatically" checked?
    If so, hover over the green arrow at the top right of Zotero (not in the preferences) and see what is says
  • Cornelliuss
    okay thank you, the auto sync and green circle arrow on the right helped.

    I did both things that you recommended, the status now:

    There are 651 folders in the data folder on the hdd, but only 575 items in the database on hdd and online, after the sync.

    What else can I try?
  • adamsmith
    one item can have several attachments --> several folders. Have you tried opening some pdfs? Unless you find something that doesn't open the number of folders doesn't mater much. You should also probably sync both computers - it may well be that some files are only on one of them if the dropbox sync was messy.
  • Cornelliuss
    The other pc gives a red sign next to the green arrow with this message:

    Error connecting to server. Check your Internet connection.

    That means that the error message does not get to support either.

    Not sure what this is about, my pc is connected to the internet and I can surf fine.

    Okay here is entries from the error report.

    [JavaScript Error: "Translator with ID 7ecb9512-9195-478a-a525-40e71b01f3b0 already loaded from "Archiv fuer Sozialgeschichte (HerCornsAcer's conflicted copy 2013-05-12).js"" {file: "file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HerCorns/My%20Documents/Dropbox/_UnivOfLiverPool/Research/translators/Archiv%20fuer%20Sozialgeschichte.js" line: 0}]

    [JavaScript Error: "Error: Error connecting to server. Check your Internet connection." {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/sync.js" line: 638}]

    Thanks for the assistance.
  • adamsmith
    is that PC connected through a system proxy?
    Also, it looks like you may still have that data directory in dropbox?
  • Cornelliuss
    I am not to sure about the proxy - use a router, but other pc was working fine through it.

    What does a proxy do?

    True will move it now slipped my mind.
  • adamsmith
    see here:
    http://answers.oreilly.com/topic/675-how-to-configure-proxy-settings-in-windows-7/
    you don't want to actually _do_ any of these, but this is where to check your system proxy settings.
  • Cornelliuss
    Okay what a struggle with the proxy settings for XP Pro, added ip for the proxy server from http://hidemyass.com/proxy-list/ and now the sync works.

    The same happened there too the "floating" files in the data folder that is not linked to the data base were not included in the sync.

    So how do one add the files in to the database?

    Thanks for helping
  • dstillman
    Wait, what? Are you actually trying to use a proxy server? I'm not sure how you ended up on that page you linked to, but unless you're trying to use a proxy server you just want to turn all of your proxy settings off, not run all your traffic through some unknown computer on the Internet.
  • Cornelliuss
    well darn java for some reason just did not want to install and zotero did not want to sync but after proxy server it is working. Although I agree with you that I don't want all my data to go through one unknown box on the internet. I had the settings on auto but did not work. I am open to suggestions Dan
  • dstillman
    Disable all the proxy settings. Don't leave it on auto-anything.
  • Cornelliuss
    Okay so these settings appear http://screencast.com/t/c1Ux8iB7W to let sync work too. Is this what you meant by disable all, Dan.
    Thanks.

    May be you can tell me to get files that are in the data folder but not on the data base in the data base.

    Thanks for your help.
  • adamsmith
    those are the right settings, yes.
    There is no way to reconnect unconnected files except to do it manually.
  • Cornelliuss
    okay is there a way to see what the ref. numbers are of the files in the data base, because all the PDF files are now in folders with 'serial number names'.

    What is the easiest manual method, that you would prescribe.
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