mavericks - zotero standalone has no "content"

hi there

after mavericks
and re-installation of zotero standalone
zotero has only an empty framework, a window with buttons and no content, no file structure a
And it is not possible to enter anything...

what to do??
  • Are you able to provide a Report ID?
  • hi dan

    after typing that request I found the post , that I have to link to the datebase and I did that now with my firefox databank - and boom it was there.....
    thx

    One more question:
    Can I link Zotero and Mendeley - by using chrome instead of firefox?
  • you can't link Zotero and Mendeley.
    Mendeley can automatically import your Zotero library and keep importing any new additions. That function is independent of the Zotero version you're using.
  • I have this same problem on my new macbook pro. There is nothing and no functionality in my Zotero stand alone. I can't find a Report ID.
  • P.S. Everything is working fine in the Firefox plugin version I have on this same computer.
  • what does "no functionality" mean exactly? You just don't find your items or you can't get any reaction from the program whatever you do?
  • No reaction. Everything is just empty. This is the first time I've tried to use the stand alone version, so maybe I just haven't completely set it up yet.
  • Still not clear what you mean. Are you saying you can't add an item from the New Item (green circle with white plus sign) menu?

    If you can, it's probably just not looking in the right place for your existing data. By default whichever Zotero client you install second should ask if you want it to share your existing data directory. You may have just said no by accident. Set Standalone to point to your Zotero for Firefox data directory in the Advanced -> Files and Folders pane of the Zotero prefs. See Zotero data for more info.
  • Got it now. I don't recall getting that data directory question on install. It was set to custom and the data directory for the SA indicated. I chose "use profile directory" and restarted. Now everything is there. Thanks
  • It actually looks like your client performed a full sync, so you might want to check that they're actually pointing to the same place. If they're set up correctly, you won't be able to open them both at the same time — Zotero for Firefox would instead switch into a lightweight "connector" mode and opening Zotero in Firefox would just bring Standalone to the front. If you can open them both at the same time, you should fix one or the other to point at the other's data directory (probably with the Standalone directory as the canonical one).
  • Ok. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for all your help.
  • Hi there, I have a similar problem, not sure whether to post it here or a new post. I'll start here and let me know if I should delete my post and start a new one.

    I have just had a new HDD installed, by a shop, and had maverick installed at the same time (Upgraded from snow leopard I think, but not sure). They archived my settings, files and programs are transferred everything over (I'm not 100% sure of the methods used but that's what they said and everything else seems to be working the same, just on maverick).

    Imagine my surprise when my zotero library was empty! ;)

    Using Zotero standalone 4.0.17, the 'show data directory' button does not do anything at all (I presume because the directory no longer exists), but I'm unable to find the equivalent. I searched for the zotero.sqlite file and nothing came up.

    My data directory is (I can't cut and paste it so....)

    users/damian/library/application support/firefox/profiles/randomstring.default/zotero

    Since upgrading my user directory has been changed from damian to damiennew

    I went back to the root directory, and followed users/damiennew/library etc but there is no library directory after damiennew, damiennew seems to only have user files, ie. docs, etc

    The library directory comes immediately after SSHD (root directory), but then after application support there is no firefox directory.

    I do have firefox installed however, and looking at it my citation info is still in it (I couldn't tell how up to date it is) but it has 'profile' rather than 'custom' ticked for directory. It also has the wrong password for syncing with zotero online, but I'll presume that's a separate problem for now. I don't generally use firefox anymore.

    Finally, I have my old HDD still, so perhaps the answer is to mount it and just copy the directory over? Any advice on whether using profile instead of custom is a good idea?

    Many thanks Zotero community!
  • 'show data directory' button does not do anything at all
    this is rather odd, though and it's not because the directory doesn't exist. Zotero won't start without a data directory, if there is none it will create an empty one (which is, I take it, what you're seeing).

    So what I'd do is this:

    Leave the Zotero for Firefox (ZF) data directory set to profile.
    Point the Zotero Standalone (ZSA) data directory to the data directory for ZF (which you should be able to find using "show data directory).
    (It sounds like this may have been the set-up before).
    Check if all your items are there (you can sort by "Date Added" in the middle panel, may need to add the column by clicking on the little table icon).

    If that's the case you're done.
    If you're missing recently added items, then see here:
    so the basics are here:
    http://www.zotero.org/support/kb/transferring_a_library
    for transferring the library either from its online version or the old HD.
  • Hi Adam,

    You're always coming to my rescue. Thanks, the first option worked. I had trouble, my library folder was hidden, although there was another library folder that wasn't hidden, which confused me. I was concerned the last few weeks work may not have been there but I'm pretty sure it's up to date, it's the same directory after all so it must be.

    Many many thanks once again.
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