file links, large libraries and sync strategies (zotfile - webdav - cloud service)

massimom
Hello

I am trying to move to zotero and I've done some tests to see how to re-organize my workflow and import my large number of citations and pdfs.

My intention is to preserve a structure for folders and names for pdfs that will let me easily understand the files in MyLibrary when I browse the fily system. (therefore I installed zotfile 4.1 in zotero stand-alone to avoid the zip format that zotero creates. very happy with the renaming features)

I would like to be able to read and annotate pdf files on the tablet
and potentially use a server in my university for sync files
(I would prefer a webdav solution to cloud services hosted in commercial providers) (zotpad and papership seem good tools for tablet)

I've found very helpful several discussions and the comments from josha and adamsmith (see below 3 very detailed explanations and suggestions)

Here my problems and questions:
- ctrl+shift+drag for existing files is very handy (thanks adamsmith)
with the proper setting in the renaming rules I can organize folders and names (avoid duplicates and create links to file) but I cannot use webdav
Any possibilities to use webdav with zotfile ?

- Would you suggest me to consider a cloud service to sync pdf and annotations?
In that case the links to files created with ctrl+shift+drag are relative from the "base directory" ? (my installation of zotero on the second computer will have to use a network drive)

- why zotpad have configuration for drobbox and not some parameters to set for any cloud server ? (ok something maybe to ask to zotpad developers)

thanks for any suggestions


------
(handy links to the 3 discussion mentioned)

https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/45398/syncing-webdav/#Item_10

https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/45399/is-it-possible-to-rename-papers-inside-folders-zotfile-zotero-mac/#Item_0

https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/5301/23/zotfile-zotero-plugin-to-rename-move-and-attach-pdfs-send-them-to-ipad-extract-pdf-annotations/
  • adamsmith
    Any possibilities to use webdav with zotfile ?
    if you mean with a ZotFile generated folder structure--no.
    In that case the links to files created with ctrl+shift+drag are relative from the "base directory"
    correct.
    why zotpad have configuration for drobbox and not some parameters to set for any cloud server
    yes, best ask Mikko about that, but I guess it's because ZotPad needs to work specifically with the Dropbox, e.g. for authorization, so every new service to be added would require additional code in ZotPad and he picked the most popular one.
  • massimom
    Thanks adamsmith !

    so WebDAV is not an option with ZotFile generated folders.
    What should I set in ZoteroPreferences --> Sync --> Settings --> File Syncing ? (2 options are zotero and webdav, no enough space on zotero and not possible to use webdav).
    Should I "unthick" the check box "Sync attachements files in MyLibrary using" ? (and set a cloud service to do the sync)?


    In the forum is suggested to avoid to keep the whole library under sync... I am tempted to keep under "sync" only the folder used by ZotFile for the tablet and do the other uploads/downloads in a supervised way. what do you think ?

    Do you think there will be some updates in the online settings for Mylibrary in zotero.org ?
    (A script that use webdav to fetch pdfs when someone clicks on "attachment details" would be very useful but I guess it might conflicts with a strategy to sell space in zotero ;-) )


    if links are "relative" to the base directory, I should be fine when I mirror files in the generated folders between the 2 computers where I am using zotero stand alone ?

    thanks again for all the info

    cheers
  • adamsmith
    A script that use webdav to fetch pdfs when someone clicks on "attachment details" would be very useful but I guess it might conflicts with a strategy to sell space in zotero ;-)
    Zotero development isn't principally driven by its business strategy--and even if it were: it's open software so people can do what they want.
    For example, here is a bookmarklet to access files synced to webDAV from zotero.org:
    https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/42934/mobile-access-to-zotero-attachments-on-webdav/
    What should I set in ZoteroPreferences --> Sync --> Settings --> File Syncing
    well, if you're going to use Dropbox to sync files, you'll likely disable this (Zotero Storage doesn't sync files moved by ZotFile either, btw.).

    The warnings against syncing you refer to are warnings against including the Zotero _data_ folder (the folder that contains zotero.sqlite) in a 3rd party sync process. It doesn't sound like you have that in mind.
  • massimom
    Adam thanks so much for all the info and the new link.

    Great idea to use bookmarlet to access files from zotero.org.

    The script uses the itemKey for retrieving the zip created by zotero, do you know if someone else created a similar script to access the pdf in a folder (in the cloud) by using the title ?

    I see the advantages of open software.

    cheers
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