My Zotero library has disappeared

KKeam
I would so value some help please.

I am relatively new to Mac and got one to do my masters. I used Zotero successfully for the last paper which I handed in 6 weeks ago.

I just went to save something in Zotero and noticed that the symbol has gone from my Firefox task bar. I had downloaded the Firefox version, not the stand alone.

I opened it from Finder and there is nothing in it - well 2 file entries. I looked on various forums and downloaded the newest Zotero, keeping both, and there is nothing coming up in there.

I don't have backup - yes I know! My external hard drive arrived today and I will be backing up regularly now. I haven't updated the Mac system as my university says not to go to Yosemite so the system is the same. I haven't downloaded a new version of Firefox.

I would like to recover my old Zotero. Please note instructions need to be basic as I am computer savvy to a point.

Regards,

Kristin
  • dstillman
    Start here: https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#where_did_my_items_go
  • KKeam
    Hi Dan,
    Thank you. I followed this and have found some Zotero things in folders - sqlite etc, but I don't know why they aren't still connected to the Zotero application.

    Now I have found something are you able to help me connect it back?
  • aurimas
    It would be helpful to know where you found the sqlite files, what size they are, and what their modification timestamps are.
  • KKeam
    And if only I were savvy enough to tell you. I just searched in Finder and they came up. I don't know where they actually are. I know that makes me hard to help.

    In a folder marked ZoteroMacWordIntegration@zotero.org there is a subfolder called COPYING and that is 35kb and it's the biggest one. Under date modified it says Feb 15.
  • adamsmith
    we're only interested in the zotero.sqlite ones (as well as zotero.sqlite.bak), so focus on those.

    I'm not a Mac person, but google tells me to fine the file path (i.e. location) of a file in Finder, either of these will work:
    1. Set the Finder window view to Columns, and read the path from left to right.
    2. Select the item in the Finder, then Command-click the icon of the enclosing folder that appears in the window's title bar.

    You can tell file sizes by setting Finder to list view.
  • KKeam
    OK I'm getting better! In columns (as in the others) this is the full path that I can see:

    zotero.sqlite 8.4MB
    zotero.sqlite.bak 8.4MB
    zotero.sqlite.1.bak 8.4MB

    And weirdly they all say created, modified and opened on Feb 15 at 11.46am which sounds like some sort of update?
  • adamsmith
    OK, that's great. You'll still need to find out the file path to those. On a Mac, that's usually something like
    /Users/KKeam/ (followed by more details)

    This goes a little overboard in the number of options it gives you, but surely one of them will work for you:
    http://superuser.com/questions/371513/how-to-tell-full-path-of-file-on-mac

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