Help! Restore zotero data???

xmjh1
I just accidentally deleted an important reference from my library--with a long list of notes attached. I made a back-up of my entire Firefox folder on an external hard drive a couple of days ago, but I don't know how to use this folder to restore my lost data.

I have added some additional references to my zotero library since this last backup, so ideally, I would only like to restore the item that I accidentally deleted. If this isn't possible, at least I would like to restore my Zotero library to where it was when I last backed it up.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!
  • noksagt
    Backup now so that you can undo anything that you will do.

    I'm not aware of a "simple undeletion." However, if it isn't urgent, you might wait a bit to see if anyone posts details. Don't make any changes (adding/modifying/deleting records) in the meantime if you do wait.

    Otherwise:close firefox & go to your zotero data directory (which, by defaut, is in your firefox profile). You should see zotero.sqlite--that's your database. zotero.sqlite.bak. That's your last backup. After again making sure that you have a backup of this whole directory (in case you want to go back), try to replace zotero.sqlite with zotero.sqlite.bak & then restart firefox. If you aren't happy, you'll have to go to the external hard drive backup you made.

    I'd export (RDF) the recent entries you added so that you can reimport them (or, export EVERYTHING & sort out the dups later). Then (with firefox closed) just replace your zotero data directory with your backup. Relaunch firefox & import your entries.
  • dstillman
    Note that if you haven't closed Firefox yet, you should make a backup of the zotero.sqlite.bak file before closing Firefox. When Firefox is closed, the last .bak file is overwritten with the main sqlite file, so you'll lose the previous data.
  • xmjh1
    I made a backup of the whole directory and an RDF. I also see zotero.sqlite and zotero.sqlite.bak in my Firefox profiles folder. How exactly do I replace zotero.sqlite with zotero.sqlite.bak?

    If that fails, should I copy the zotero.sqlite file from my backup hard drive and paste it into the Firefox profile folder on my hard drive (which will presumably replace the newer version of zotero.sqlite that is currently there)?

    Thanks again for the suggestions!
  • xmjh1
    Problem solved. Thank you noksagt and Dan for your suggestions. Next time I have this problem, I will remember not to close Zotero without first backing up the .bak file.

    For others facing a similar problem, I solved the problem as follows:

    1. I exported my current library to my desktop as an RDF (Actions->Export library).

    2. I opened Zotero using my backup library saved on my external hardrive (Actions->Preferences->Custom->Zotero folder

    3. I exported the items that I accidentally deleted to the desktop.

    4. I reopened Zotero using my current library save on my hard drive (Actions->Preferences->Custom->Zotero folder).

    5. I imported the accidentally deleted files from my desktop.
  • jelanuel
    Hello, I have a similar problem and can`t figure out how to solve it.

    I replaced zotero.sqlite in my currently installed version on computer nr. 1 with zotero.sqlite.bak from an still intakt zotero i had on a different notebook, computer 2. but this just erased what i had even left in my zotero lyrary on computer 1.
    i thought i could now import the rtf files from computer 2 into zotero on computer 1. unfortunately i can`t figure out were to put them. please help. am i on the right track?
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