Different accounts? Different computers?

Potter 1964
Hello, I logged onto Zotero about 2 years ago with my work computer using firefox and my personal e-mail. I started to use Zotero on my home computer about 1 year ago using Chrome. Interestingly when I go to my Zotero account it only shows the files on my work computer in my library. When I click onto my Zotero file on the desktop of my home computer it shows me all the files I have saved at home but none of the work files. As a matter of fact, I left my job very recently and I do not want to connect my home computer with my work computer... I want to close the account on my work computer (even though i no longer have access) to make sure that whatever updates or changes I make are not visible on my old computer at work. Lastly, I would like to be able to see my home files on my Zotero file. Thank you in advance to anybody that may be able to help.
  • Potter 1964
    Hello again, I just wanted to add that I added a document today the Zotero library connected to my first account on my old work computer. Once again thank you in advance for any help and please do not hesitate to ask me to be clearer if you have not understood.
  • aurimas
    First, to disconnect your work computer, simply change your account password. There is no need to close down the account.

    Regarding your current computer, are you sure you have sync set up under Preferences -> Sync ?

    If yes, see https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/changes_not_syncing
  • Potter 1964
    Thank you Aurimas, sorry for my late reply i was just out getting some air. I just reset my password. If I have understood correctly the fact that it is reset all changes that i make from now on will not be active on my work computer. When I click on Zotero on my home computer the preferece tab disapears before I ccan enter in any details. I think perhaps i started a new account when I launched it on my home computer one year ago. the process was really complicated because at the time (if i remember correctly using Zotero with google chrome was a bit complicated). Once agin thanks and if you have any further input please don't hesitate to let me know. :)
  • aurimas
    I'm assuming you have Zotero Standalone and Chrome with Zotero plugin, correct? Which version of Zotero do you have? What operating system are you using?

    Could you make sure that the preference window is not simply hidden behind other windows somehow? Try restarting your computer and opening preferences again.
  • Potter 1964
    Sorry this is a bit complicated. I had stopped using Zotero and uninstalled it from my extensions. Today I reinstalled it and just checked what I had installed (following your question)and it seems that I have installed Zotero Connector 4.0.26. I am using Windows XP as my operating system (my computer is old).
    Actually it looks like this:
    Zotero Connector 4.0.26
    Saves references to Zotero from Chrome and Opera Autorisations Accéder au site Web
    Autoriser en mode navigation privée
    Options
    (It is in French, should I authorise the private navigation mode??)

    When I click on Zotero on the startup menu on Windows it says Zotero Standalone…
    I restarted my computer and all my folders are now on my Zotero account. (I really hope that they can’t see them at work, sorry I am a little paranoid about that and would be reassured if you confirm that for me). So I guess it looks like everything is OK except if you think I should change my Zotero extension to Zotero Standalone and not Zotero Connect? Thanks yet again for your really fast and efficient help :)
  • adamsmith
    with your password changed, no changes will sync to any computer with the old login info.

    You'll need to components of Zotero installed and it seems you have both:
    1) The Chrome Connector, which is a Chrome Extension
    2) Zotero Standalone.

    Anything having to do with syncing happens exclusively in Zotero Standalone. On that, see aurimas's questions above--we'd need to figure out why you can't access the preferences. Without that, you won't be able to sync.
  • aurimas
    I can confirm that if you changed your password for your account, your computer at work would no longer be able to sync. That's assuming you changed the password for the account that you were syncing with from your work computer. You can verify this if you go to "My Library" on zotero.org (this website). The library should contain items from your work computer.

    I would suggest that you read through the "What version should I choose?" section of this page https://www.zotero.org/support/installation#what_version_should_i_choose It will give you a better idea of how different parts of Zotero interact (particularly Zotero Standalone and Zotero Chrome connector).

    A couple additional things to note. Zotero Chrome connector works best when you have Zotero Standalone open while clicking the URL bar icon. In that case, the connector saves data to Zotero Standalone directly, which stores everything locally on your computer. You can then sync Zotero Standalone to zotero.org. If you don't have Zotero Standalone open, Zotero Chrome connector will save directly to zotero.org (sometimes this will fail to download PDF attachments). Then, when you open Zotero Standalone, you will have to sync with zotero.org to see items that you imported to zotero.org directly from the connector.

    In any case, it looks like you have everything syncing right now. Are you still not able to open your preferences? If you changed your password, you would not have been able to sync without changing your sync settings, so I'm a bit confused what you did to make this work.
  • Potter 1964
    Hi to both Aurimas and AdamSmith,
    Thanks for your help.
    I just kept trying even though the preference page kept disapearing and seemed to work I changed my user name to my e-mail address but it still appears as Potter 1964. I restarted my computer and it seemed to have worked. Everything is on Zotero now. Except that I have an error report : 952758028.
    I just want to check (my version is in french so can be a little confusing) that on the extensions with google chrome I have to click the button to authorize private navigation? Also in my preferences file on my computer I have set up the synchronization with Zotero which I assume means that the relay of information happens automatically.
    Once again thanks
  • aurimas
    I just want to check (my version is in french so can be a little confusing) that on the extensions with google chrome I have to click the button to authorize private navigation?
    No, you don't need to check that unless you want to use Zotero in private browsing mode.
  • Potter 1964
    Thank you :)
  • adamsmith
    you can ignore error reports unless you experience actual problems. Error reports pick up a fair amount of noise not indicative of an actual problem.

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