File Storage Question/Issues

mishranurag · January 7, 2009

I configured a webdisk at my workplace that can be used to do file sync with zotero. I can access that webdisk by all the computers in the office and my home. I saved all the references I had at that webdisk. As an attachment to a reference, I add the link to the file in webdisk. The file can be opened by clicking on the link in Zotero. However, when I move to a different computer, I cannot open the file after clicking on the link in "Attachments." I don't know if its a bug or feature.

I also tried storing a copy of file as an attachment in a reference, and that worked among different computers. That means, I could store a file as attachment in one computer and access it from another. I want to know when I store a copy of a file in Zotero, and sync the server, where does it store that pdf copy.

Thanks for all your help and a great software.

mishranurag · January 8, 2009

I would appreciate response to my question. I am stuck with my references at this point of time.

Thanks

Rintze · January 8, 2009

Can't really help you with the first question, but for the second one:

I want to know when I store a copy of a file in Zotero, and sync the server, where does it store that pdf copy.

Attachments (like PDFs) are handled separately from the other data in your library, and are only synced if you have set up a WebDAV share in the Zotero preferences. If you have, the synced attachments are stored both locally on synced computers and remotely on that specified WebDAV share.

mishranurag · January 8, 2009

I could not locate the pdf file on webDAV folder, and that's why I am confused. The zip file that synchronization produces doesn't appear to have a pdf file inside it.

Still waiting for the reply to first question.

ahoward · January 8, 2009

If you've created a "link" to a file, that simply creates a link to a permanent location of a file, locally or on the internet. If a link is copied over in a sync and a copy of the original file is not stored at precisely the same location on the new file system, the link will break. If you want the whole file and not just the link to come over the sync, you need to store a copy of the file. That's an option in the Plus button in the Zotero toolbar and in the Attachments tab in the right column. When you do that, Zotero stores a copy of the file in its own data directory and manipulates/syncs only that copy.

mishranurag · January 9, 2009

Thanks ahoward. I created a link to the permanent location of file on a webdisk. However, when I try to open the link on another computer, zotero says that the file has been moved or deleted.

dstillman · January 9, 2009

I could not locate the pdf file on webDAV folder, and that's why I am confused. The zip file that synchronization produces doesn't appear to have a pdf file inside it.

It does. The filename is just encoded to get around a character set limitation in Mozilla's ZIP file handling.

I created a link to the permanent location of file on a webdisk. However, when I try to open the link on another computer, zotero says that the file has been moved or deleted.

Are you storing the file as a file link (using the filesystem) or a web link (using a URL)? I assume the former? Are the files accessible at the exact same path on both machines? What's an example of the path (blocking out any private information)? Are both machines running the same OS?

mishranurag · January 9, 2009

To link to the file, I navigate to the webdisk on my computer. The location is https://companysite:2078/zotero/filename.pdf

I have to put the username and password to access the location.

dstillman · January 9, 2009

You'll need to be more specific and answer my other questions.

How are you navigating to the file? You gave an example of a URL, which should work just fine as a web link, but the error you're getting suggests you're trying to save it as a linked file, which would have a filesystem path, not an https:// URL.

mishranurag · January 9, 2009

When I click on attachments tab, and click Add, it gives me four options. I click on Link to File. Immediately a navigation box opens up for me to navigate to the file, and on top it says "Select a File". I click on My Network Places, then go to the webdisk on my network places, and then click on the folder, and then click on relevant file and click open.

This is exactly the step by step procedure I follow. If I have to access that file from internet, I will access it from the link I suggested earlier.

If I link to a file, I think Zotero should save the link to the file, not the file itself, right?

Thanks for trying to understand the issue.

dstillman · January 9, 2009

If I link to a file, I think Zotero should save the link to the file, not the file itself, right?

Yes, but it depends how the file path is stored, and it might not be stored the same way on different computers. You'd probably need to examine your SQLite database to see. (If you want to upload it to the DB Repair Tool and send the Upload ID to support@zot....org, ignoring the download links, we can take a look. If you send an e-mail, reference this thread.)

But if you already know the URLs, there's no real reason to store the files as linked files. You could just access them from within Firefox as, say, https://companysite:2078/zotero/filename.pdf, and then save a link as you would to any other web page that you didn't want to import as a snapshot.

One reason this might not be feasible would be if, say, you couldn't view the file list at https://companysite:2078/zotero/, which, depending on your WebDAV server settings, might be the case. But you could always look up the filename through Web Folders, type the URL into Firefox, and then save the link.

mishranurag · January 13, 2009

Thanks Dan.

I now open the file in firefox and add it as a link to my references. I was expecting that using attachments tab would also lead to the same location but I was wrong.

Thanks again.
~A