After transferring to new PC, local library is empty, but online library is OK
I transferred my zotero folder and its contents to my new PC per the instructions at https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/transferring_a_library
However, my local zotero library is empty, except for the default "Zotero Quick Start Guide." But it shouldn't be empty, because the transferred zotero folder is 1.54. GB, with 21,670 files and 894 folders.
Meanwhile the online library appears to have everything in it. I haven't synced yet because I don't know whether the "empty" local library would overwrite the good online library,causing me to lose everything, or whether the online library would overwrite the local.
Could you please help me troubleshoot why my local library is empty?
Thanks.
However, my local zotero library is empty, except for the default "Zotero Quick Start Guide." But it shouldn't be empty, because the transferred zotero folder is 1.54. GB, with 21,670 files and 894 folders.
Meanwhile the online library appears to have everything in it. I haven't synced yet because I don't know whether the "empty" local library would overwrite the good online library,causing me to lose everything, or whether the online library would overwrite the local.
Could you please help me troubleshoot why my local library is empty?
Thanks.
If you want to fix this, you can look at the contents of the folder when you click "Show data directory" in Zotero.
That said, you can also just sync if you want to save yourself the trouble. Empty libraries don't overwrite populated ones during sync.
locate
storage (1.52 GB)
styles
translators (6.28 MB)
zotero.sqlite (996 kb)
zotero.sqlite.1.bak (18,604 kb)
zotero.sqlite.bak (996 kb)
zotero.sqlite-journal (89 kb)
and I noticed that Zotero file storage provides "web-based access to single-file attachments such as PDFs (but not web snapshots."
Does this mean that if I use sync to download my online Zotero library to my empty local library, that I will lose my web snapshots?
Bottom line, are there any disadvantages, such as losing certain types of data, if I overwrite my empty local library with my online Zotero library? Thanks for your reply.
zotero.sqlite (996 kb) --> this is empty
zotero.sqlite.1.bak (18,604 kb) --> this is a normal (though small-ish) library size.