Lost my recent library.

whitemullan
Hi. I found one of my huge folders deleted in my library. So, I disabled the automatic sync and tried to reset and restore from my local data. This deleted all my library, and so I did this:

""First, disable auto-sync in the Sync pane of the Zotero for Firefox or Zotero Standalone preferences. Open the Advanced pane of the preferences and click “Show Data Directory”. This should reveal your active data directory containing zotero.sqlite and possibly a 'storage' subdirectory. Close Firefox or Zotero Standalone and move zotero.sqlite and 'storage' from this folder into a temporary folder on your desktop. Next, copy — don't move — zotero.sqlite and 'storage' from your backup into the active data directory. When you now reopen Firefox or Zotero Standalone, your Zotero library should be restored."

This did not work. Next, I used another computer of mine where zotero was installed and logged in and found that there was a library from 1 year ago. I managed to restore that to my current library in the computer I use, but I lost 90 percent of my data. I re-checked the zotero.sqlite file in my custom data directory and it now has only 1.5 mb (the zotero.sqlite.bak has only 1.5 mb, too).

I think I have tried all the instructions here on the Forums and perhaps got messed up myself in the process. I know restoring data has nothing to with what the "storage" folder contains (as far as I understand), but the folder is indeed full and I recognize my recent data in the folder. Are there some other ways to recover or find the voter.sqlite file that reflects the actual amount of data I have collected? Or, is it just lost forever? Please help!
  • whitemullan
    sorry, its not "the voter.sqlite file" --> zotero.sqlite.
  • adamsmith
    So if you did this:
    Close Firefox or Zotero Standalone and move zotero.sqlite and 'storage' from this folder into a temporary folder on your desktop. Next, copy — don't move — zotero.sqlite and 'storage' from your backup into the active data directory.
    you'd have the version of the database from when this whole problem started on your desktop. Is that the case? Then you'd at a minimum have the library minus that one collection back.
  • whitemullan
    Thanks for your prompt response. But could you be more specific and tell me what you mean by "the version of the database"? Is it different from versions of zotero.splite file? Or, do you mean my external backup storage?
  • whitemullan
    edited May 2, 2016
    I would also appreciate if you could help me locate where the date (before the problem started) are stored in my laptop (I am using zotero standalone), if I need to start from there. .. Hope this is what you're asking.
  • adamsmith
    So the above instructions start with "move zotero.sqlite and storage ... into a temporary folder"

    And nothing indicates that you'd ever delete or move them from there. That's your version of the database. Do you still have that?
  • whitemullan
    I have the storage folder (321.9 mb) in my computer but do not have zotero.sqlite. I discarded it after checking that it only contained 1 mb.
  • adamsmith
    If you copied the zotero.sqlite from your active data directory, there is no way that was 1MB in size, so something isn't right.

    Maybe start by describing in your own words exactly what you did when following the paragraph you quote above.
  • whitemullan
    Before following the quoted paragraph, I attempted to reset my library: I disabled auto-sync and clicked "restore from zotero server" and restarted Zotero. This made my library disappear in the first place.

    Then, I followed the quote, got confused a couple times, and did this too in the process: "Close Firefox/Standalone. In your data directory, rename zotero.sqlite to zotero.sqlite.old, rename zotero.sqlite.new to zotero.sqlite, and restart Firefox/Standalone."

    I think I eventually copied and stored zotero.sqlite in my desk, and put it back to the "active data directory." But these didn't help.
  • adamsmith
    Before following the quoted paragraph, I attempted to reset my library: I disabled auto-sync and clicked "restore from zotero server" and restarted Zotero. This made my library disappear in the first place.
    oh my. That was a bad idea. Not sure we'll be able to fix that.

    In your zotero data folder, there may be several files with names like zotero.sqlite.bak -- any that are significantly larger in size?

    Do you have a backup of your harddisk to an external drive?
  • whitemullan
    Unfortunately, I cannot find anything larger than 5mb and no backup for at least 3 months.

    If I can't fix this issue now, I am still wondering why a large folder disappeared in the first place when I did not change or upgrade zotero—nor did I manually delete the folder.

    These happened last time and I was fortunate enough then to recover a lot of data (if not all) by following instructions in the Forums.

    But again, how can I avoid such problems of losing data on my zotero standalone? My computer is Mac.
  • adamsmith
    I can't tell you what happened. Obviously Zotero doesn't just "lose" data. The most likely explanation would be that you accidentally deleted the collection.
    Note that collections are not folders, so deleting a collection would typically not have deleted the items in it (and if it did, those would still be in the Zotero trash).
  • DWL-SDCA
    Whitemullen...
    Do you use TimeMachine? If so, you should be able to recover your lost data.

    If not, please consider immediately buying a large external drive and using it. The cost of an external drive has become lower and lower. Having backups will save you from frustration.

    adamsmith and developers...
    Might there be a need to revise or expand the troubleshooting documentation to give details of what _not_ to do? Perhaps with a decision tree? Although I've used Zotero for ten years or so, I continue to find the restore to / restore from processes confusing and when, if ever, to use them. If there is any interest, I'm willing to work on a draft. How much will this change when the next Zotero update is released?
  • adamsmith
    edited May 3, 2016
    Essentially people should stay away from the "restore" function unless explicitly told to use them (or unless they exactly understand what they do and why they're using them). The preferences have a warning to that extent that actually says they can cause additional problems. Not sure how much clearer we can be?

    I believe the only place in the instructions it says to use restore (and that's "restore to server") is after restoring from an automatic backup (typically to revert a recent change).

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