Migrating to Cloud Storage after utilizing the URL field as work around for accessing files.

gbruner
We've been using zotero for a number of years at our lab and are considering purchasing the unlimited cloud storage plan.

We have 3,200+ files compromising about 11 GB.

For local access of files we have been using the URL field but are looking in to expanding access to an additional site and utilizing cloud storage.

Examples of our current set up utilizing URL:

file://S:\Literature\Library\AmosBalmford2002-2129470720\AmosBalmford2002.pdf

S:\Literature\Library\Wilmer1999.pdf

Would the process for migration be as follows:

1) Export library as CSV
2) Standardize the file paths
3) Move file paths to "File Attachments" field
4) Import CSV file to zotero
5) Sync to cloud
  • adamsmith
    CSV is not an option because Zotero doesn't import it (since "CSV" isn't actually a data format, just a table).
    You could do this using bibtex or RIS import/export, though. If you have mainly typical items like chapters, books, and journals, you should lose minimal (if any) information.

    I think the ideal solution would be using the javascript API, which would mean you don't need any export/import, but I'm not sure exactly how. Maybe Dan or someone else has a minute to post a code snippet.
  • gbruner
    edited September 8, 2016
    RIS was how I migrated from the old citation manager, EndNote.

    An example of the pertinent field:

    L1 - internal-pdf://aarsetal1998-1580469572/aarsetal1998.pdf

    I added the full file paths and changed the field to "UR - " and imported.

    If Zotero will automatically identify L1 - followed by a file path in such a way that it will sync the files on the cloud that is easy enough to do.

    If the javascript API will do the job great, I'm just less familiar with that.



  • adamsmith

    If Zotero will automatically identify L1 - followed by a file path in such a way that it will sync the files on the cloud that is easy enough to do.
    please do test with a single file before putting too much work into this, but I'm pretty sure it will
  • bwiernik
    In that case, this is much easier.

    Reimport the RIS leaving the L1 intact. This will import the files as stored attachments in Zotero. Then, you can use the Zotfile plugin to automatically move all the attachments to the cloud storage computer synced to your computer. If your cloud provider supports WebDAV, you can also use Zotero's built in cloud storage support.
  • adamsmith
    (I figured they had done work on the database since moving from Endnote, hence export/import and renaming UR to L1)
  • gbruner
    edited September 8, 2016
    Yes, we have added many entries since the Endnote transfer.

    Changing UR to L1 is easy enough, the hiccup I see as I peruse the RIS export is that a few hundred citations have a link in L1.

    The easiest option I'm currently seeing is to move any data in L1 to L3 (which has never been used in our library) to preserve the information and then move the pdf file paths (Currently in UR) into L1.

    Or I could just save a back up, nuke any data in L1, and worry about it if anyone ever complains... ;-)

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