Gracias Adams, el tema es que actualicé el sistema operativo de Mac y perdí el chrome. Tras pasarme una mañana en el genius bar, el genius de turno me recomendó crear un usuario nuevo. Resolví el tema chrome pero luego me di cuenta que no tenía la bibliografía de zotero. Estoy en plena tesis doctoral (o sea que imagina mi humor).
Pero yo creo que salvé el archivo adecuado en una copia de Time machine que creo es zotero.sqlite
Sin embargo, no hay manera de que me lo abra. Creo que está colocado en el sitio adecuado pero no se ve nada.

para recuperar tu biblioteca desde una copia the zotero.sqlite, vea
https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup1

I followed all the steps and it is not working. Possibly I don´t have the correct data file.
However Time machine has been copying the hd for months/years and I am not able to find the zotero.sqlite anywhere.

At this point I don´t think I have the data file located. I had one but it is only 1mb and it does not work.

Please provide tips to locate it within the back up copies: I cannot find a folder for zotero or the file itself

thanks,

Thanks PeresGil...unfortunately i did not

As last ressource you still can try to use recovery software on the drive. The kind of software people use to try to recover deleted files when there is not any kind of backup, online or offline.

I followed the appropriate process to a point...but really did not pay attention to that file...neither the genius at the genius bar. And due to space requirements, I ended up deleting the old user. So, in theory, the old back ups are accesible for an old user only that does not exist now. However, I have created the old user again, since I remember the password...same that the new one...and in theory, it seems possible to access to the backup files...the problem is still the same....there is no zotero folder or zotero file....

anyhow...thanks...I have an appointment with another genius at Mac later this evening....if he is not able to figure it out,....i may give up or try your last suggestion....before starting to input the data again manually....

thanks anyway

Hello all. The genius was able to show me/access the hidden folders files from the back-up. But not able to copy the necessary files.
I think I solved the problem by finding the storage folder and zoter.sqlite file in the FIREFOX folder. Then, did what advised by you in previous messages: move those to the desktop in an temp folder and then copy their corresponding back-ups in the active folder of zotero under Zotero.
The library seems to be intact.

As a suggestion, I recommend to advise people that it is OK to remove files from a Folder like Firefox and copy the backup files into a different folder (Zotero). The genius had a problem believing that - I can understand- that would make a bit more clear I think.

now, I have a final problem for which I ask for help:
when I try to sync zotero so I have the library in the web, it gives me a message of conflict that says:
Resolución de conflicto
El siguiente item se ha cambiado en múltiples ubicaciones. Elija la versión que desea conservar, y entonces pulse continuar
it shows:
objeto local borrado
objeto remoto (red colour)
unir objeto

apparently the choice is between objeto local or remoto...I imagine that I have to choose remoto but it scares me that it says objeto local borrado (since I just get it back)

don´t want to lose it again

please advise, thanks