Lost Library in 2.0 Update

Offidano
I just updated to 2.0 beta and now lost all of my bibliographic data except for saved web pages. The data is also gone from the Zotero server and I have lost the add-on in Word 2003 to add the references from Zotero. I'm in the midst of writing a grant proposal due in a few days. Help!
  • dstillman
    Could you elaborate on the exact problem you're having? What do you see when you open Zotero? Before doing anything else, make a backup of your Zotero data directory. The information on that page may also be helpful.
  • Offidano
    Dan,

    I read about the data and profiles and backed up my profile in two locations. On the Advanced Preferences I have chosen the Firefox Default for the data storage.

    On Zotero I see one folder (My Library) where there should be four or five. I see some references to webpages I have taken snapshots of, but none to the pdf articles I want to reference. I am using Windows XP PRO SP3 and the latest updates of Firefox and Zotero (2.0). I am also using Office 2003.

    I have reinstalled the Word-Zotero add-in, but the Zotero toolbar doesn't seem to be installed in Word.

    Thanks, so far - I'm learning quite a bit.

    Nick.
  • dstillman
    edited May 15, 2009
    Is it possible that you were previously using a different data directory location, and the custom data directory setting simply got reset? Have the few items (snapshots, etc.) you see been added/modified recently?

    In the Zotero data directory, what are the filenames and sizes of the files you see (zotero.sqlite, etc.)?
  • Offidano
    The web pages were modified a day or two ago, whereas I upgraded to Zotero 2.0 today.
    The Zotero Daya directory is as follows:
    3 folders: Storage, Styles and Translators
    Storage has two folders: One has .gif data and the other a saved web page

    Also in the storage directory are the files
    zotero.moved-files.36.bak 1KB 5/15/2009
    zotero.sqlite 307 KB 5/15/2009
    zotero.sqlite.1.bak 1,667 KB 5/14/2009
    zotero.sqlite.36.bak 1,667 KB 5/14/2009
    zotero.sqlite.bak 307 KB 5/15/2009
    zotero.sqlite-journal 6 KB 5/15/2009

    I only had about 40 or so references before upgrading and losing them.
    Shouldn't I be able to get them by Syncing to the Zotero server?

    Nick.
  • dstillman
    So this was an upgrade from 1.0.9 to 2.0?

    If you don't mind, could you upload zotero.sqlite.36.bak (which is your 1.0.9 database) to the DB Repair Tool and send the Upload ID to support@zot....org, referencing this thread? You can ignore the download links the tool provides for now.

    Also, did you back up your entire Zotero data directory before upgrading to 2.0, as recommended on the instructions page? It's possible this was just due to DB corruption in your 1.0 database, in which case moving the 2.0 data directory out of the way, restoring a copy of the 1.0 data directory, and running that zotero.sqlite through the DB Repair Tool before running the 2.0 upgrade process might fix the problem. (The 1.0->1.5/2.0 upgrade process renames imported files in the 'storage' directory, so just re-upgrading a repaired version of your 1.0.9 zotero.sqlite file itself would cause links to your files to be lost.)
  • Offidano
    I am now on my home machine which I also upgraded from 1.5b to 2.0b yesterday. It has all of my citations correctly. I now understand that the storage server I had designated is not valid and I was not syncing when I thought I was

    How can I "transfer" my references from my home machine to my work machine? Can I keep the library on a USB drive? If so, how can I set up Firefox and Zotero to look and store items in my USB drive?

    Thanks for your help and patience. (Oh! That Dan Stillman. Thanks for a great utility.)
  • dstillman
    I'm not clear exactly what you've done so far, but, assuming you've synced from your home machine and see what you expect when you look at your items on the website, you can, with Firefox closed, delete the zotero.sqlite file in your Zotero data directory on your non-working machine. When you open Zotero, it should pull down all your items from the server.

    If you don't currently see what you expect on the website, you'll want to do a Restore to Server from Zotero's Sync->Reset preference pane on your home machine.

    Note that this only pertains to the metadata items in your Zotero library. For attached files, you'll need to use WebDAV syncing (though note the current known issue in 2.0b3 related to the checkbox in the preferences).

    See the sync documentation for more info on how this all works.
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