Multiple Libraries

RobinsonDescendant · February 5, 2017

I use Zotero Standalone (ZS). I've just finished a master's degree and I have a lot of journal articles that I want to keep, which I have in My Library in ZS - all business related. I also have a sizeable collection on my computer of old books and magazines (genealogy related). Because business and genealogy are unrelated, I want to add a second library in Zotero to categorize the genealogy collection - I don't want to mix my libraries. I use a lot of folders to categorize my business collection and I need to be able to do the same thing with the genealogy collection. How can I add a separate library in ZS for my second collection? Thanks for the help - I've just started using Zotero and really like the program!

adamsmith · February 6, 2017

There's two ways of doing this:
1) You can create a group for one of them (afaik the biggest disadvantage there is that the only way you can sync files for that is through Zotero files storage. No links, no WebDAV).

2) Use profiles, which work essentially the same way for Standalone as they work for Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
Downside there is that it's a little tricky to set up (but then easy to use) and that you need to restart the software to switch.

RobinsonDescendant · February 6, 2017

So in order to get to the profile manager for ZS, I would go to the Run dialog box and type in zotero.exe -P is that correct? Would I end up with two Zotero icons on my desktop?

Thanks for your help!

adamsmith · February 6, 2017

No, you need the entire filepath to Zotero on windows (followed by a -P) -- I think you can get that by dragging the Zotero icon to the Run window. And no, you'd still only have one icon. You'd just get prompted which profile to use on starting Zotero.

RobinsonDescendant · February 7, 2017

It worked!!! Thanks so much for your help.

Jon Rubin · February 8, 2017

@adamsmith thanks Adam, that was totally straightforward

TadColes · August 11, 2017

Suggestions on accomplishing the same on a Mac?

adamsmith · August 11, 2017

it's exactly the same thing & should actually be easier from Terminal

dstillman · December 12, 2017

There's now dedicated documentation on using multiple profiles here:

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/multiple_profiles

jmoyanodicarlo · October 31, 2018

I could create two different profiles but if a remove something from one of them it is removed in all profiles, which is not useful. Any advice?

dstillman · October 31, 2018

@jmoyanodicarlo: You missed the part of the instructions where you need to actually set different data directories.

jmoyanodicarlo · October 31, 2018

You are totally right @dstillman. Thanks!