Upgrade StorageNewbie moving from Endnote, has couple of questions:
I'm considering moving from Endnote - my library has about 20,000 references in it (most with PDF fulltext) and Endnote is starting to bog down and crash sometimes. I need a more stable solution. Can someone help me please:
1) in general, is Zotero very stable with huge libraries? Is Zotero the right thing to move to, given my reasons for abandoning Endnote, which I otherwise like? What are major differences from Endnote I need to be aware of?
2) I tried a simple export of 5 references - exported to XML file, in Endnote folder (as per instructions on-line). The import went fine but it doesn't look to me like the PDFs came through, and also each one is shown as a group of files (with a drop-down triangle thing) - is that normal - shouldn't it just be the reference record and perhaps the PDF? What am I doing wrong? This is what I see:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nusl06v84pnphww/Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.31.21 AM.jpg?dl=0
3) I see an option for sync - what does it sync with - where does the data live? Do I need to give it a network volume somehow, or does it keep it on the Zotero servers somewhere (and if so, what's the size limit?)
thank you in advance!
1) in general, is Zotero very stable with huge libraries? Is Zotero the right thing to move to, given my reasons for abandoning Endnote, which I otherwise like? What are major differences from Endnote I need to be aware of?
2) I tried a simple export of 5 references - exported to XML file, in Endnote folder (as per instructions on-line). The import went fine but it doesn't look to me like the PDFs came through, and also each one is shown as a group of files (with a drop-down triangle thing) - is that normal - shouldn't it just be the reference record and perhaps the PDF? What am I doing wrong? This is what I see:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nusl06v84pnphww/Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.31.21 AM.jpg?dl=0
3) I see an option for sync - what does it sync with - where does the data live? Do I need to give it a network volume somehow, or does it keep it on the Zotero servers somewhere (and if so, what's the size limit?)
thank you in advance!
1) I used an earlier version of Zotero with about 18K records and it did perform a little more slowly than my current library with a few thousand records. The slowness was only upon start-up and wasn't especially noticeable after the program and library loaded. I also was using a computer with less memory than my current system. I moved from EndNote to Zotero several years ago and my move was in the middle of working on my doctoral thesis. Zotero was better.
2) Zotero should be able to import your full text pdf files.
See:
https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/importing_records_from_endnote
If you are still having trouble with exporting and importing, one of the more experienced volunteers will ask you the right questions and then explain how to export and import your files.
3) You can sync with a free online account on the Zotero server that will handle unlimited metadata. You may also sync your full text files and notes.
See: https://www.zotero.org/support/storage_faq
You are provided a small amount of free storage for files but you may optionally pay (a relatively small amount) for more file storage. Zotero provides a mechanism for you to store backups of your pdf files and notes elsewhere if you do not want to use Zotero paid storage.
See: https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/webdav_services
Again, there is no charge for an essentially unlimited amount of record metadata. 20 thousand records is not a problem. The only charge would be if you exceed the free amount of file storage.
> 2) Zotero should be able to import your full text pdf files.
I thought I followed the instructions you linked to, but still am not sure it's getting the full-text attachments (PDFs) or importing it correctly (as in screenshot I linked to above). If anyone knows how to do this and what I'm doing wrong, please reply!
> The only charge would be if you exceed the free amount of file storage.
If I'm using sync, does it use it only for synchronizing or for all access - that is, if the internet goes out (say I'm on a plane), do I have access to my library or not?
3) Sync syncs local files to Zotero's cloud storage, so you always have access to your local files, including without internet access.
I think it didn't work. Here's the screenshot:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b9uzbyxihftlisg/Screen Shot 2018-11-23 at 8.23.15 PM.pdf?dl=0
the .txt file that got exported:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c21xb0taptl1wdx/All my Endnote Refs vX.txt?dl=0
the prior .xml file that got exported:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/md5ebiyf7go4hpi/All my Endnote Refs vX.xml?dl=0
any ideas?
Aarholt-1981-Effects of low-frequency magnetic.pdf
And also the exact folder where you're putting the RIS file as you're opening it. In general this looks all in order so either your PDFs are saved in a different folder than in other Endnote profiles we have seen, or you're placing the RIS in the "wrong" folder (most likely one step to high or too low in the folder hierarchy).
> Aarholt-1981-Effects of low-frequency magnetic.pdf
/Users/mlevin/Dropbox/Endnote library X7/All my Endnote Refs vX.Data/PDF/2992802556
> And also the exact folder where you're putting the RIS file as you're opening it.
it's in /Users/mlevin/Dropbox/Endnote library X7/ although its extension is .txt (Endnote wouldn't let me save it as .ris); it's the same folder as the All my Endnote Refs vX.Data file.
really? I'm worried about changing the contents of the Endnote.Data folder because what I don't want to do is mess up my currently working Endnote. Shouldn't exporting be a non-destructive process (i.e., not change anything about the Endnote data structure)?