zotero and zotfile in new computer

Hi,
I am using zotero and zotfile in my old computer. All the pdf files are renamed by zotfile and stored in a file folder outside zotero. Now, I could use zotero to open the pdf file by the link between the zotero items and the pdf files.
Now, I have a new computer, and I want to use zotero and zotfile in the same way in the new computer. But I do not know how to transfer all the files, and keep all links proper. Could anyone tell me what I should do?
Thanks!
  • You can do this using the Linked Attachment Base Directory setting in the Advanced pane of the Zotero preferences. Set that (not the data directory!) to the folder that's containing all your linked files. That will update the paths in Zotero to be relative to that directory. You can then transfer the files however you want — e.g., using an external hard drive, using the network, etc. On the new computer, after either syncing Zotero or manually copying the Zotero data directory, set the Linked Attachment Base Directory to the folder where you've moved the linked files. Zotero will then be able to open the files, even if the absolute path to the files has changed.
  • So does this work?
    c:/zotero = data directory
    somewhere on the c drive = base directory
    somehwre in a cloud = linkedin directory. I had my base directopry and linked directory in the same location on dropbox and I didnt know that base drectory and lainked directory should be separate. right?
  • what do you mean by "linked directory"? That's not something Zotero knows/defines
  • c:/zotero = data directory
    somewhere on the c drive = base directory
    somewhere in a cloud = Linked Attachment Base Directory. I had my base directory and linked directory in the same location on dropbox and I didnt know that base drectory and lainked directory should be separate. right?

    See below for screenshots. Am I doing something wrong? Still many pdfs missing. Should the path to my folder in dropbox be entered into the Zotero Preferences -> Advnaced -> Files and Folders -> Linked Attachment Base Directory OR should it be entered into the Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? I'm assuming they both can't be the same dropbox folder, one of them should be on the c drive correct?

    Zotfile
    General Settings
    https://cl.ly/8ade70

    Renaming Rules
    https://cl.ly/505313

    Advanced Settings
    https://cl.ly/7d101b



    Zotero Preferences
    General Settings
    https://cl.ly/9f8401

    Zotero Preferences Sync
    https://cl.ly/0b16a7

    Zotero Files and Folders
    https://cl.ly/c5dc60

    Zotero Advanced General
    https://cl.ly/5d85ac
  • edited November 6, 2019
    There's no such thing as just a "base directory". It's just the Linked Attachment Base Directory. You would want to set ZotFile to move attachments to the directory set as the Linked Attachment Base Directory so that they're stored with relative paths, so that they can be accessed at a different path on another computer. That's the only thing the Linked Attachment Base Directory setting in Zotero does.

    (Also, I'm not sure why you want your data directory at the root of the hard drive. That's not really a proper place to store files. I'd recommend leaving it at the default location in your home directory.)
  • to rephrase what dstillman says:
    Should the path to my folder in dropbox be entered into the Zotero Preferences -> Advnaced -> Files and Folders -> Linked Attachment Base Directory OR should it be entered into the Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? I'm assuming they both can't be the same dropbox folder, one of them should be on the c drive correct?
    this is incorrect. They should point to the same folder and your current settings (except for the weird custom location of your data folder) are fine.
  • So is this correct?

    c:/zotero -> data directory
    Zotfile/ Location of Files = i placed it on c drive -> c:/zotero base directory
    (dropbox folder) = Linked Attachment Base Directory.

    I had my Zotfile/ Location of Files and Linked Attachment Base Directory pointing to the same folder on dropbox and I didnt know that Zotfile/ Location of Files and Linked Attachment Base Directory should be separate.

    See below for screenshots. Am I doing something wrong? Still many pdfs missing. Should the path to my folder in dropbox be entered into the Zotero Preferences -> Advanced -> Files and Folders -> Linked Attachment Base Directory OR should it be entered into the Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? I'm assumingone should point to the dropbox folder,and the other one to my c drive but not the database folder.

    Zotfile
    General Settings
    https://cl.ly/8ade70

    Renaming Rules
    https://cl.ly/505313

    Advanced Settings
    https://cl.ly/7d101b



    Zotero Preferences
    General Settings
    https://cl.ly/9f8401

    Zotero Preferences Sync
    https://cl.ly/0b16a7

    Zotero Files and Folders
    https://cl.ly/c5dc60

    Zotero Advanced General
    https://cl.ly/5d85ac
  • edited November 6, 2019
    I'm not sure what you think you're doing, but you just copied and pasted most of the same message that you posted above, and you also posted it to multiple other threads even though we're already responding to you here. Please stop.

    We answered your question. If you're still confused about something at this point, take the time to write out a new message, in this thread, explaining what you're still confused by.
  • If you take the time to read the Q&A of each thread you'll notice the questions are similar to my own but the answers vary. I wanted to get an answer to my question from each of the threads and then go with the best answer.
  • that's not how tech support works. There's a correct answer to your question and we've been doing our best to give you that answer. As dstillman says, if something isn't clear, you can follow up, but please don't waste people's time by trying to get multiple answers to the same question.
  • My mistake. So, the correct answer is from adamsmith and not dstillman. I will change my settings back to how I had them prior with both pointing at the same dropbox folder.

    Ive also moved zotero data directory to default on both pcs.

    Why is it that zotero can't find my articles (empty circle symbol)? When I double click on an article it says it can't be found but when i search ill find it in the storage folder where it should be. I did notice an old storage folder on a cloud a while back should i open it and drop it into the current storage folder?

    Ive tried using zutilo Both of my computers have the same folder structure setup . What would happen if i made Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? to be "attached stored copy of files?
  • So, the correct answer is from adamsmith and not dstillman.
    Huh? No. adamsmith and I told you the same thing.
    Why is it that zotero can't find my articles (empty circle symbol)?
    If you're using the latest version of Zotero, the file-not-found dialog will tell you the path where it's looking, and it will include a link to a page with more information, depending on whether it's a linked file or a stored file:

    https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/missing_linked_file
    https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/missing_stored_file
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