Trouble in setting up file syncing for group library w unlimited storage

RTHS
I'm setting up file syncing in a newly created group web library, for a public closed group, with unlimited storage. After syncing a test item from my offline library, I'm able to view a grayed-out attachment icon in the group web library, but am unable to access it.

I followed the troubleshooting steps in "Files not syncing", and generated the following debug ID: D1929755772

Suggestions for how to proceed are appreciated. Thanks!
  • dstillman
    Do you have group file syncing enabled in the Sync pane of the preferences?
  • RTHS
    Yes. I'm trying again now, and I'm able to see the attached file, but I'm not sure if it's because it just took a few days to become available, or if I hadn't previously noticed the three-dot "more" menu that offered the choice of viewing the file. I was trying to use right-click the way I do in the offline version. We'll see if the success continues. Thanks!
  • dstillman
    the three-dot "more" menu that offered the choice of viewing the file
    To be clear, if an item has a PDF in the web library, it shows a PDF icon in the items list and you can double-click it to view the PDF, the same as in the desktop app. You don't need to use the three-dots menu or the Attachments tab.
  • RTHS
    Thanks! I just tried the double-click and it worked.

    In further testing, I'm still finding that the only way to get new files uploaded is to use the "Reset file sync history" option. Twice, I've synced a group of items (each item consisting of parent and child) to the group web library; NOT seen a PDF icon in the web library after syncing; NOT gotten an error message in the sync pane of my desktop Zotero; used "Reset file sync history"; and finally seen PDF (or other) icons appear and been able to access the files.

    It's a workable solution, but I'm pretty sure I'm doing something wrong, since documentation describes file syncing as a much more seamless process, and resetting the history as appropriate only during troubleshooting.
  • dstillman
    edited July 21, 2022
    You certainly don't need to use Reset File Sync History in normal usage.

    Can you provide a Debug ID for 1) adding an item and file to Zotero, 2) syncing, and 3) not having the file be accessible in the online library?
  • RTHS
    Sure, here it is: D1512700764
    Thank you for your help!
  • dstillman
    (3)(+0000073): Starting file syncing

    (3)(+0000001): File sync is not enabled for My Library

    (3)(+0000000): Done with file syncing
    1) You have file syncing disabled for your personal library, but enabled for groups?

    2) This debug output shows you dragging an item between libraries. I asked about adding an item and file to Zotero. Does this only happen if you drag existing items across libraries?
  • RTHS
    Thanks for checking this out.

    After reading your comment, I realize that I am indeed asking about copying parent+child items from "My Library" to the group library, not about putting items in the group library to begin with. Going forward, it's clear that adding new items to the group library is the way to go. That just leaves me with the problem of transferring the several hundred existing items in My Library (or more accurately, copying them, then deleting the files from My Library).

    After reading a lot more forum posts, many/most of which you responded to yourself, I understand that this is a longstanding issue with a number of facets to it:

    1. It seems that transferring an entire My Library collection is much easier than transferring individual sub-collections, which is what I want to do.

    2. I originally disabled syncing from My Library, because I didn't want Zotero to sync all 2000+ items to the group library. Instead, I tried dragging items from the relevant subcollection there, with the well-known issue of the attached files getting left behind.

    3. At your advice, I enabled syncing for My Library. Zotero then set about syncing all 2000+ items, and of course soon ran out of space on the 300 Gb online version of My Library. But would it then continue on and try to sync items in the desktop version of the group library? In one of the forum posts (which I haven't been able to find again), I seem to recall you writing that the answer should have been yes: Zotero should be able to sync files to the unlimited-access group library regardless of the limitations on my own storage plan. However, upon checking the group's web library, the answer seems to have been no. Nothing had been synced in my individual online library (as expected) or in the group web library.

    At this point, it seems like I have two options:

    Option A: Click and drag the entire subcollection into the group library in my desktop Zotero. Then move all the attached files in the desktop group library into the trash; then empty the trash. Finally, relink all the attached files to items in the desktop group library individually, and allow syncing to proceed. (I just did this with a test item and it worked.) The whole process would probably take several weeks.

    Option B: Click and drag as in Option A, and then repeat the non-standard and not-recommended use of "Reset file sync history" to get them all in there. This is my plan for now.

    I apologize for not having any Debug IDs here; I've been reading and trying so many things that I didn't bother with it. And after reading so many previous posts, it seems that this is just a known issue that may be solved in the future.
  • dstillman
    OK, please slow down and just let us help you. We ask questions pretty precisely here, and we just need the answers — no one was saying to go and do all these other things, do all this research, posit all these theories… You're wasting your own time and ours, potentially causing other problems for yourself, and making it much harder for us to fix any bugs. Just answer our questions and wait for next steps.
    Going forward, it's clear that adding new items to the group library is the way to go.
    You can add things however you want. We just need to know what you're doing so that, if there's a bug, we can investigate and fix it.
    1. It seems that transferring an entire My Library collection is much easier than transferring individual sub-collections, which is what I want to do.
    I don't know why you think this. There's no problem with dragging a subcollection.
    Instead, I tried dragging items from the relevant subcollection there, with the well-known issue of the attached files getting left behind.
    I don't know what "well-known issue" you're referring to. If the file exists locally in one library, it should be copied to the other library. There is a known issue where, if the file was added on another device and hasn't been downloaded to this computer because you're using "as needed" file-sync mode, Zotero won't download the file and it won't be copied to the other library. We should fix that, but the workaround would be to either stay in "as needed" mode or be sure you've opened any missing files (indicated by an empty circle in the Attachments column in the middle pane) before dragging them to another library.
    At your advice, I enabled syncing for My Library.
    I didn't say to do that.

    Ignoring all the rest, none of which I said to do.

    Back to the basic debugging:

    1) Does this only happen if you drag an existing item and file across libraries, and not if you save an item and file directly to the group library?

    2) If so, does it still happen if the file has been opened in the personal library?

    3) If so, does it only happen if file syncing is disabled for your personal library?

  • RTHS
    OK, slowing down...

    1) Does this only happen if you drag an existing item and file across libraries, and not if you save an item and file directly to the group library? Short answer: Yes

    Test 1: Dragging an existing item & file from My Library to RTHS group library.
    File syncing enabled only for group library; clicked & dragged Article A into RTHS group library.
    After syncing, item appeared in web library; no attachment icon. In right pane, grayed-out PDF was visible but not accessible.
    Debug ID: D944742985

    Test 2: Saving an item & file directly to RTHS group library.
    File syncing enabled only for group library.
    Copied a PDF from the Downloads folder to RTHS library.
    Manually created parent item.
    After syncing, success! Both parent item & file appeared in web library; file was accessible.

    2) If so, does it still happen if the file has been opened in the personal library?
    Short answer: Yes.

    Test: Opening file in personal library, then dragging initial item+file to group library.
    File syncing enabled both for group library and personal library; viewed PDF attachment for Article B in personal library. Then clicked and dragged item & file to RTHS group library.

    First observation: Syncing is taking a long time, since it’s syncing items from personal library first. After about 5 minutes, an error message:

    “You have reached your Zotero File Storage quota. Some files were not uploaded. Other Zotero data will continue to sync to the server.
    See your zotero.org account settings for additional storage options.
    [TITLE OF ARTICLE B].pdf (41 KB)”

    With syncing complete, I checked web library; neither the item nor the attachment appeared there. (Nothing had been synced to the online personal library either, not even data.)
    Debug ID: D1676515006

    3) If so, does it only happen if file syncing is disabled for your personal library?
    Short answer: It happens whether file syncing is disabled or enabled for personal library.

    Test 1: File syncing disabled for personal library.
    This is a repeat of Test 1 for Question 1) above. File syncing enabled only for group library; viewed PDF attachment for Article C in personal library. Then clicked and dragged item & file to RTHS group library. Quick sync with no error messages. In the web library, item appeared, but no attachment.
    Debug ID: D1222281058

    Test 2: File syncing enabled for personal library.
    File syncing enabled for both group and personal library. Clicked and dragged item & file for Article C to RTHS group library. Quick sync this time, with no error messages. In the web library, item appeared, but no attachment.
    Debug ID: D1797110443

    Thank you!
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