my library from 2010 to present vanished when I restarted computer
zotero updated automatically to 6.0.2 when I restarted computer. I may have been working from very old version. anyway...all my files vanished. i tried to follow instructions from
https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/data_missing_after_zotero_5_upgrade
sadly, i didn't see a subfolder to import. there was a file called "storage" but I don't know how to import.
It was Zotero for Firefox version.
https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/data_missing_after_zotero_5_upgrade
sadly, i didn't see a subfolder to import. there was a file called "storage" but I don't know how to import.
It was Zotero for Firefox version.
(/Users/[username]/Zotero)
The timestamp and sizes of zotero.sqlite* files within that directory
today at 2:25pm size 1.1MB
Which version of Zotero you were using previously
started using in 2010, not sure if updated since then
The names of a few files you see in your Firefox profile directory
these files are located in Zotero sub file named storage
2AT85ZX9
2B6SXT7U
2B9SV751
But unless you were using an ancient (as in, <2017) version of Firefox until just now, this page isn't relevant. Just see the general section, Locating Missing Zotero Data.
As explained there, if you only have a 1 MB zotero.sqlite and no other files beginning with zotero.sqlite, and you have folders in 'storage' that correspond with recent usage of Zotero, then you likely deleted the Zotero .sqlite database and its backups. Usually this happens when people run utility software to try to free up disk space and accidentally delete the large Zotero database files.
This means all files beginning with "zotero.sqlite", not just zotero.sqlite itself. What other files are there?
I also found the following files when I go into Zotero preferences and it links me to these files below:
Under Zotero
zotero.sqlite today 2:25pm 1.1MB
zotero.sqlite-journal today 2:25pm 91KB
zotero.sqlite.bak today 2:25pm 1.1MB
Under Zotero -old
no zotero.sqlite
under Zotero in Firefox profile folder there are subfolders: locate pipes storage styles TMP translators...but no sqlite that I see. their dates are all 2010 except the storage which was accessed today.
I also found under Desktop
zotero.sqlite dec. 16, 2022 58.4MB
these files are located in Zotero sub file named storage
2AT85ZX9
2B6SXT7U
2B9SV751
What are the dates of those folders?
beginning June 2010 and continue...
But unless you were using an ancient (as in, <2017) version of Firefox until just now, this page isn't relevant. Just see the general section, Locating Missing Zotero Data.
This is possible. Out of fear of losing files i have avoided updating unless forced
That would be a Zotero database with data in it, though obviously only through December 16. Is that in a folder or directly on the desktop? Do you see a 'storage' folder there, and if so, what do you see in it?
there is no storage folder there
If you don't see any other large recent files beginning with "zotero.sqlite" on your computer, and you don't have any backups of your computer from before you did whatever cleanup caused this, the best you can do is close Zotero and copy that 58 MB zotero.sqlite file into your Zotero data directory, overwriting the empty 1.1 MB zotero.sqlite file that's there. When you start Zotero, you should see your data as of December 16.
Going forward, I'd strongly recommend using Zotero syncing to make sure your data is always up to date online, in addition to any regular, automatic backups you make of your Zotero data and/or your computer.
Success!
Have a great weekend!
setting up syncing now.