Upgrade Storagepdf's to icloud - working 1x, not working 23x
Hi. I try to store my pdf-files on iCloud. In settings>advanced>files and folders the base catalogue points to the designated folder. Zotfile (for renaming) points to the same folder. But still, when adding files, they end up in users>username>zotero>storage. Well, except once, when 1 particuarly wellbehaved pdf did what I hoped for and ended up in the iCloud-folder ... I'm doing something wrong, but I can't understand what ... Please help!
PDF files will be renamed/moved to Zotfile's Custom Location as linked files for attachment files ...
Downloaded via the Zotero Connector (as long as the actual PDF download is successful).
Right-click Manage Attachments\Rename & Move - for an existing attachment.
Right-click Add Attachments\Attach Stored Copy of File - for a file on your computer.
Right-click Attach New File - for the latest-dated file in Zotfile's Source Folder For Attaching New Files.
So if you want to move a file currently in Zotero\storage to Zotfile's Custom Location, use right-click Manage Attachments\Rename&Move.
On the other hand, *dragging* files into Zotero is managed by Zotero:
Drag and drop creates a copy of the file under Zotero\storage.
Drag + modifier key creates a link to the location of the file: to "add links to the original files, hold down Ctrl+Shift (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option (Mac) while dropping."
https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files#adding_files_via_the_zotero_window
Zotero's Linked Attachment Base Directory setting has no effect on where files are *stored*. It only affects where Zotero *looks* for linked files (and is only really needed when that location is different on two different computers).
I usually drag and drop files, since they are all over the place for the time being. And it's convenient to have Zotero creating complete entries instead of manually creating them.
I tried the Command-click on existing attachments - and it worked. So, just to make sure: if I want Zotero to create entries for me it's drag and drop, and in a second step I'll do the "rename and move"-thingie?
Firstly, as you found, for any PDF attachments that have mistakenly ended up under Zotero\storage - that you now want to move to your cloud folder as a linked file - just use (Command or right-click) Manage Attachments\Rename & Move (a Zotfile-added option). You must have have set Zotfile's Custom Location to your cloud-mirrored folder.
Future PDFs can be added as linked files by direct download via the Zotero Web Connector. You don't have to do anything extra. It just 'works' (again, as long as Zotfile's Custom Location has been set to the cloud-mirrored folder).
Drag and drop (*without* modifier key) is the only case where you need two steps, because Zotero copies the PDF under Zotero\storage; which you then have to move into linked storage. So just don't do that - if you need to drag and drop, add the modifier key. Zotero then creates the entry as a linked file at its current folder location (eg your cloud folder). But having linked PDFs all over your computer is probably best avoided, especially if you want to access them across computers.
It seems mildly complicated at first but becomes second nature quickly. It's a good idea to document your configuration (Zotfile and Zotero preferences, cloud -mirrored folder setup), with explanations, in case you have to set it up again (eg new computer).
There will be some changes necessary under Zotero v7 when it is finally released (has been in beta for 9 months). But v7-compatible options are already in place and there will be Zotfile users here outlining the changes required.