Upgrade StorageLinked file (via ZotMoov) gets copied back to storage when accessed
Zotero version: 7 (latest)
OS: Ubuntu Linux
Plugins: ZotMoov, Better BibTeX, Attanger (disabled during testing)
I use ZotMoov to move PDFs to an external folder as linked files. The setup:
- ZotMoov: File Behavior = Move, Directory = a custom folder outside Zotero
- "Automatically Move/Copy Files When Added" = enabled
- Linked Attachment Base Directory = set to my vault folder
- "Automatically attach associated PDFs" = unchecked
- File Syncing = disabled
**Problem:**
When I access a linked file item (e.g., right-click → Show File, or access it via the Obsidian Zotero Integration plugin), Zotero copies the PDF back into ~/Zotero/storage/ under a new hash folder. The Show File path also changes from the linked file location to the storage location.
**Steps to reproduce:**
1. Add a paper to Zotero. ZotMoov moves the PDF to the external folder as a linked file.
2. Delete the PDF from ~/Zotero/storage/ if it exists there.
3. Right-click the item → Show File.
4. The PDF reappears in ~/Zotero/storage// and Show File now points there instead of the external folder.
The original PDF in the external folder is still there — so the file is duplicated.
**Expected behavior:**
Show File should open the linked file location without copying anything to storage.
Is this intended behavior or a bug? Is there a way to prevent this?
OS: Ubuntu Linux
Plugins: ZotMoov, Better BibTeX, Attanger (disabled during testing)
I use ZotMoov to move PDFs to an external folder as linked files. The setup:
- ZotMoov: File Behavior = Move, Directory = a custom folder outside Zotero
- "Automatically Move/Copy Files When Added" = enabled
- Linked Attachment Base Directory = set to my vault folder
- "Automatically attach associated PDFs" = unchecked
- File Syncing = disabled
**Problem:**
When I access a linked file item (e.g., right-click → Show File, or access it via the Obsidian Zotero Integration plugin), Zotero copies the PDF back into ~/Zotero/storage/ under a new hash folder. The Show File path also changes from the linked file location to the storage location.
**Steps to reproduce:**
1. Add a paper to Zotero. ZotMoov moves the PDF to the external folder as a linked file.
2. Delete the PDF from ~/Zotero/storage/ if it exists there.
3. Right-click the item → Show File.
4. The PDF reappears in ~/Zotero/storage// and Show File now points there instead of the external folder.
The original PDF in the external folder is still there — so the file is duplicated.
**Expected behavior:**
Show File should open the linked file location without copying anything to storage.
Is this intended behavior or a bug? Is there a way to prevent this?
-
AbeJellinek Zotero TeamIf the file is still in ~/Zotero/storage, it isn't being converted to a linked file attachment, and Zotero is doing the right thing by redownloading it on open. But that's pretty much all we can say; for issues with plugins, you'll need to contact the plugin developer.