Problems with Shared Files and 2.0rc5

rozen
I have just started using Zotero so I apologize if this is an inappropriate question or forum.

I have a fairly large Library containing containing 831 items and it resides on a Mac OSX machine. On my Linux box I have shared access to the Zotero folder and have set my Data Directory to point to that folder. However, Zotero will not open and the status bar icon seems to include an error indication in the form of a triangle. However, if I copy that folder to my desktop, then Zotero acts fine.

When I try to do the same thing on a second OSX machine, I get the same result but with the additional error message: "Database upgrade error."

Zotero works fine on the MAC where the Zotero folder actually resides and where the folder was updated by the installation of 2.0rc5.

Am I trying to do something which is not allowed? Did I get into some kind of a hole where my upgrade to 2.0rc5 failed on a Database Update? If so did it leave some kind of a footprint that I could override? I tried uninstalling Zotero and reinstalling to no effect. I did not try to reinstall Firefox 3.6 or try a different profile. A new Firefox profile will be my next attempt.

I would appreciate any suggestion because the Zotero folder is nearly 200 MB (it contains a number of PDF's) and I would prefer not to copy it back and forth. It is seems too large for the sync facility.

Thanks in Advance,
Don
  • rozen
    I have just created a new profile for Firefox and installed Zotero, pointed it to the shared folder and it now works. So I then exited Firefox and invoked it using my default profile, pointed to the shared file and it now appears to work there also. This seems very strange.

    Again, I would appreciate any comments.
    Thanks in Advance,
    Don
  • dstillman
    Report ID for the upgrade error?

    In general, if you can't open Zotero, you need to follow the steps in the Advanced Instructions section of the Reporting Bugs page and let us know what appears in the Error Console.
  • noksagt
    by "shared files," do you mean that you are using a network drive to access the same data directory from multiple computers? If so: the sqlite database should not be opened by more than one client. You could potentially mount the storage subdirectory (containing the PDFs) from a shared drive, but should not be mounting the parent zotero data directory this way.

    200 MB is larger than the free sync allows, but you could upgrade to have more storage space.

    Alternatively, you can setup WebDAV syncing.
  • azerbabe 1
    I am extremely not computer literate and have been exploring Zotero as a Research Assistant for my assigned professor who is interested in using it. A basic question...how do you share files? I need something in plain English that would explain this process to me. I am on a time constraint, so any assistance I can get quick would be a big help! Thanks!

    Sandy Wagoner
  • noksagt
    Please don't hijack threads that aren't related directly to your query & please let us know whether you have looked at the existing documentation and where you need more help:
    http://www.zotero.org/support/sync
    http://www.zotero.org/support/file_sync
  • adamsmith
    azerbabe - please start a new thread. This isn't the same issue.
    As a start, look here
    http://www.zotero.org/support/groups
    and here
    http://www.zotero.org/support/storage_faq#how_does_zotero_file_storage_work_with_group_libraries
    and then be specific about what (if anything) you don't understand.
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