Zotero references all missing

Currently no references are showing up at all in my Zotero library. So far I have tried:
* Checking for incompatible extensions (happy to list the ones I have installed if that helps)
* Checking Z was using the correct data directory (I am using a custom directory, but switching to the default one and restarting did not restore my data)
* Restoring from the sqlite backup
(as outlined here http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data )

None of the above worked. I do back up my hard drive regularly, but I have not yet tried to restore from an external backup for two reasons: first, I backed up recently and don't know if what I backed up was an empty zotero library - restoring it might therefore not be a good idea. Second, my custom zotero directory is about 400MB, and the storage directory is full of pdfs and folders suggesting my data is all still there - it's just that Zotero isn't seeing it.

I also have a (synced) online account which is (still) reporting that I'm at the limit for free storage, despite my seeing no entries in my library.

Now a confession: I think the problem originally came about because I installed zotero on a work computer and synced my data to it to use. Because it's a shared computer I then deleted everything from the library and turned sync off. I can only assume in the short while between these things happening a sync took place.

Any suggestions gratefully received...
  • Checking for incompatible extensions (happy to list the ones I have installed if that helps)
    You've tried disabling all of them? We don't actually care which ones you have installed unless you find an unlisted conflict—you just need to disable them all as the first step.
    Second, my custom zotero directory is about 400MB, and the storage directory is full of pdfs and folders suggesting my data is all still there - it's just that Zotero isn't seeing it.
    How big is the SQLite file?
    Because it's a shared computer I then deleted everything from the library and turned sync off. I can only assume in the short while between these things happening a sync took place.
    If auto-sync was enabled it would have synced the deletion within 15 seconds. But the deletion should have deleted all your PDF files as well once it propagated to the other machine.
  • edited May 13, 2010
    Ah. Posting this made me realise what the problem was - everything had been synced to the trash folder!

    Manually - and slowly - restoring everything from there now.

    Thank you, incidentally, for the extremely rapid response, Dan!
  • Yeah, I almost suggested that.

    Why slowly? You should be able to just select them all and click Restore.
  • For some reason I can only see the 'restore to library' button when I have an individual item selected...think it has to do with having snapshots and attachments 'under' the reference item?
  • You need to have only top-level items selected.
  • Select All followed by the "-" (minus) key should do the trick.
  • That has saved me a huge amount of time - many thanks!
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