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attaching_files [2017/11/26 07:05] – [Web Snapshots] bwiernikattaching_files [2020/03/27 16:35] – [Child versus Standalone Attachment Files] dstillman
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 ===== Child versus Standalone Attachment Files ===== ===== Child versus Standalone Attachment Files =====
  
-Files can be added either as //standalone items//or as //child items// to [[getting_stuff_into_your_library|regular Zotero bibliographic metadata items]]. It is generally always a good idea to work with files as child items. Standalone files cannot be used with many of Zotero's features, including citing, My Publications, and most types of searching, because they lack bibliographic metadata.+Files can be added either as //standalone items// or as //child items// to [[adding_items_to_zotero|regular Zotero bibliographic metadata items]]. It is generally always a good idea to work with files as child items. Standalone files cannot be used with many of Zotero's features, including citing, My Publications, and most types of searching, because they lack bibliographic metadata.
  
-If you have standalone files in your library, you make them into child items by dragging them onto regular Zotero item, using the [[retrieve_PDF_metadata|Retrieve PDF Metadata]] function, or right-clicking on the standalone attachment and choosing "Create Parent Item".+If you save a PDF directly to your library, Zotero will attempt to retrieve metadata for it and create a parent item automatically. If the item can't be recognized, you'll be left with standalone attachment. You can either add a parent item another way (e.g.via the web browser or Add Item by Identifier) and drag the standalone attachment onto it or, if all else fails, right-click on the standalone attachment, choose "Create Parent Item", and enter metadata manually (but this is rarely necessary). 
 +===== Stored Files and Linked Files =====
  
-===== File Copies and Links =====+Files can be added to your Zotero library as either stored files or linked files.
  
-Files can be added to your Zotero library as either copies or links. With copiesa copy of the original file is stored in the [[zotero_data|Zotero data directory]]. File copies are synced if [[sync|file syncing]] has been set up. In contrastwhen a file is linked, Zotero only stores a link to the location of the original file. Linked files are not synced.+Stored fileswhich are the default, are stored within the [[zotero_data|Zotero data directory]], and Zotero will automatically manage them, including deleting them if you delete the attachment item in Zotero. If you use [[sync|file syncing]], Zotero will automatically sync stored files between devices and make them available in your online library on zotero.org. If you add stored file from a file on your computerthe file is copied to the Zotero data directory, so you may wish to delete the original to avoid confusion.
  
-If you have linked files and you are using Zotero on multiple computersit is a good idea to set the [[preferences/advanced#Linked_Attachment_Base_Directory|linked attachment base directory]] so that linked files can be correctly found on each computer.+With linked filesZotero only stores a link to the location of the original file on your computer. Linked files are not syncednor are they deleted if the attachment item is deleted in Zotero. They also can't be used within group library, as there's no guarantee that other group members would have access to the same file location. If you do choose to use linked files, the third-party [[http://zotfile.com/|ZotFile]] plugin can help with an efficient linked-file workflow.
  
 +If you sync linked files using an external tool (Dropbox, etc.) for use on multiple computers, it is a good idea to set the [[preferences/advanced#Linked_Attachment_Base_Directory|linked attachment base directory]] so that the files can be found by Zotero on each computer even if the containing folder is at a different location in the filesystem.
 +
 +If you wish to convert linked files to stored files in order to allow Zotero to manage them, you can do so from the Tools → Manage Attachments menu.
 ===== Adding Files ===== ===== Adding Files =====
  
 ==== Adding Files via the Browser ==== ==== Adding Files via the Browser ====
  
-Zotero can automatically save associated web page snapshots and PDFs when you use the [[getting_stuff_into_your_library#web_translators|Zotero Connector save button in your web browser]] (whether associated snapshots and PDFs are saved can be changed in the Zotero [[preferences]]). Such snapshots and PDFs are stored as copies in [[zotero_data|Zotero data directory]], and appear as child items of the saved item.+Zotero can automatically save associated web page snapshots and PDFs when you use the [[adding_items_to_zotero#web_translators|Zotero Connector save button in your web browser]] (whether associated snapshots and PDFs are saved can be changed in the Zotero [[preferences]]). Such snapshots and PDFs are stored as copies in [[zotero_data|Zotero data directory]], and appear as child items of the saved item.
  
 ==== Adding Files via the Zotero window ==== ==== Adding Files via the Zotero window ====
attaching_files.txt · Last modified: 2024/03/05 01:05 by dstillman