Differences

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--- attaching_files [2019/10/15 00:10] – [File Copies and Links] dstillman
+++ attaching_files [2020/03/19 09:42] – [Stored Files and Linked Files] convert linked files to stored files moved to "Tools" menu fflamerie
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 If you have standalone files in your library, you make them into child items by dragging them onto a regular Zotero item, using the [[retrieve_PDF_metadata|Retrieve PDF Metadata]] function, or right-clicking on the standalone attachment and choosing "Create Parent Item".
-===== File Copies and Links =====
+===== Stored Files and Linked Files =====
-Files can be added to your Zotero library as either copies or links. With copies, a 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 contrast, when a file is linked, Zotero only stores a link to the location of the original file. Linked files are not synced, nor are they deleted if the attachment item is deleted in Zotero.
+Files can be added to your Zotero library as either stored files or linked files.
-If you have linked files and you are using Zotero on multiple computers, it 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.
+Stored files, which 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 a stored file from a file on your computer, the file is copied to the Zotero data directory, so you may wish to delete the original to avoid confusion.
+With linked files, Zotero only stores a link to the location of the original file on your computer. Linked files are not synced, nor are they deleted if the attachment item is deleted in Zotero. They also can't be used within a 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 =====