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attaching_files [2017/11/26 07:05] – [Web Snapshots] bwiernikattaching_files [2024/03/05 01:05] (current) – [Stored 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 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 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".+If you save a PDF directly to your library, Zotero will attempt to [[retrieve_pdf_metadata|retrieve metadata]] for it and create a parent item automatically. If the item can't be recognized, you'll be left with a standalone attachment. You can add a parent by either [[adding_items_to_zotero|saving an item from the web]] and dragging the PDF on top of it (if a PDF isn't attached automatically) or by right-clicking on the PDF, choosing Create Parent Item, and entering an identifier such as a DOI or ISBNIf all else fails, you can click Manual Entry after selecting Create Parent Item and manually enter metadata for the item. 
 +===== 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 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.+==== Stored Files ====
  
-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.+Stored files, which are the defaultare 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.
  
 +When using Zotero file syncing, you can choose to download stored files only as needed, avoiding the need to download all files to every device. An upcoming version of Zotero will allow you to choose how long to keep synced files on a given computer in order to limit disk space usage, temporarily redownloading files when you need them.
 +
 +To use stored files outside of Zotero, you can use Zotero's search and organization abilities to quickly find the relevant items and then either drag the attachments straight from Zotero (e.g., into an email) or right-click and choose Show File to view the files in your file manager. If you prefer to find files without going through Zotero, you can use your operating system's search features (e.g., Spotlight on macOS) or create a smart folder in your OS to show a list of all PDFs within your Zotero data directory and interact with the files directly. Zotero automatically renames files based on the parent item's bibliographic data, so you can easily find files by title, author, or year even from outside Zotero.
 +
 +We strongly recommend using stored files for the most seamless experience.
 +
 +==== Linked Files ====
 +
 +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. Linked files are also not supported in the [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zotero/id1513554812|Zotero iOS app]].
 +
 +You can add a linked file by selecting an existing item and choosing "Attach Link to File…" from the "Add Attachment menu in the Zotero toolbar or, to use [[retrieve_pdf_metadata|PDF metadata retrieval]], by selecting "Link to File…" from the New Item menu. You can also use the appropriate OS-specific modifier key for linking files while dragging in a file from the filesystem.
 +
 +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.
 +
 +Given the advanced nature of linked-file workflows, and the differences on individual systems, we're not able to help troubleshoot problems with specific setups.
 +
 +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 ====
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 == Adding linked files == == Adding linked files ==
  
-  * By default, files dragged into Zotero are added as **copies** of the original files. To instead add **links** to the original files, hold down ''Ctrl''+''Shift'' (Windows/Linux) or ''Cmd''+''Option'' (Mac) while dropping.+  * By default, files dragged into Zotero are added as **copies** of the original files. To instead add **links** to the original files, hold down ''Ctrl''+''Shift'' (Windows/Linux) or ''Cmd''+''Option'' (Mac) while dropping. (On macOS, it may be necessary to allow the Zotero window to come to the front before letting go for the modifier key to take effect.)
  
  
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 ===== Web Snapshots ===== ===== Web Snapshots =====
  
-{{https://www.zotero.org/static/images/support/save_button_webpage.png?nolink&300 }} +{{https://www.zotero.org/static/images/support/save_button_webpage.png?nolink&200 }}
- +
-Zotero can archive a webpage by creating a Snapshot—an offline file reflecting the state of the page at the time the snapshot was taken. If the Zotero Connector does not recognize data on a page, you can save the page as a Web Page item with an attached Snapshot by clicking the Zotero save button in the browser toolbar. You can also take a Snapshot of any page by right-clicking (click-and-hold in Safari) on the Zotero save button and choosing Save to Zotero (Web Page with Snapshot).  +
- +
-By default, Zotero will take Snapshots when importing items from web pages. You can disable this setting in the [[preferences/general|Zotero preferences]] +
- +
-Note that Zotero's snapshot feature sometimes can't correctly archive pages with complex code or structures, particularly sites whose content is dynamically produced (e.g., Google Books). +
  
 +Zotero can archive a webpage by creating a snapshot — an offline file reflecting the state of the page at the time the snapshot was taken. If the Zotero Connector does not recognize data on a page, you can save the page as a Web Page item with an attached snapshot by clicking the Zotero save button in the browser toolbar. You can also take a snapshot of any page by right-clicking (click-and-hold in Safari) on the Zotero save button and choosing "Save to Zotero (Web Page with Snapshot)"
  
 +By default, Zotero will save snapshots when importing items from webpages. You can disable this setting in the [[preferences/general|Zotero preferences]].
attaching_files.1511697928.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/11/26 07:05 by bwiernik