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kb:mendeley_import [2018/06/21 05:12] – [The Import Process] dstillman | kb:mendeley_import [2018/08/16 16:00] – dstillman | ||
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====== How do I import a Mendeley library into Zotero? ====== | ====== How do I import a Mendeley library into Zotero? ====== | ||
- | Zotero includes support for directly importing | + | Zotero includes support for directly importing a Mendeley database into Zotero via File → “Import…”, |
===== Mendeley Database Encryption ===== | ===== Mendeley Database Encryption ===== | ||
- | Mendeley 1.19 and later have begun encrypting the local database, making it unreadable by Zotero and other standard database tools. | + | Mendeley 1.19 and later have begun encrypting the local database, making it unreadable by Zotero and other standard database tools. |
- | The [[https:// | + | The [[https:// |
- | Direct access to the Mendeley database is the only local way to export the full contents of one’s own research. The export formats supported by Mendeley don’t contain folders, various metadata fields (date added, favorite, and others), or PDF annotations. Mendeley offers a web-based API, but it only contains uploaded data, so relying on it would mean that anyone wanting to export their own data would first need to upload all their data and files to Mendeley’s servers. The API is under Mendeley’s control and can be changed or discontinued at any time. | + | Direct access to the Mendeley database is the only local way to export the full contents of one’s own research. The export formats supported by Mendeley don’t contain folders, various metadata fields (date added, favorite, and others), or PDF annotations. Mendeley offers a web-based API, but it only contains uploaded data, so relying on it would mean that anyone wanting to export their own data would first need to upload all their data and files to Elsevier’s servers. The API is under Elsevier’s control and can be changed or discontinued at any time. |
===== The Import Process ===== | ===== The Import Process ===== | ||
- | ** If you haven’t yet upgraded to Mendeley 1.19:** | + | ** If you have a Mendeley version older than 1.18:** |
+ | |||
+ | Upgrade to Mendeley 1.18 using the [[#Mendeley 1.18 installers|links below]] and then start the import in Zotero by going to File → “Import…” and choosing the “Mendeley” option. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ** If you have Mendeley 1.18 and haven’t yet upgraded to Mendeley 1.19 or later:** | ||
Start the import in Zotero by going to File → “Import…” and choosing the “Mendeley” option. | Start the import in Zotero by going to File → “Import…” and choosing the “Mendeley” option. | ||
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** If you’ve already upgraded to 1.19 and have an automatic backup of your Mendeley SQLite database in the Mendeley data directory: | ** If you’ve already upgraded to 1.19 and have an automatic backup of your Mendeley SQLite database in the Mendeley data directory: | ||
- | Locate your [[https:// | + | Locate your [[https:// |
If the backupSlot// | If the backupSlot// | ||
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** If you’ve already upgraded to 1.19 and are not able to import from a recent backup of your Mendeley SQLite database:** | ** If you’ve already upgraded to 1.19 and are not able to import from a recent backup of your Mendeley SQLite database:** | ||
- | It's possible to recreate an unencrypted database by syncing from an older version of Mendeley Desktop. However, this requires syncing all data and files to Mendeley's servers before downgrading. Even syncing data alone isn't sufficient: Mendeley sync doesn' | + | It's possible to recreate an unencrypted database by syncing from an older version of Mendeley Desktop. However, this requires syncing all data and files to Elsevier's servers before downgrading. Even syncing data alone isn't sufficient: Mendeley sync doesn' |
- | If you don't want to sync any data to Mendeley's servers, your only option is to use one of the available export formats, such as BibTeX, to transfer your data to Zotero. As discussed above, you'll lose your folder structure and some other data. | + | If you don't want to sync any data to Elsevier's servers, your only option is to use one of the available export formats, such as BibTeX, to transfer your data to Zotero. As discussed above, you'll lose your folder structure and some other data. |
If you're syncing your library data but don't want to sync files, you'll need to manually relink files in Mendeley after downgrading or in Zotero after importing. | If you're syncing your library data but don't want to sync files, you'll need to manually relink files in Mendeley after downgrading or in Zotero after importing. | ||
- | (Note that at Zotero we strongly believe you should be fully in control of your own research data, and we don't think you should have to make these choices, but these are the options given the design decisions | + | (Note that at Zotero we strongly believe you should be fully in control of your own research data, and we don't think you should have to make these choices, but these are the available |
- | If you're comfortable syncing your data to Mendeley, or have already done so, here are the steps: | + | If you're comfortable syncing your data to Elsevier, or have already done so, here are the steps: |
- | - Make sure you've synced all data and — if you want to avoid reassociating files manually — files to Mendeley's servers. | + | - Make sure you've synced all data and — if you want to avoid reassociating files manually — files to Elsevier's servers. |
- Move your database out of the [[https:// | - Move your database out of the [[https:// | ||
- Download Mendeley 1.18. | - Download Mendeley 1.18. | ||
- | - Perform a fresh sync to pull down your Mendeley data from the Mendeley | + | - Perform a fresh sync to pull down your Mendeley data from the Elsevier |
- Start the import in Zotero by going to File → “Import…” and choosing the “Mendeley” option. | - Start the import in Zotero by going to File → “Import…” and choosing the “Mendeley” option. | ||