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| kb:sync_reset_options [2017/11/12 19:53] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | kb:sync_reset_options [2021/03/22 02:58] (current) – dstillman |
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| <html><p id="zotero-5-update-warning" style="color: red; font-weight: bold">We’re | ====== Zotero Sync Reset Options ====== |
| in the process of updating the documentation for | |
| <a href="https://www.zotero.org/blog/zotero-5-0">Zotero 5.0</a>. Some documentation | |
| may be outdated in the meantime. Thanks for your understanding.</p></html> | |
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| | This page documents the special sync operations available from the Sync → Reset pane of the Zotero preferences. |
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| ===== Sync Server Reset Options ===== | **Please note:** These operations are for use only in rare, specific situations and are not necessary during normal usage or for general troubleshooting. In many cases, resetting will cause additional problems. If you're not sure what these options do, please ask for help on the [[/forum|Zotero Forums]] before using them. |
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| **The following operations are for use only in rare, specific situations and should not be used for general troubleshooting. In many cases, resetting will cause additional problems.** | Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]]. |
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| By default, the Zotero sync process merges data between the Zotero client and the Zotero server. In certain rare situations, you may prefer to overwrite all data on one side with data from the other side. The reset mode to use depends on your situation: | ===== Replace Online Library ===== |
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| If the Zotero sync icon is spinning and you're trying to fix it, **do not** use the reset options. See [[Sync Queuing]] for more information. | "Replace Online Library" allows you to overwrite an online Zotero library with data from your local Zotero database. This can be useful if you've made unwanted changes to a Zotero library locally and those changes have already synced to the online library, or if unwanted changes were made on another computer and uploaded to the online library but those changes haven't yet been synced to your current computer. |
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| If all of your desired data is on the Zotero server, use [[#Restore from Server]]. | Note that "Replace Online Library" is only necessary when you want to undo changes already applied to the online library. It isn't necessary if you've simply made changes locally that you want to sync. For example, if the online library is empty and you add many items locally, those items will automatically be uploaded — the local items won't be deleted simply because they don't exist in the online library. Similarly, if you delete many items locally, those deletions will automatically be synced to the online library without your needing to take any special action. |
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| If all (or nearly all) of your desired data is on one computer, use [[#Restore to/from Server]]. | ==== If both the online library and your local database contain unwanted changes ==== |
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| If you've transferred a Zotero library to another computer using export/import or by copying a Zotero 1.0 data directory and have added new data on more than one computer, you can use [[#restore_tofrom_server_manual_merge|Restore to/from Server + Manual Merge]] to combine your libraries without creating duplicates. | - Temporarily disable auto-sync in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences. |
| | - Restore your local data from either an external backup you made or one of the automatic backups in the [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]]. |
| | - Use "Replace Online Library" to upload the local version of your library. |
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| **In all cases, make sure to first [[http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].** | See [[:zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup|Restoring Your Zotero Library from a Backup]] for specific instructions for your situation. |
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| ==== Restore from Server ==== | ==== If the online library contains unwanted changes that haven't yet synced to your current computer ==== |
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| First, check your Zotero library on zotero.org to verify that it contains all of your data. To view your library, log in and then click the My Library tab. | - If Zotero isn't yet open and you want to prevent it from syncing, temporarily disable your computer's network connection (e.g., by disabling wifi), open Zotero, and then ensure that auto-sync is disabled in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences. |
| | - Make a backup of your [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]]. |
| | - Ensure that other computers are fully in sync with the online library. (The specific data being synced doesn't matter, as you'll be overwriting online library with the local version, but for the restore to apply to other computers without potential conflicts they need to already be in sync. It may be a good idea to make a backup of the Zotero data directory on any other computers before performing the restore.) |
| | - Use "Replace Online Library" to upload the local version of your library. Be sure to choose the correct library from the drop-down. If you need to overwrite more than one online library, perform the restore separately for each library. |
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| Next, if you have Zotero's auto-sync enabled, open the Zotero preferences without opening the Zotero pane. Go to Firefox's Tools menu, select Add-ons, and select the Extensions tab. Select Zotero in the list that appears and click the Preferences button. | If the restore was successful, you can re-enable auto-sync. Keep a backup of your Zotero data directory until all applicable computers have had a chance to sync the restored version. |
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| Once in the Zotero preferences, click the Sync pane and the Reset tab within that. Select "Restore from Zotero Server", and then click the Reset button. | ===== Reset File Syncing History ===== |
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| ==== Restore to/from Server ==== | If changes made to attachment files are not being synced (e.g., edits, annotations, deleting an attachment, adding a new attachment), this option will reset the file syncing history between your local Zotero database and your storage service (either the Zotero servers or your WebDAV provider). This will cause Zotero to compare all attachment files on your local computer with the ones on your storage service, making the most recent changes to files. |
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| Start on the computer containing the Zotero data you want to keep, and make sure Firefox is closed (or auto-sync is disabled) on the other computers. | Resetting file sync history should not be necessary, so if you find that files aren't syncing correctly, see [[Files Not Syncing]] for help troubleshooting and reporting the issue. |
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| If you have auto-sync enabled, open the Zotero preferences without opening the Zotero pane. Go to Firefox's Tools menu, select Add-ons, and select the Extensions tab. Select Zotero in the list that appears and click the Preferences button. Once in the Zotero preferences, click the Sync pane and the Reset tab within that. Select "Restore to Zotero Server", and then click the Reset button. | |
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| Next, on each other computer you want to sync, open Firefox and, using the same method as above, access the Zotero preferences without opening the Zotero pane. In the Zotero preferences on each computer, click the Sync pane and the Reset tab within that, select "Restore from Zotero Server", and the click the Reset button. | |
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| Your data should now be fully in sync across all your computers. | |
| ==== Restore to/from Server + Manual Merge ==== | |
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| If you have a combination of identical data and new data on multiple computers, you can do a "Restore to Zotero Server" on the computer with the most recent data and then manually save differing data on other computers. | |
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| On the other computers, if you have auto-sync enabled, first access the Zotero sync preferences without opening the Zotero pane. Go to Firefox's Tools menu, select Add-ons, and select the Extensions tab. Select Zotero in the list that appears, click the Preferences button, select the Sync pane, and make sure "Sync automatically" is not checked. | |
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| Next open Zotero and sort My Library in the middle column by clicking on Date Added. (If you don't see Date Added, click the square button to the right of the column header row and select it from the list.) Select the recently added items and export them to Zotero RDF. If you've added or modified notes attached to older items, you'll want to export those as well. | |
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| After exporting, open Zotero's Sync preferences, click the Reset tab, select "Restore from Zotero Server", and click Reset. After restoring, import the RDF file(s) you export back in and sync normally with the server by clicking the green sync icon. The imported items will be synced to your other computers. | |
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| You will need to relink reimported items in any documents created with the word processor plugins. | |
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| ==== Full Sync ==== | |
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| Full Sync is for troubleshooting only and should generally be used only if a Zotero developer recommends its use. In some cases, performing a Full Sync can cause new problems, particularly with large databases. | |
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| A full sync ignores all sync history, pulling all data from the server and comparing it to all local data. If any of the same items are different, you'll see a conflict resolution dialog allowing you to choose which copy to keep. | |
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| {{tag>kb sync}} | {{tag>kb sync}} |
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