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--- kb:sync_reset_options [2017/12/13 03:09] – bwiernik
+++ kb:sync_reset_options [2021/03/22 02:58] (current) – dstillman
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-===== Sync Server Reset Options =====
+====== Zotero Sync Reset Options ======
-**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 of these options, please ask for help on the [[/forum|Zotero forums]].**
+This page documents the special sync operations available from the Sync → Reset pane of the Zotero preferences.
-By default, the Zotero sync process merges data between the Zotero desktop client and the Zotero server. In certain rare situations, Zotero's record of previous syncing may become corrupted, leading to sync errors or changes to items not being detected. These errors can be corrected by resetting your Zotero sync history, which force Zotero to check each of items or files for changes and sync them.
+**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.
-If the Zotero sync icon is spinning and you're trying to fix it, **do not** use the reset options. Instead, wait for the sync to finish or [[:reporting_problems|report the problem]] on the [[/forum|Zotero forums]].
+Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].
-**Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].**
+===== Replace Online Library =====
-==== Reset Data Syncing History ====
+"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.
-If changes made to an item are not being detected and synced on your computer, this option will reset the item data syncing history between your local Zotero database and the Zotero servers. This will merge your local data with the remote data on the Zotero servers, ignoring any existing sync history (i.e., the data in both locations will be merged).
+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.
-==== Reset File Syncing History ====
+==== If both the online library and your local database contain unwanted changes ====
-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.
+  - 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.
-==== Restoring Data/Undoing Changes ====
+See [[:zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup|Restoring Your Zotero Library from a Backup]] for specific instructions for your situation.
-If you have made changes to your local Zotero database that you wish to undo, and these changes have not yet synced with the Zotero servers, see [[:zotero_data#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup|Restoring from Backup]]. Note that this is unlikely if you have automatic sync enabled and an active internet connection.
+==== If the online library contains unwanted changes that haven't yet synced to your current computer ====
-If your changes have already synced, you can restore your online library from a backup of your local library by following these steps:
+  - 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.
-  - First, make sure to keep Zotero running, as the automatic backup might be overwritten when you quit the application.
+  - Make a backup of your [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]].
-  - If you're using syncing, temporarily disable auto-sync in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences.
+  - 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.)
-  - [[:zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_library|Locate your Zotero library]] and make a copy of any zotero.sqlite.bak files. The timestamps of the files may help you determine which file would contain the data you're trying to 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.
-  - Close Zotero. In your data directory, rename zotero.sqlite to zotero.sqlite.old, rename one of the .bak copies you made to zotero.sqlite, and restart Zotero. You should now see the backed-up version of your library.
-  - Were you to sync again now, the more recent data in the online library would replace the data you just restored. If you're trying to restore a small number of deleted items or notes, you can simply duplicate the items — by right-clicking and choosing "Duplicate Item(s)" — so that the new copies remain even after syncing.
-  - If many items were affected or collections were deleted, you can use Restore to Online Library from the Sync -> Reset pane of the Zotero preferences to force Zotero to upload the local version of the library, overwriting previously synced changes. [Note: This functionality will be available in Zotero 5.0.31. Until then, install the [[/support/dev_builds|5.0 Beta]], perform the restore, and switch back to the main version.]
-**Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].**
+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.
+===== Reset File Syncing History =====
+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.
+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.
 {{tag>kb sync}}