Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- kb:sync_reset_options [2017/12/13 04:11] – dstillman
+++ kb:sync_reset_options [2021/03/22 02:58] (current) – dstillman
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-===== Zotero Sync Reset Options =====
+====== Zotero Sync Reset Options ======
-**The following 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.**
+This page documents the special sync operations available from the Sync → Reset pane of the Zotero preferences.
-**Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].**
+**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.
-==== Restore to Online Library ====
+Before using any options on this page, make sure to first [[:zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|back up your Zotero library]].
-If you've made changes to a Zotero library locally and these changes have already synced to the online library, you can restore the online library from a backup of your local library by following these steps:
+===== Replace Online Library =====
+"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.
+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.
+==== If both the online library and your local database contain unwanted changes ====
   - Temporarily disable auto-sync in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences.
-  - Without closing Zotero, make a backup of all zotero.sqlite files in your [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]].
+  - Restore your local data from either an external backup you made or one of the automatic backups in the [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]].
-  - Restore your database from either an external backup you've made or one of the automatic backups in your Zotero data directory. See [[:zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup|Restoring Your Zotero Library from a Backup]] for more details.
+  - Use "Replace Online Library" to upload the local version of your library.
-  - You should now see your data as you want to keep it in Zotero. 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.
+See [[:zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup|Restoring Your Zotero Library from a Backup]] for specific instructions for your situation.
-    - 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.]
+==== If the online library contains unwanted changes that haven't yet synced to your current computer ====
+  - 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.
-If you're happy with the results, you can re-enable auto-sync and continue working. Keep any backups you created until you're sure all your data is intact.
+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 ====
+===== 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.