Differences

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--- zotero_data [2019/03/05 00:21] – [Library Contents] dstillman
+++ zotero_data [2019/08/16 08:47] – dstillman
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 Bear in mind that word processor documents used with later Zotero versions may not be usable with earlier versions, and Zotero developers and community members will provide only limited support for earlier versions (mostly to recommend upgrading to the current version).
-===== Troubleshooting Zotero Data issues =====
-==== Where did my items go? ====
+===== Where did my items go? =====
-If you open Zotero to find your library blank or missing lots of data, don't panic. Zotero is mostly likely simply looking in the wrong location for the data. You need to make sure that Zotero is looking in the right location for your Zotero files and that the right files are in that spot.
+If you open Zotero to find your library blank or missing lots of data, don't panic. Data is never removed unless you delete it, so Zotero is most likely looking at a different database from the one you were using previously. You need to make sure that Zotero is looking in the right location for your Zotero files and that the right files are in that spot.
-Use the "Show Data Directory" button in the [[preferences/advanced|Advanced]] pane of the Zotero preferences to reveal the current data directory. If this isn't the directory you were expecting, you can either specify a different data directory from the preferences or, with Zotero closed, rename that directory (e.g., to "Zotero-Old") and move your desired Zotero directory to the specified location. If you're not sure where your most recent Zotero data is located, it's a good idea to look for larger versions of zotero.sqlite or zotero.sqlite.bak stored elsewhere on your hard drive and to look at the dates of folders within the 'storage' directory. An empty Zotero database will be either approximately 1 MB (~1,000 KB) or 5 MB.
+If you have recently updated to Zotero 5 and are missing data, see [[kb/data_missing_after_zotero_5_upgrade|Missing Data After Zotero 5 Upgrade]]. Zotero 5 was released in 2017, so this no longer applies to most people.
-If you have recently updated to Zotero 5 and are missing data, see [[kb/data_missing_after_zotero_5_upgrade|Missing Data After Zotero 5 Upgrade]].
+If you're using a different computer from the one where you created the missing data, and your data is also missing in your online library, your data simply hasn't synced from the computer where you created it. See [[kb:Changes Not Syncing]].
+If you're using the same computer where you originally created the missing data, you'll need to locate your Zotero data on this computer. Use the "Show Data Directory" button in the [[preferences/advanced|Advanced]] pane of the Zotero preferences to reveal the current data directory. Take note of the names, sizes, and dates of the zotero.sqlite* files in this folder. An empty Zotero database will be either approximately 1 MB (~1,000 KB) or 5 MB.
+If you see only 1 MB or 5 MB zotero.sqlite files, look in the 'storage' folder (if one exists) for folders with timestamps corresponding with your previous usage of Zotero. If you see them, this is likely the Zotero data directory you were using previously, but something happened to the Zotero database, so you may need to [[#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup1|restore a zotero.sqlite file from a backup]].
+If this isn't the directory you were expecting, or if you don't see a 'storage' directory, you'll need to locate your previous data directory and either specify a different data directory from the preferences or, with Zotero closed, rename the current directory (e.g., to "Zotero-Old") and move your desired Zotero directory to the specified location. If you're not sure where your most recent Zotero data is located, look for larger versions of zotero.sqlite or zotero.sqlite.bak stored elsewhere on your hard drive and look at the dates of the folders within the 'storage' folder.
 Unless you have a good reason to use a custom data directory location, we recommend using the [[#default_locations|default location]] in your home directory.