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zotero_data [2019/08/16 08:47] – [Troubleshooting Zotero Data issues] dstillmanzotero_data [2019/09/01 04:05] – dstillman
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-===== Backing Up Your Zotero Library =====+===== Backing Up Your Zotero Data =====
  
-We strongly recommend that you regularly back up your Zotero library. Syncing is not a good substitute for backing up: the Zotero servers only store the most recent version of your library, and it takes just a single (possibly automatic) sync to change the server copy.+We strongly recommend that you regularly back up your Zotero database. Syncing is not a good substitute for backing up: the Zotero servers only store the most recent version of your libraries, and it takes just a single (possibly automatic) sync to change the server copy.
  
-Rather than backing up just your Zotero library, we recommend using a backup utility that automatically backs up your entire hard drive to an external device on a regular basis. Most modern operating systems offer such functionality (e.g., Time Machine on Macs).+Rather than backing up just your Zotero database, we recommend using a backup utility that automatically backs up your entire hard drive to an external device on a regular basis. Most modern operating systems offer such functionality (e.g., Time Machine on Macs).
  
-If you want to back up your Zotero data specifically, [[zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_data|locate your Zotero data]], close Zotero, and copy your data directory (the //entire directory//, including ''storage'' and the other subdirectories) to a backup location, preferably on another storage device. As with all important data, it is a good idea to back up your Zotero data frequently.+If you want to back up your Zotero data specifically, [[zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_data|locate your Zotero data]], close Zotero, and copy your data directory (the //entire directory//, including ''zotero.sqlite'' and ''storage'' and the other subdirectories) to a backup location, preferably on another storage device. As with all important data, it is a good idea to back up your Zotero data frequently.
  
-**Warning**: Zotero lets you export your Zotero library as a Zotero RDF file. However, exporting and importing your library via RDF won't result in an exact copy of your library, and it isn't recommended as a backup strategy.+**Warning**: Zotero lets you export a Zotero library as a Zotero RDF file. However, exporting and importing your library via RDF won't result in an exact copy of your library, and it isn't recommended as a backup strategy.
  
 For step-by-step, illustrated backup instructions, see [[http://libguides.northwestern.edu/content.php?pid=68444&sid=676064|this guide provided by the Northwestern University library]]. For step-by-step, illustrated backup instructions, see [[http://libguides.northwestern.edu/content.php?pid=68444&sid=676064|this guide provided by the Northwestern University library]].
  
-===== Restoring Your Zotero Library from a Backup =====+===== Restoring Your Zotero Data From a Backup =====
  
 Between manual backups, automatic backups, and synced data, it's often possible to restore a lost Zotero library or restore data that was accidentally deleted. Between manual backups, automatic backups, and synced data, it's often possible to restore a lost Zotero library or restore data that was accidentally deleted.
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-==== Restoring your Zotero library using Zotero syncing====+==== Restoring Your Zotero Data Using Zotero Syncing====
  
 If you were using Zotero syncing and have an empty local library, you can likely restore your data simply by syncing with your online library. After verifying that your library is correct on zotero.org, simply reenter your username and password in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences and click the Sync button in the toolbar. (Zotero only syncs explicit deletions, so just syncing an empty library won't overwrite the server data **unless you deleted items manually**.) If you were using Zotero syncing and have an empty local library, you can likely restore your data simply by syncing with your online library. After verifying that your library is correct on zotero.org, simply reenter your username and password in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences and click the Sync button in the toolbar. (Zotero only syncs explicit deletions, so just syncing an empty library won't overwrite the server data **unless you deleted items manually**.)
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 If you have a local Zotero library that you want to overwrite, close Zotero and delete the old [[#locating_your_zotero_data|Zotero data directory]] before syncing. Syncing your database with a different Zotero account will also prompt you to remove the existing local database. If you have a local Zotero library that you want to overwrite, close Zotero and delete the old [[#locating_your_zotero_data|Zotero data directory]] before syncing. Syncing your database with a different Zotero account will also prompt you to remove the existing local database.
  
-==== Restoring your Zotero library from a backup ====+==== Restoring Your Zotero Data From a Backup ====
  
 If you were not using Zotero syncing (or were but don't want to perform a full sync) and have a backup of your Zotero data directory, you can restore your library by replacing your active data directory with your backed-up data directory. If you were not using Zotero syncing (or were but don't want to perform a full sync) and have a backup of your Zotero data directory, you can restore your library by replacing your active data directory with your backed-up data directory.
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 Note that, if you were using Zotero syncing, any changes you made to your library since the backup and subsequently synced to your online library will be applied to your restored database as soon as you sync. If you don't want that to happen, see the following section. Note that, if you were using Zotero syncing, any changes you made to your library since the backup and subsequently synced to your online library will be applied to your restored database as soon as you sync. If you don't want that to happen, see the following section.
  
-==== Restoring your Zotero library from a backup and overwriting synced changes ====+==== Restoring Your Zotero Data From a Backup and Overwriting Synced Changes ====
  
 If you or someone else made unwanted changes to your Zotero library and synced those changes to your online library, you may be able to restore data by using a local backup of your Zotero data directory. If you or someone else made unwanted changes to your Zotero library and synced those changes to your online library, you may be able to restore data by using a local backup of your Zotero data directory.
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 If you're happy with the results, you can re-enable auto-sync and continue working. If you're happy with the results, you can re-enable auto-sync and continue working.
  
-==== Restoring from the last automatic backup ====+==== Restoring From the Last Automatic Backup ====
  
-If you make a critical mistake while using Zotero — for example, if you accidentally delete a large set of items — you may be able to revert to the last automatic backup. +If you make a critical mistake while using Zotero — for example, if you accidentally delete a large set of items — you may be able to revert to the last automatic backup. Note that automatic backups contain only data, not files.
- +
-If you're using [[sync|syncing]] but don't have auto-sync enabled, first check your online library on zotero.org to see if the data is correct there. If so, close Zotero, go to your Zotero data directory, and rename it (e.g., to "Zotero-old"). Then, re-open Zotero and sync from the Zotero servers to the new empty local library. +
- +
-If you don't want to do a full sync or if the changes have already synced to the online library, follow these steps to restore from an automatic backup. Note that automatic backups contain only data, not files.+
  
   - First, make sure to keep Zotero running, as the automatic backup might be overwritten when you quit the application.   - First, make sure to keep Zotero running, as the automatic backup might be overwritten when you quit the application.
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   - [[zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_data|Locate your Zotero data]] 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.   - [[zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_data|Locate your Zotero data]] 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.
   - 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.   - 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 were using syncing and the undesired changes were already synced, syncing now would cause the more recent data in the online library to 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 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 you're trying to restore deleted collections, you can create duplicate collections and drag items from the old collections to the new ones. When you sync, the old collections will be deleted but the new ones will remain.     - If you're trying to restore deleted collections, you can create duplicate collections and drag items from the old collections to the new ones. When you sync, the old collections will be deleted but the new ones will remain.
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 If you're happy with the results, you can re-enable auto-sync and continue working. Keep zotero.sqlite.old until you're sure all your data is intact and in sync across all your computers. If you're happy with the results, you can re-enable auto-sync and continue working. Keep zotero.sqlite.old until you're sure all your data is intact and in sync across all your computers.
  
-==== Restoring from the last upgrade backup ====+==== Restoring From the Last Upgrade Backup ====
  
 When you upgrade to a major new version of Zotero, Zotero will automatically update your database to work with the new version. If you would like to revert to a previous version of Zotero at a later point, you will have to manually replace your database with the automatic backup Zotero made during the upgrade. In most cases this will be the highest-numbered "zotero.sqlite.[num].bak" file in your Zotero data directory. When you upgrade to a major new version of Zotero, Zotero will automatically update your database to work with the new version. If you would like to revert to a previous version of Zotero at a later point, you will have to manually replace your database with the automatic backup Zotero made during the upgrade. In most cases this will be the highest-numbered "zotero.sqlite.[num].bak" file in your Zotero data directory.
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 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). 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? ====+===== Locating Missing Zotero Data =====
  
 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. 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.
zotero_data.txt · Last modified: 2023/07/13 17:52 by dstillman