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zotero_data [2019/09/01 04:02] – [Backing Up Your Zotero Library] dstillmanzotero_data [2020/07/10 12:38] – [Locating Missing Zotero Data] dstillman
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 **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. **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.
- +===== Restoring Your Zotero Data From a Backup =====
-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 =====+
  
 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 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.
-    - If many items were affected or collections were deleted, you can use [[kb:sync_reset_options#restore_to_online_library|Restore to Online Library]] to force Zotero to upload the local version of the library, overwriting previously synced changes.+    - If many items were affected or collections were deleted, you can use [[kb:sync_reset_options#replace_online_library|Replace Online Library]] to force Zotero to upload the local version of the library, overwriting previously synced changes.
  
 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. Note that automatic backups contain only data, not files. 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.
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     - 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.
-    - If many items were affected or collections were deleted, you can use [[kb:sync_reset_options#restore_to_online_library|Restore to Online Library]] to force Zotero to upload the local version of the library, overwriting previously synced changes.+    - If many items were affected or collections were deleted, you can use [[kb:sync_reset_options#replace_online_library|Replace Online Library]] to force Zotero to upload the local version of the library, overwriting previously synced changes.
  
 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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 ===== Locating Missing Zotero Data ===== ===== Locating Missing Zotero Data =====
 +
 +**Be sure to close Zotero before making any changes to the Zotero data directory.**
  
 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.
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 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'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 you see only 1 MB or 5 MB zotero.sqlite files, look in the 'storage' folder (if one exists) for folders with dates 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. +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 computer 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. 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.
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 When specifying a custom data directory location, keep in mind that Zotero doesn't move or copy any data. You still need to copy your data into the specified location. Also, when pointing the data directory location to an existing directory, be sure to specify the parent directory containing zotero.sqlite and 'storage', not the 'storage' directory itself. When specifying a custom data directory location, keep in mind that Zotero doesn't move or copy any data. You still need to copy your data into the specified location. Also, when pointing the data directory location to an existing directory, be sure to specify the parent directory containing zotero.sqlite and 'storage', not the 'storage' directory itself.
  
-Finally, remember to close Zotero before making any changes to Zotero files.+If you've gone through these steps and still can't find your data, post to the Zotero Forums with the following info: 
 + 
 +  * The names, sizes, and dates of the zotero.sqlite* files in your current data directory 
 +  * Whether there's a 'storage' folder containing subfolders with dates corresponding to your previous usage of Zotero 
 +  * Whether your current data directory is in the default location ("Zotero" in your home folder) 
 +  * When you last used Zotero on this computer 
 +  * What you've tried so far
zotero_data.txt · Last modified: 2023/07/13 17:52 by dstillman