Differences

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

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
zotero_data [2019/12/16 21:17] – [Backing Up Your Zotero Data] Remove outdated instructions from Northwestern dstillmanzotero_data [2020/07/14 19:49] – [Locating Your Zotero Data] dstillman
Line 7: Line 7:
 ==== Default Locations ==== ==== Default Locations ====
  
-=== Zotero 5.0 ===+=== Zotero 5 ===
  
 Unless you have selected a custom data directory in the [[preferences/advanced|Advanced]] pane of the Zotero preferences, your Zotero data is stored within the following OS-dependent directories: Unless you have selected a custom data directory in the [[preferences/advanced|Advanced]] pane of the Zotero preferences, your Zotero data is stored within the following OS-dependent directories:
Line 16: Line 16:
 |**Linux**|<code>~/Zotero</code>| |**Linux**|<code>~/Zotero</code>|
  
-=== Zotero 4.0 for Firefox ===+=== Zotero 4 for Firefox (2017 and earlier) ===
  
 |**macOS**|<code>/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code> <html><small>Note: The /Users/&lt;username&gt;/Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click on your desktop, hold down the Option key, and click the Finder's Go menu, and then select Library from the menu.</small></html>| |**macOS**|<code>/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code> <html><small>Note: The /Users/&lt;username&gt;/Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click on your desktop, hold down the Option key, and click the Finder's Go menu, and then select Library from the menu.</small></html>|
Line 23: Line 23:
 |**Linux (most distributions)**|<code>~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code>| |**Linux (most distributions)**|<code>~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code>|
  
-=== Zotero 4.0 Standalone ===+=== Zotero 4 Standalone (2017 and earlier) ===
  
 |**macOS**|<code>/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Zotero/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code> <html><small>Note: The /Users/&lt;username&gt;/Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click on your desktop, hold down the Option key, and click the Finder's Go menu, and then select Library from the menu.</small></html>| |**macOS**|<code>/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Zotero/Profiles/<randomstring>/zotero</code> <html><small>Note: The /Users/&lt;username&gt;/Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click on your desktop, hold down the Option key, and click the Finder's Go menu, and then select Library from the menu.</small></html>|
Line 83: Line 83:
     - 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.
Line 98: Line 98:
     - 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.
Line 115: Line 115:
  
 ===== 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.
Line 124: Line 126:
 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.
Line 132: Line 134:
 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.
  
-Finallyremember to close Zotero before making any changes to Zotero files.+If you've gone through these steps and still can't find your datapost 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