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--- zotero_data [2023/03/12 17:08] – [Restoring Your Zotero Data From a Backup] dstillman
+++ zotero_data [2023/07/13 17:52] (current) – [Backing Up Your Zotero Data] dstillman
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 ===== Backing Up Your Zotero Data =====
-We strongly recommend that you regularly back up your Zotero data directory. While [[:sync|syncing]] is a great way to make sure you can restore your libraries if something happens to your computer, it's not a substitute for a proper backup: 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 (though some inadvertent changes can be restored from [[#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup|Zotero's automatic backups]]).
+We strongly recommend that you regularly back up your Zotero data directory. While [[:sync|syncing]] is a great way to make sure you can restore your libraries if something happens to your computer, it's not a complete substitute for a proper backup: 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 (though some inadvertent changes can be restored from [[#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup|Zotero's automatic backups]]).
 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 and keeps incremental backups so that you can restore to a given version. Most modern operating systems offer such functionality (e.g., Time Machine on Macs).
 If you really 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 folder//, including ''zotero.sqlite'' and ''storage'' and the other subfolders) to a backup location, preferably on another storage device. As with all important data, it's a good idea to back up your Zotero data frequently, which is why we recommend an automated full-system backup instead.
+Note that if you're using "download files as needed" for file syncing, your attachment files may not all exist locally and may not be included in a backup. Zotero Storage provides reliable storage of uploaded files, so you might choose to exclude the ''storage'' folder from your backup, but if you'd like a local backup of attachments as well, you would need to use "download files at sync time" on one computer and make a backup of the data directory from that computer.
 **Warning**: You shouldn't use export (e.g., to Zotero RDF, BibTeX, or RIS) as a backup method. Exporting and re-importing a library doesn't produce an exact copy — it will reset Date Added/Modified times and break links to existing citations in word processor documents, along with other potential changes.