188BET靠谱吗MAC - MOVING ZOTERO FROM LOCAL STORAGE TO ICLOUD

sare905

Dear all,
188BET靠谱吗I moved my zotero folder to my Icloud to have better sync but now if I open Zotero app it says "The Zotero database cannot be opened.Make sure you have read and write permissions for all files in the Zotero data directory and that security software isn't preventing Zotero from accessing that directory.Data Directory: /Users/myname/Zotero"

the problem is that the directory should be changed, do you know what can I do?
Thanks

dstillman

You absolutely 188BET靠谱吗can't put your Zotero data directory in cloud storage.

You should move it back to the default location.

danielborek

188BET靠谱吗In general this is a really bad idea to put your Zotero directory into icloud
- you could use icloud for file sync with the pdf files in the external folder (like icloud or Dropbox) with Zotfile plugin (but then you cannot preview them in ipad/ios app)
188BET靠谱吗- if you really need to use icloud (which is discouraged by developers) you could change the path for zotero folder somewhere in the settings/preferences

adelidea

Hello, I have the same question and find this tutorial :
188BET靠谱吗https://notarocketscientist.xyz/posts/2022-10-04-using-zotero-with-icloud-as-the-storage/
188BET靠谱吗I'm just starting to use Zotero and I'd like to know if this solution seems satisfactory to the specialists because I don't understand why the developers advise against linking Zotero/iCloud (where I've already stored many files that I'd like to integrate into my Zotero library...)
Thank you!

adamsmith

@adelida-- symlinking storage as described in that blogpost is fine.As it says there, don't put your entire data folder into icloud (or any other syncing solution)

dstillman

Note the warnings re: symlinks here, though:

188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/sync#alternative_syncing_solutions

tim820

188BET靠谱吗That link suggests using a symlink to iCloud for the zotero\storage folder (where PDFs and some other things are stored).188BET靠谱吗The Zotero database remains locally stored (one level up from that).Whether (meta)data syncing (free/unlimited) can be turned on and 100% safe under that scenario I am not sure.The earlier link from @dstillmanthat stresses you should not store that database in a cloud location does also have a link to the Alternative Syncing Solutions support page, where alternatives for attachment file storage are discussed:
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/sync#alternative_syncing_solutions

The last para there says:
188BET靠谱吗"Alternatively, you can use a symlink to sync only the storage directory from your Zotero data directory using the external sync service.188BET靠谱吗This will sync your attachment files without touching the main Zotero SQLite database.This is an advanced technique, and if you don't fully understand how to create symlinks and how they interact with your cloud storage service, you should not use it.188BET靠谱吗This method may also interfere with Zotero's full-text indexing processes, so you may need to take manual steps to index newly added files on some devices."

188BET靠谱吗So as a new Zotero user, it is not advisable.188BET靠谱吗If you are IT savvy and have used symlinks before (eg know how they can break), you might consider it later on when you also understand more about how Zotero works 'under the hood'.And have good incremental backups in place.金博宝世界杯体育赛事If you have a large collection of PDFs already in iCloud, you could also consider linked PDF attachments (also described there), noting their limitations (don't work for Groups, on the mobile apps, or the web library).

adelidea

188BET靠谱吗A huge thank you for all this information and advice, the forum is as impressive and agile as Zotero ;)
188BET靠谱吗I will indeed use simple links for my documents already stored in iCloud and wait to better master Zotero before considering other possibilities.
188BET靠谱吗However, I point out that I have had access to a temporary Zotero group library, which included PDFs placed in a Google Drive: they were easily accessible to all members.
To be continued and thank you again!

Tsuiwindcheong

188BET靠谱吗But when I upload "storage" file in Zotero folder to OneDrive, I find it function well.188BET靠谱吗Just don't put all your Zotero folder into cloud sync server

jpk15

Sorry, can someone confirm that it's acceptable to use the link attachment base directory with Box or other cloud storage, as long as you don't set the data directory there?188BET靠谱吗I'm advising a grad student on her options for cloud storage of her Zotero attachments, and she's very reluctant set her base directory to Box (ie, Preferences-advanced-files and folders-linked attachment base directory).Thanks--I'm confident this is an ok way to go, but she'd like confirmation from someone on the forum.188BET靠谱吗Which I totally get, as I'm just a librarian and not super wise when it comes to the technical side of Zotero :)

adamsmith

Sorry, can someone confirm that it's acceptable to use the link attachment base directory with Box or other cloud storage, as long as you don't set the data directory there?

Yes, absolutely fine, though note that the base directory setting does not actually move any files.188BET靠谱吗You'll need an additional utility like ZotFile (or attanger or so for Zotero 7) to do that.
Also, neither of the mobile apps support linked files.

tim820

I wrote this as @adamsmithwas writing his response, and it expands somewhat on those considerations.

188BET靠谱吗If a user needs cloud storage of *linked* PDF attachment files, setting a Linked Attachment Base Directory (LABD) only facilitates a rather small element of such a setup - the situation where access to linked PDFs is required on more than one computer using Zotero desktop (linked PDFs don't work for the mobile apps or the web library) AND when those PDFs are at a slightly *different* path location on each computer.
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/attaching_files#linked_files
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/preferences/advanced#linked_attachment_base_directory

188BET靠谱吗A LABD setting only modifies where Zotero *looks* for linked files.It has no effect on where they are stored (but is sometimes misunderstood to affect that).When one contemplates a linked attachment file setup, one typically already has a mechanism in placed to ensure that attachments get *stored* to a cloud-mirrored folder.188BET靠谱吗How that storage is achieved (eg via Zotfile in Zotero v6, or via zotmoov or attanger in Zotero v7, currently in beta) is really the more important issue.188BET靠谱吗That issue requires a good understanding of the difference between Zotero data and Zotero files, and their respective locations and syncing.
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/sync

188BET靠谱吗The Zotero data directory cannot be stored in a cloud-mirrored folder ...
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/kb/data_directory_in_cloud_storage_folder

To the actual, rather limited role of a LABD setting, if the cloud-mirrored folder for your linked attachment files has the *same* path on each computer, there is no need for a LABD setting.188BET靠谱吗When you try to open a PDF on any computer, Zotero will simply look to the same location on each computer.But set a LABD on each computer if that path is different on each computer.
188BET靠谱吗//www.brodersterzo.com/support/preferences/advanced#linked_attachment_base_directory

jpk15

Thanks to you both for that info--super helpful!