Differences

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

--- sync [2022/01/13 00:54] – [Data Syncing] dstillman
+++ sync [2024/12/06 01:08] (current) – [Alternative Syncing Solutions] don't recommend symlinking, which can break Zotero dstillman
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 Zotero file sync should work with any correctly functioning WebDAV server. Zotero developers cannot provide support for third-party WebDAV servers.
-==== Linked File Attachments ====
-In your personal library, you can also sync Zotero files across computers using [[attaching_files#File_Copies_and_Links|linked files]]. Rather than attaching stored copies of files to Zotero items, you can attach links to files stored in a cloud-sync folder, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. When using linked attachments, you should set up Zotero's [[:preferences/advanced#linked_attachment_base_directory|Linked Attachment Base Directory]] feature so that Zotero can find your files on each computer, even if the path to the cloud-sync folder differs. The [[plugins#attachment_file_management|ZotFile plugin]] can make managing linked attachments easier by automatically moving attachment files to a designated folder as you import them.
-See [[#alternative_syncing_solutions|Alternative Syncing Solutions]] for more details.
-Linked files cannot currently be used in group libraries.
 ===== Syncing In Practice =====
 If Zotero is set to sync automatically, changes will be synced within a few seconds of being made. Otherwise, you can start a manual sync by clicking the sync button on the right-hand side of the Zotero toolbar.
-If you enter the same login information into the Sync preferences on multiple computers, Zotero will sync everything transparently. Your attention should only be needed if the same item or file is edited in two different places before Zotero has a chance to sync them. In this instance, you will be presented with a conflict resolution window, where you can decide which changes to accept.
+If you enter the same login information into the Sync preferences on multiple computers, Zotero will sync everything transparently. Your attention should only be needed if the same item or file is edited in conflicting ways in two different places before Zotero has a chance to sync them. If that happens, you'll be presented with a conflict resolution window, where you can decide which changes to accept.
 If you sync from only one computer, you can still view your online library at zotero.org from any computer. Should something happen to your computer or should you want to start using Zotero on another computer, simply set up your account info on the new computer. Zotero will pull down your entire library from the server.
@@ Line 51: / Line 45: @@
 If, for whatever reason, you are unable to use Zotero's syncing features, there are some alternative ways to sync your data, though there are significant risk and limitations depending on the approach that you choose.
-**Storing the Zotero data directory directly in a cloud storage folder is extremely likely to corrupt your Zotero database and should not be done.** (The same is true of most database-backed programs.) The forums contain [[/forum/discussion/13359/|many]] [[/forum/discussion/27900/synching-to-dropbox/|threads]] [[/forum/discussion/6128/dropbox-and-zotero-15-case-conflicts/|about]] [[/forum/discussion/24593/backing-up-a-large-database-without-corrupting-it/|the problems]] that users have faced with Dropbox- or Google Drive–based setups.
+**Storing the Zotero data directory directly in a cloud storage folder is [[kb:data_directory_in_cloud_storage_folder|extremely likely to corrupt your Zotero database]] and should not be done.**
 If you want to avoid syncing any data to Zotero servers:
@@ Line 57: / Line 51: @@
   * You can close Zotero, manually copy your entire [[zotero_data|Zotero data directory]] to a synced folder on one computer, and then restore it — again with Zotero closed — on another computer, as if you were performing a [[zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library|backup and restore]] of your data.
-If you want to use Zotero data syncing but use an external service to sync just your Zotero attachment files, you have a couple options:
+If you want to use Zotero data syncing but use an external service to sync just your Zotero attachment files:
-  - The easiest method is to use [[attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files|linked files]], rather than stored copies of files, and to store your attachment files in the externally synced folder. The [[plugins#attachment_file_management|ZotFile plugin]] can make this simple by automatically moving attachment files to a designated folder as you import them. You should also set up Zotero's [[:preferences/advanced#linked_attachment_base_directory|Linked Attachment Base Directory]] feature to point to the same folder so that Zotero can find your files on each computer, even if the path to the cloud storage folder differs.
+  * You can use [[attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files|linked files]], rather than stored copies of files, with only your attachment files in the externally synced folder.
-  - Alternatively, you can use a symlink to sync only the ''storage'' directory from your Zotero data directory using the external sync service. 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.