Zotero recently released the beta of version 2, which allows users to remotely backup their libraries to the web. Unfortunately, users have to own (and know how to use) WebDAV space to back the library up. This version also does not sync attached files.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way around all of this using Dropbox, everyone’s favorite automatically syncing backup storage service.
- Install Dropbox on the computers you will be using regularly.
- Install FireFox Portable into your Dropbox folder.
- Install Zotero on Firefox Portable.
That’s it!
Now when Dropbox syncs, it will automatically syncronize your Zotero library (including all the attachments) to the web and all your computers. When you get up from work, close down Firefox Portable, but leave your computer on so it can finish backing up to the web. By the time you get home, your home computer will be all synced up and ready to pick up where you left off. Just open up Firefox Portable at home, and your Zotero library will be there!
Caveat: Because Zotero stores files in a directory and file structre that is unreadable to humans, you won’t be able to access your Zotero files or attachments directly from Dropbox’s web interface. So if you go on the road, make sure that you either have your laptop with you (with Dropbox installed), or else transport important files seperately from Zotero.
Let me know how this works for you!
May 16th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Is there a reason to not just change the location of your Zotero directory to a folder in Dropbox (using the preference in Zotero itself)?
May 16th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Hi Derik,
If you’re talking about using regular Firefox, then yeah, that will work too (I just tried it to make sure). I opened my desktop installation of Firefox, went under Preferences, then Advanced, and changed the Zotero library’s storage location to …\My Documents\My Dropbox\FirefoxPortable\Data\profile\zotero . So now my desktop version of Firefox will work with the same library as my portable version. You can also just designate a single folder in Dropbox as the storage location, so that multiple computers (and multiple versions of regular Firefox) can share a single Zotero library.
I mainly use Firefox Portable in Dropbox because that way I have all my bookmarks, add-ons, and settings in one place, and I don’t have to make changes on three separate computers (work, home, and laptop). All in the name of time-saving, I suppose.
Thanks for clearing that up!!!
May 27th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Have you checked out Archivd? It stores complete web pages online, so you can access them from anywhere and don’t have to worry about syncing.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Hi Maia! I have not tried Archivd, but it looks like a cool collaborative tool for annotating webpages. Zotero is doing something similar with shared libraries, so I think it will be interesting to see how these tools develop!
October 11th, 2009 at 9:30 am
you will fail on the OS other than MS Windows
October 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am
(Bill) Can you explain your comment?
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I agree with Bill. And will explain his comment.
For example:
If you have Linux on your home desktop.
Mac OS X on your Laptop.
Windows at work.
In that case (my case) you can’t easily run a portable app made for windows.
I use dropbox, as well as zotero, and would love to access my pdf’s from all three systems.
The second question would be, since I have created an extensive zotero library including many pdf’s, will zotero move those files/remember them if I change the directory where it is supposed to safe those files?
Tnx
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Hi Karwan,
I’m guessing that what you’re suggesting is installing Zotero onto Firefox in all three operating systems, and then having a single Dropbox folder to work as the Zotero library location. I’m not sure if that would work, as it would depend greatly on how Firefox is written to work on each OS. Give it a try and let us know!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
The answer to the question is “NO”. When I am make any changes on the pdfs on the win side, it does not update on my mac os x.
May 29th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Note that using Dropbox on your Zotero directory is very likely to corrupt your Zotero database. Zotero does now offer file syncing, and while it is possible to set it up to sync your files Dropbox should never be used to sync your database.