For those who use Mac OSX, the zotero folder is located, by default, inside your Firefox profile folder, which (be default) can be found at ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default/ . If you're using Spotlight for backup, as long as this directory tree is not excluded, your backup will include the Zotero db. See further: http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/1260/

By  Tom Elliott, at June 6, 2008 2:12 AM  

Hi, Tim. Good reminder...
FYI, there is a way to sync Zotero across two computers using FolderShare. It's a bit awkward, but it's another way of keeping the data backed up.
For directions: http://bibleandtech.blogspot.com/2008/03/vertov-for-zotero-update-zotero-and.html

By  mgvh, at June 6, 2008 2:32 AM  

Thanks Tom, my colleagues who use Mac OSX don't yet use Zotero so the information will be helpful for any Mac users reading.

Mark, yes synching is a good way to back up by the back door. My main backup synchs my Data folder and my Thunderbird profile I'll have to add Zotero to the mix - if only Windows and all programmers let ME choose what goes into my profile in "Documents and Settings" I could just back that up like MS wants, the trouble is it is 45GB with half my data still on the external drive only...

By  Tim, at June 6, 2008 5:47 AM  

What happened to the video?

By  Elizabeth, at June 6, 2008 6:29 AM  

The video looks OK to me, what did happen to it?

By  Tim, at June 6, 2008 6:57 AM  

Great clip! In a recent update it became much easier to find your profile. If you open the advanced pane of your Zotero preferences pane you can click the "show data directory" button which will jump you directly to the Zotero directory on whatever platform you are using.

By  trevor, at June 7, 2008 3:40 AM  

Thanks, Trevor, nice feature :) while we wait for the "Backup/Restore Zotero" button ;-)

Sorry I took a while replying, I wanted to try it first... Now I'll need to find a time to update the video :(

By  Tim, at June 16, 2008 4:55 PM  

Re: the new feature for locating the files in Zotero (which IS a nice addition), I'd then like to drag the updated version of the files on my thumb drive into that directory, without closing Firefox. Does anybody know if it still causes problems to replace an sqlite file with Firefox running?

By  Lynn / Ann, at July 31, 2009 3:28 AM  

This post has been removed by the author.

By  Tim, at July 31, 2009 5:52 AM  

Hi, Lynn / Ann, the Zotero site recommends closing Firefox before backing up so that would probably be sensible. Though it sounds as if Zotero 2.0 is nearly ready, so perhaps not long to wait till manual backups are a thing of the past ;)

By  Tim, at July 31, 2009 5:54 AM  

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