Diagrams unlinked while syncing via RDF export

[Aatmaj-Zephyr]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Are you using the latest Zotero and the latest plugin?

• I have confirmed I'm using the latest Zotero and the latest plugin

Environment

• OS: MacOS 15.6.1 (24G90)
• Zotero Version: 7.0.27
• Plugin Version: 2.5.9

Describe the bug

I want to export my collection into RDF for various reasons including

1. Switching laptops
2. Collaboration acccross peers
3. Backup

I have PDF files annotated and also linked with notes. Some annotations are linked (via better notes) to notes. My notes contain lot of diagrams and references from the papers that are linked using "add to note"

Hoewever when I export the notes into RDF, I lose all this linking.

Even when I sync via sync manager, the links are getting lost.

I want to preseve my metadata (tags etc) which zotero RDF allows me to do

Debug Output

Show on page working :

Enabling sync

Synced file (for reference)

---
tags: []
parent: 'Asymptotically efficient adaptive allocation rules'
collections:
    - 'Exported Items 18/11/2025, 12:42:24 pm'
$version: 0
$libraryID: 1
$itemKey: UCQS5UUU

---
![\<img alt="" data-attachment-key="JSTPXKJ6" data-annotation="%7B%22attachmentURI%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fzotero.org%2Fusers%2F14134890%2Fitems%2FEWBGJQVZ%22%2C%22annotationKey%22%3A%22LWPSMCNK%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22%23ffd400%22%2C%22pageLabel%22%3A%226%22%2C%22position%22%3A%7B%22pageIndex%22%3A2%2C%22rects%22%3A%5B%5B27%2C373.937%2C409.219%2C577.703%5D%5D%7D%2C%22citationItem%22%3A%7B%22uris%22%3A%5B%22http%3A%2F%2Fzotero.org%2Fusers%2F14134890%2Fitems%2FB2KWACXG%22%5D%2C%22locator%22%3A%226%22%7D%7D" width="637" height="340" src="attachments/JSTPXKJ6.png" ztype="zimage"> | 637](attachments/JSTPXKJ6.png)\
<span class="citation" data-citation="%7B%22citationItems%22%3A%5B%7B%22uris%22%3A%5B%22http%3A%2F%2Fzotero.org%2Fusers%2F14134890%2Fitems%2FB2KWACXG%22%5D%2C%22locator%22%3A%226%22%7D%5D%2C%22properties%22%3A%7B%7D%7D" ztype="zcitation">(<span class="citation-item"><a href="zotero://select/library/items/B2KWACXG">Lai and Robbins, 1985, p. 6</a></span>)</span>\
\
Notes taken in details

exporting via RDF:

Importing RDF

importing md note (via betternotes)

show on page not responding

Also the linked annotations are lost

Anything else?

Potential issue: Change of internal Zotero key of the item while importing from RDF

[windingwind]

Thanks for bringing it up.

This has long been an issue, as there's no reliable approach to store the info with a specific item with syncing/exporting support. We used to save the info as tags on the annotation, which is hated by many users, and for that reason, we moved to the current caching-based approach, and thus they are no longer able to be safely kept after syncing/exporting.

Potential issue: Change of internal Zotero key of the item while importing from RDF

yes.

For more info, please search for other threads.

[windingwind]

Since we're not likely to satisfy everyone on this topic, I'll convert this to a discussion.