Word plugin - Zotero experienced an error updating your document.

sostheneung

Hello,
I've recently had the 'Zotero experienced an error updating your document.' error constantly on my document on word, and it can be preceded by the following message if I am trying to update a citation that previously worked.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u3425393/z9yaboto8k6epmk4hb3i.png

The problem has been happening on all my documents as of today, and on empty documents as well. I've followed the different steps of this troubleshooting guide:

https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#zotero_toolbar_doesn_t_appear

But:
-I don't run zotero or word as an administrator
-My antivirus does not seem to block anything
-I do not use multiple zotero profile
-I have tried reinstalling the Zotero.dotm plugin many times
-I've uninstalled and tried both zotero 6 or 7 version
-I've even reinstalled Word

But so far nothing solves the problem.
Would anyone have any lead to what else I could try?

Thank you so much for any help provided!

adomasven

Restart Zotero in Troubleshooting Mode (Help -> Restart in Troubleshooting Mode). Disable any other plugins you have installed in Word and restart it.

Produce a Debug ID where you reproduce this in a new document.

sostheneung

Thank you, I've just tried it on a new document:
I've tried to add one citation and the 'Zotero experienced an error updating your document' box popped up. I've submitted the log, the Debug ID is D1400934681

adomasven

Did you disable other plugins in Word? What is the full version of Word that you are running? Open a Word document, choose File from the top left corner, and then click either Account or Help on the left nav bar. You’ll see your Office version and information under Product information, on the right side of the window.

sostheneung

I have just checked, but I confirm that I don't have any other Word plugin (other than Zotero), I do have Grammarly but it's a separate app and not a plugin anymore. I've deactivated it though, no difference.
The word version is 2407 (build 17830.20138 Office)


Note: on the empty document, the 'Zotero experienced an error updating your document' error keeps popping up, but it does seem to be able to add a new citation and manage to show a bibliography. Changing the citation style of the bibliography does not work.

adomasven

Have you tried restarting your computer? Could you create a new Windows user account and see if it works there?

sostheneung

Ok, I think I've found what's wrong, or at least I've solved the problem on the empty document and I will try on a full one:

I ran into another problem a few days ago with Word not reacting properly to using backspace or replacing a text when selected. e.g. if I selected a text and typed something new, it would not replace it, and the same for using backspace or delete. The problem happened a few days before the current Zotero one, but I should have seen it was linked :( I just did not add a new citation on the day this selection problem happened so I thought it was separate. But of course, this would affect Zotero for writing in and editing new citation text....

In brief, I've followed this:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/backspace-not-working-in-word/639f8b59-df4e-484d-a2ab-050cd97cd755
The key here is to select 'Typing replaces selected text' in the Word Advanced/Editing Options.

Now there's no more error message from Zotero on an empty document, and I can edit the bibliography citation style accordingly. It seems to be working well!

If this sort of fix is new, it'd be nice to have it mentioned in the troubleshooting guide. But it is definitely a Word-related problem, not a Zotero one.

Thanks for all your help adomasven!

Sophia0025

Thank you so much i had the same problem for weeks and i couldn´t figure out what happend. Ticking the stupid box actually worked for me <3