this zotero database requires

clarkb

the "error" message


"this zotero database requires zotero 6.0 or later."
"current version 5.0.93"
"please upgrade to the latest version from zotero.org"

oh come on!

I am on windows 10. I do not like the newer zotero version. I have never installed the newer version. I have seen screenshots of the newer version and menus are too fat and take up too much screenspace. I have not opened zotero in at least a year. I do not have zotero to auto-update.

https://ibb.co/z7Tr1jc
[img]https://i.ibb.co/nnNbTZ2/20240924-165328-zotero.png[/img]

dstillman

You're confused. You'd only get this when trying to open a database that you already opened in a later version of Zotero. There's literally no way to get this otherwise (obviously, because it references a later version of Zotero than the actual version you're running).

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/newer_db_version

In any case, if you don't want to use a current version of Zotero, you won't receive any support here and things will gradually stop working, so you should give the latest version a try or switch to something else.

clarkb

Turns out I was running an ancient executable from the desktop instead of using the shortcut in my research directory that points to some random remote location that I created during the ancient Cretaceous period.

As for Version 7, it's like they threw thoughtful design straight into the trash. Clearly, understanding good product development wasn't high on their to-do list. The padding and font sizes are so inflated, they must think we're all squinting at tiny screens. Wasting valuable screen space and making navigation a chore? I'll pass and stick with the old version.

Support? Don't make me laugh. Things might stop working in, what, 50 years? If that's a concern, maybe you're the one who's confused. Version 2 is working just fine, but 6 is okay, thanks. 7? No way!

adamsmith

I don't know what's with the attitude, but FWIW Zotero 7 has a dense display setting that basically mirrors Z6.

Most users prefer a bit more whitespace, but those that don't have options

clarkb

No attitude here, just a bit of sarcasm about my shortcuts and the interface.

But seriously, where’s the evidence that 'most' users want more whitespace? In reality, most people prefer a compact layout where everything’s visible and screen space is maximized, which is why widescreen displays are so popular. Version 6 and earlier versions got that right, unlike the cluttered mess we see in Version 7. Sure, the wider interface might work for touch screens, but I’d rather have a clear view of my work and stay organized. There have been plenty of requests for a more condensed layout in Version 7, but they’ve been shot down by Dstillman, who seems more interested in closing the pane than listening to what the userbase actually wants. It’s his way or the highway.

If you've used Scrivener, you know what a clean, well-designed interface looks like—and it's highly customizable. In fact, plenty of people still prefer Scrivener version 2 over version 3.

pcinque

There is a compact view option in Zotero 7 that makes it more like Zotero 6:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u3058096/k4z07h4dnfn3crb4yeei.png

clarkb

That view is anything but compact or condensed, a far cry from version 6 and earlier.

The overwhelming white space is hard to ignore, and the 'comfortable' mode is genuinely unpleasant to look at, quite literally nauseating. I guarantee you that switching to 'Compact' makes no difference. The menu and overall design of version 7 lacks thought and wastes valuable screen space.

The images below illustrate what a true compact view should look like, a standard in modern software for decades. I can't imagine using CAD or writing softwares with this poorly designed version 7 interface. It's clearly made for touch screens, not desktop workstations, which are unsuitable for serious authoring or design work unless it's for markup review.

Some applications give users the option to switch between tablet (touch) mode and desktop workstation mode, which is how it should be. Unfortunately, many developers believe there's only one way to design an interface, wrong. I’m not buying that nonsense. Also, applications such as Adobe allows users to toggle between touch and desktop modes, and Autodesk does as well. This flexibility is crucial for working on-site to markup documents and collaborating with the office remotely.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u2166608/sp1417ihmjjgvm8fjdrr.png

Professional writers and designers don’t want to spend their entire day distracted by the interface. They want to focus on what truly matters, their work!

AbeJellinek

https://www.zotero.org/support/forum_guidelines#etiquette

Keep an open mind. Different people use Zotero in different ways. Not everybody shares your priorities, sometimes you're the only person experiencing a particular problem, or maybe you just didn't discover the best way to perform a task. Avoid generalizing statements like “it's obvious that without this feature, Zotero is useless for anybody”.

Most Zotero users use it on a computer with a keyboard and mouse/trackpad. The post-redesign interface is not a "tablet mode."

dstillman

@clarkb: You really are just mistaken here. If you change Zotero 7 to Compact and drop the font size down a couple sizes, you end up with the same information density — Zotero 7 fits a total of one fewer row due to slightly larger toolbar icons. We quite deliberately made this possible, and we even show a Comfortable/Compact toggle on first run.

In any case, the feedback on the Zotero 7 redesign has been overwhelmingly positive, after a long, active beta period, so you do in fact seem to be in a very, very small minority here.

Support? Don't make me laugh. Things might stop working in, what, 50 years? If that's a concern, maybe you're the one who's confused. Version 2 is working just fine, but 6 is okay, thanks. 7? No way!

I have no idea what you're even trying to say here, but no, Zotero is an internet-connected tool that requires ongoing maintenance from us, and various things in old versions regularly stop working — e.g., most Zotero 5 versions no longer sync, and old versions would stop being able to save data from some sites and services.

Anyway, your attitude here is bizarre and wildly inappropriate, so I'm closing this.