Item Type "Web Page" is not available on Windows version

michelescnz

When I click on New Item inside a collection, the "Web Page" item type is not available.
No issues with the web version.

dstillman

Explained in the Note here:

https://www.zotero.org/support/adding_items_to_zotero#manually_adding_items

michelescnz

Besides being a newbie to Zotero, I love the tool and have incorporated it into all aspects of my personal life, beyond academia.

I am a software engineer with two decades of expertise in Business Intelligence.
I understand where you came from, @dstillman, but I am referring to a mismatch between the on-premises and online Zotero products.

I mean, the "Web Page" item type is available when Zotero is accessed through a web browser, but it is not available in the drop-down menu on the MS Windows version.

I am not here to discuss a new feature; I am talking about a bug, as the Web Page option is available when a new item is created on the desktop version.

I have attached some screenshots to support my bug report.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u17091008/lrspiugnjjlvlb97ncam.jpg

dstillman

There is no bug here.

The desktop behavior is explained in the link I provided above.

While the web library can be used with the Zotero Connector, it's more commonly used as a standalone tool by users with relatively rudimentary needs, so the Web Page option is included in the New Item menu there. (We still wouldn't recommend actually adding webpages that way.)

michelescnz

"Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress."

In the context of ITIL, a bug is an unplanned interruption or reduction in the quality of a service. It's a flaw or error in software or hardware that causes it to behave unexpectedly or incorrectly. Bugs can manifest as crashes, performance issues, incorrect outputs, or security vulnerabilities.

Unexpected Behaviour:
Bugs are deviations from the expected or intended behaviour of a system, application, or service.

If a feature is available on the web version but not in the on-premises version, I see it as a mismatch and an unexpected behaviour.

I have no issues using the Zotero browser extensions on Chrome or MS Edge to add Web Page items.

However, sometimes the metadata is not retrieved well, and it needs to be manually added.

I am writing a recommendation for future software improvements from the perspective of a paid user of the tool.

If my recommendations are dismissed or gaslighted, I will consider this when I renew the software license payment next year - EASY!

michelescnz

I just realised that I added the wrong screenshot.

Here is the correct one that shows the Web Page is not available on-premises.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u17091008/5pdc4zv1b4tj78wt95d7.jpg

dstillman

I’m not sure what you think you’re doing here? We’re the developers of the software. We obviously know what’s a design choice and what’s a bug. I provided a link to our documentation that explains the reasons for this choice. I also explained that the web library is a different tool with a vastly different feature set and a largely different audience.

You can disagree with the choice, but that doesn’t make it a bug.

However, sometimes the metadata is not retrieved well, and it needs to be manually added.

If metadata is incomplete, you can edit the saved item. If a translator-based save fails or saves the wrong item, you can right-click on the save button and choose the “Web Page” option. If you have the Zotero Connector, there is essentially no reason other than a webpage no longer existing that you should ever create a webpage item manually in the app — that’s the whole point here, and nearly everyone who has ever come to the forums about this has misunderstood that. It sounds like you may be among them.

We’ve said that we intend to add Web Page to the menu at some point with a guidance popup explaining why it’s almost never the best way to save items, but until then, we’d rather people be briefly confused and then hopefully spend a few minutes learning how to properly save webpages so they’re not spending years wasting time typing in data manually.

michelescnz

It appears that other users have reported the same issue, so I am not alone in this regard.

What is the logic behind having the same item type available online and not on premises?

The mismatch and lack of consistency are quite evident here.

Additionally, I am somewhat disappointed with the resistance to receiving feedback from customers.

You should adopt an open-minded mindset and foster innovation, as your target audience is highly skilled in their fields, including software development.

aborel

As written earlier, the reason why Web Pages should not be entered manually (and were therefore excluded from the entry menu in the desktop application) is explained here https://www.zotero.org/support/adding_items_to_zotero#manually_adding_items

For a more detailed explanation, the browser connector will systematically capture information about the web pages (such as the date/time of the visit) that is important for various use cases, in particular citation, but tends to be overlooked by users if they create the reference manually. It's also more efficient as a general rule.

Regarding the web version, see above "While the web library can be used with the Zotero Connector, it's more commonly used as a standalone tool by users with relatively rudimentary needs, so the Web Page option is included in the New Item menu there. (We still wouldn't recommend actually adding webpages that way.)"

And the developers are indeed listening "We’ve said that we intend to add Web Page to the menu at some point with a guidance popup explaining why it’s almost never the best way to save items".

aborel

"sometimes the metadata is not retrieved well, and it needs to be manually added." This is not the intended behavior, if you provide examples, other people can try to help.