500: Google Docs request failed

mrrafaelmoura

I'm getting the following error when trying to edit an already added reference in GoogleDocs


I also submitted a report through plugin -
Report ID: 570217201

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u13836362/vl9yajecayuhnyevj9h5.png

dstillman

There's a bug in Google Docs that can be triggered in some documents when using a new, faster integration method, and while we have a workaround for most operations, it looks like we're missing the workaround when editing existing citations. We'll have a fix within a few days.

In the meantime, you'll need to delete and recreate the citation. Edit: You can use the toolbar button or menu option to edit the citation. See below. Sorry for the inconvenience.

adomasven

@mrrafaelmoura You can also use the Zotero button in the button bar

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u2735919/rujey0wmdkiw8pbe4zmq.png

or the menu option under the Zotero menu, that way you will not have to reinsert the citation. Sorry for the trouble again.

dstillman

Zotero Connector 5.0.177 for Chrome is now available with a fix for this.

theodorascarato

Thank you. What steps do i follow to get this fix in place?

adomasven

You can go to about:extensions in your browser and press "Update", then refresh the Google Docs page. Otherwise the extension will automatically update at some point (controlled by Chrome) and the fixed plugin version will run when you load any Google Docs document.

doctorproctor

Hi, this isn't yet working for me with connector update; just submitted report #458643966 [which mentions JS connection error, though my screen shows exact same 500 error as others]. I did install .177 update and restarted Chrome, so I should be up to date (also, Zotero v7.0.22, Mac OS 15.5).

My specific use case may not be the same: I am copying text from one GoogleDoc to another. Both have functional Zotero references. Every time I copy/paste from one to another, I get 500 error, then refs are unlinked in destination (as noted in red and new Z button). I cannot edit pasted refs via toolbar/menu option; I must manually reinsert.

I can provide additional info if useful.

Jim P.

doctorproctor

Just reproduced error (#848498816). 500 error displays when I paste GDoc text with Z refs into existing doc with Z refs. Pasted ref doesn't look unlinked until I attempt to edit it, then I get warning/ref turns red.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u610289/noj9l6xqunnkznbd6va8.png

Jim P.

doctorproctor

I have now confirmed a new piece of information: I do *not* get error 500 when copying/pasting into a new, blank GDoc without existing Z citations.

I did attempt to fix in existing recipient GDoc by clicking Refresh, but this did not fix problem.

I could copy/paste from both source and destination doc into a new GDoc, but existing destination doc is a long one...not ideal.

Thank you,

Jim P.

doctorproctor

I think I have a workaround (though possibly only applicable to me): the original destination document had formatted Z references, and as I typically do I unchecked "Automatically update citations" when initially running Z document prefs, given document length.

If I now copy the entire destination document, **minus** the Zotero refs placeholder at end ("Automatic citation updates are disabled. To see the bibliography, click Refresh in the Zotero tab."), to a *new* document, then copy/paste into this new doc as the destination document, I think I can now copy/paste without 500 error.

Am testing, but appears to be successful.

Jim P.

adomasven

@doctorproctor What citation style are you using in this document? Are you able to create a new document by just inserting citations and editing text in ways that are usual to you that produces this copy-paste issue with 500 errors? This is a bug on Google's end, but they refuse to take us seriously until we can reproduce the issue from scratch, which we've been struggling to do.

doctorproctor

Got it; sorry for Google's issues.

Yes, I have no other problems, and use Zotero heavily with GoogleDocs, Chicago author-date (latest) style. I have not experienced this bug at all, outside of the scenario I described.

The workaround I posted yesterday, by which I simply remove that disabled citations warning where my references had previously appeared in what I copied/pasted to a new document, continues to work, i.e., I can copy/paste other GDoc content into this new doc without a 500 error.

Happy to further diagnose, as Zotero is great and I routinely use it in a number of higher education and scholarly contexts.

Jim P.

adomasven

If you start getting the 500 error at some point, try to figure out what edits you did that lead to that. You can also use the Google Docs document history to try to restore to an earlier point and see if the issue is not present there. It would be of tremendous help for us to figure out what causes this.

doctorproctor

OK, will do, and again I sure appreciate all the time you and other developers put into this excellent product!...have used it successfully for years.