Word for Windows: "Zotero experienced an error updating your document"

JEgloff
edited today at 2:39pm
[Admin note: This was caused by the June 9 Windows security update from Microsoft. A fix is available now in Zotero 9.0.5.]

When I try to "Add/Edit Citation" to a Word document, I get the error message "Zotero experienced an error updating your document." I tried "Reinstalling Microsoft Word Add0in," but it still does not work. It works when I use Google docs, but I always get the same error on Windows.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u8992537/s7kva9pssq022i480xyu.png


  • dstillman Zotero Team
    What exact version of Word?

    Can you provide a Report ID to start?

    Does it work in new documents?
  • JEgloff
    Thank you. The report ID is 147180083.

    My Word is as follows

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u8992537/n1wvbigcqsl2a97q4hci.png

    I am trying to insert Chicago-style citations. It does not work on new Word documents, but it does work on Google docs. APA style does work on a new Word document, but I need to use Chicago-style for my article.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    [JavaScript Error: "Parameter type passed or expected is wrong [insertField:Y:\zotero\word-for-windows-integration\build\zoteroWinWordIntegration\document.cpp]"]
    This is the second report of this error that we've never seen before, with no recent updates from us, so this would have to be some sort of change on Microsoft's side. Your Word version was released a month ago, though it's possible you were only auto-updated recently.

    Do you recall any recent updates?
  • JEgloff
    My computer did update this morning. I did not specifically check what type of updates it was doing, but it very well could have been Word.
  • Ilena_Bautista
    I am experiencing the same issue.

    * Zotero 9.0.4 (64-bit)
    * Word 2019
    * Windows
    * The problem started today
    * It was working normally earlier today
    * The issue occurs in completely new documents
    * Reinstalling the Word add-in did not help
    * Troubleshooting Mode did not help
    * Document Preferences opens normally
    * Add/Edit Citation fails immediately after selecting the citation style
    * Add/Edit Bibliography also fails

    Debug ID: D1145794371

    My Word build is:
    16.0.20026.20168

    Windows updates were also installed today.

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u20453031/pco7on63xy0b9odvjr24.jpg
  • Ilena_Bautista
    Additional information:

    I tested different citation styles.

    APA works correctly and I can insert citations in a new Word document.

    Chicago does not work. The error appears immediately after selecting the Chicago style and clicking OK.

    This seems consistent with the other report in this thread.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited today at 5:08am
    It looks like Microsoft put out a huge number of Windows security updates yesterday — the largest "Patch Tuesday" ever — and something in there seems to have broken this for some versions of Word.

    We're investigating, but it may take a little while for this to get fixed (by either Microsoft or us). In the meantime, if you don't need to submit your document soon, and APA works, you can switch to APA for now and plan to switch back to Chicago later. Otherwise, you may need to switch to LibreOffice or Google Docs for now or use Word on a Mac.
  • P87342
    I'm encountering the same error after installing Microsoft's security udpate
  • bmittelstadt
    Experienced the exact same error this morning after my computer restarted for Windows updates. Uninstalled the latest update (KB5094126) and Zotero is back to working normally.
  • niseto
    edited today at 8:48am
    I had the same issue, I got a message asking to "convert file" whenever I edited a citation. I couldn't switch to a different type (APA) either. I can confirm that uninstalling KB5094126 gets it back to work.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    Zotero 9.0.5 for Windows will be available with a fix in about an hour.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited today at 1:28pm
    In-app updates are still being prepared, but if you don't want to wait, you can install Zotero 9.0.5 for Windows from the download page over your current version. Your data won't be affected.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited today at 2:43pm
    Zotero 9.0.5 for Windows is available now via Help → "Check for Updates…" with a fix for this issue. An update for the Zotero 10 beta will also be available shortly.

    This was caused by the June 9 Windows security updates from Microsoft. This was their largest set of security updates ever and fixed some serious vulnerabilities, so if you already uninstalled the Windows update to fix this, you should reinstall it after upgrading to Zotero 9.0.5.

    Sorry for the trouble.

    (There were many, many more messages about this in the moderation queue. I've CCed those people to trigger notifications.)
  • katnissdeer
    I don't want to use Zotero 9.0.5 because I'm worried it won't be compatible with my other plugins, but my Windows security update has broken the Word integration on Windows. Can I release a fixed version of Zotero8?
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    @katnissdeer: No, you'll need to update to Zotero 9. We can't provide support for outdated versions of Zotero.
  • lanton
    Worked for me; I was among those CCed. Thanks!!
  • shakp
    Thanks for sorting this so quickly.
  • batisteboeda
    It is working for me as well.
    Thanks a lot!
  • Meral_K
    Thank you so much for the quick response and solution! I can get back to work, but I’m still seeing the following error message: "Runtime error in Zotero.dotm – error loading image with relationship ID zoteroz16.” Maybe this will be resolved with the next update. In any case, thank you so much again. I’m just relieved that I can get back to work!
  • Meral_K
    Okay, please ignore my last message. The error message is gone too. Thanks a million!
  • ireneman
    Works for me too now, thanks for sorting this out so quickly!
  • brianlucas
    Quick work, well done! Couldn't ask for better support!
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