View / locate a pdf

crispinian
Hello,

When I want to view a pdf or to show a file a receive the message "the attached file could not be found. It may have been moved or deleted outside of Zotero. Locate....."

The problem is I didn't moved or deleted any file so why the links to the attached files doesn't work ? Otherwise I don't receive any kind of error message !
I don't know what mistake I've made in order to lead to this situation !
It is impossible to locate again all the items from my database !
Thank you in advance for your help !
Regards,
Daniel
  • dstillman
    Is this for all your files? Is this on the same computer where you've accessed these files previously, or a synced/new computer? Are they files that you stored in the Zotero data directory or files that you linked from elsewhere on your hard drive?

    Generate a Debug ID for a file-opening attempt.
  • crispinian
    Mr. Stillman,
    First of all thank you for your help !
    To answer:
    -1. I have stored the majority of .pdf files on a flash drive [my first database - a simple folders tree structure].From time to time I've made a duplicate of the all files including those from data directory,
    -2. it have worked till now on 2 computers. I've defined on both computers the same data directory location [on the flash drive]
    -3. there are only a insignificant number of files from "storage" directory who works. The majority doesn't work ! But always I've tried not to store the files in this directory!
    -4. for the majority of .pdf files I've used the option "Attach link to file" and I've stored the new files in my first database,
  • crispinian
    -5. the problems have started after at my office computer it was installed Windows 7 - I have loosed all data from the Flash drive. After this I've transferd the last saved files [duplicate dates]on the flash drive. Zotero works for a while but at a moment [I can't say when !!!] it stop to work !
    -6. I've observed for the files where it doesn't work, the option "Open in External Viewer" doesn't appear in the list menu !
    -7. I've tried to generate a Debug ID but always appear the same error message "Invalid response from server" and I didn't found “Open about:config” in the Advanced pane of the Zotero preferences....[Zotero version is 2.1.8]

    Sorry for the too long answer ! Hope it is enough clear !
    Thanks again !
    Regards,
    Daniel
  • adamsmith
    1. upgrade Zotero (not that that will help, but you should nevertheless). Current version is 2.1.10.
    2. try to create the debug ID only for the action of opening a file, i.e. enable debug output --> try to open file --> disable debug and send the report - you shouldn't get the invalid response message
    3. In Firefox you get to about:config by typing it into the URL bar (like a web address).
    4. In general, though, it sounds like you somehow changed the address where your files are - maybe because W7 has a different location for the drive, maybe because there's a different letter or a capital letter in your filepath - but essentially you'll need to track this down by yourself - maybe if you're able to submit the debug Dan can give you a pointer, but that's about it. This is not a Zotero issue.
  • crispinian
    Mr. Smith,

    Thank you for your answer !
    -Now I'm working at the office computer having Windows 7.
    -I have upgraded to version 2.1.10
    - I've created the Debug ID for the opening of a .pdf file [introduced in Zotero through "Attach link to file" option.
    The Debug ID is D1916360013.
    - How can I know which is the capital letter of the filepath ? For example at office it is "F". I have to check at home which capital letter it is ! But for a while Zotero works well on both computers [at least this is what I remember trying to understand what and when happend in order to avoid this situation in the future]!
    - Why "Open in External Viewer" doesn't appear in the list menu ?

    Regards,
    Daniel
  • dstillman
    edited September 27, 2011
    Attachment file 'G:\[path removed]' not found
    If you want to open files between the two systems then the network share will have to be mounted at the same drive letter on both machines.
  • crispinian
    You have right ! Thank you !
    Now I've realized that at the office I have a hard disk named "G" and the flash drive became "F".
    What can I do to modify this [I'm not a software specialist !]?
    I have to verify at home because there I have a hard disk named "D" and Zotero still doesn't work !
    Regards,
    Daniel
  • dstillman
    We can't help you with that, sorry. But as long as it's mapped to G: Zotero should be able to open all files linked as G:. If you linked any files from another drive letter you'll have to relink those manually or get someone to help you modify the paths in your Zotero database using an SQLite client.
  • crispinian
    Thanks for your help !

    Regards,
    Daniel
  • crispinian
    Hello,

    Maybe my experience will be useful to other Zotero users. I've discussed with our network administrator so I've succeed to change the drive letter of the hard disk from "G" to "D" and of the flash drive from "F" to "G". I have used the options "Manage" - "Storage"-"Disk Management"-"Change Letter Drives and Paths..." from W7.
    Now Zotero is working !
    Of course I have to be aware that this changing not to affect other software which use letter "G" as a letter for hard disk...

    Thank you !
    Regards,
    Daniel
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