Zotero lock-out

DaveR
I was experimenting with import formats when I got an 'unresponsive script' error from Firefox. I terminated the process, but could not delete the created (but empty) import folder. I re-started Firefox. Now I have a Javascript error "There was an error starting Zotero." I have deleted and reinstalled Zotero (twice), re-started Firefox lots of times and re-booted my computer.

Any suggestions how to recover functionality?

I am running a Mac under OSX 10.4.11, Firefox 3.0.1 and Zotero 1.0.7. The only other add-on I have is firebug 1.2.0b7

Below are the error messages from the console.

Cheers, Dave

Error: Zotero is undefined
Source File: chrome://zotero/content/itemPane.js
Line: 51

Error: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80570016 (NS_ERROR_XPC_GS_RETURNED_FAILURE) [nsIJSCID.getService]" nsresult: "0x80570016 (NS_ERROR_XPC_GS_RETURNED_FAILURE)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://zotero/content/include.js :: <TOP_LEVEL> :: line 4" data: no]

Error: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE) [nsILocalFile.persistentDescriptor]" nsresult: "0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/zotero.js :: getZoteroDirectory :: line 310" data: no]
Source File: file:///Users/dmr/Library/Application%20Support/Firefox/Profiles/5vlvx7dt.default/extensions/zotero@chnm.gmu.edu/components/zotero-service.js
Line: 136

Error: Zotero is undefined
Source File: chrome://zotero/content/overlay.xul
Line: 421

Error: Zotero is undefined
Source File: chrome://zotero/content/browser.js
Line: 758

Error: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80570016 (NS_ERROR_XPC_GS_RETURNED_FAILURE) [nsIJSCID.getService]" nsresult: "0x80570016 (NS_ERROR_XPC_GS_RETURNED_FAILURE)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://zotero/content/include.js :: <TOP_LEVEL> :: line 4" data: no]

Error: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE) [nsILocalFile.persistentDescriptor]" nsresult: "0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/zotero.js :: getZoteroDirectory :: line 310" data: no]
Source File: file:///Users/dmr/Library/Application%20Support/Firefox/Profiles/5vlvx7dt.default/extensions/zotero@chnm.gmu.edu/components/zotero-service.js
Line: 136

Error: Warning: unrecognized command line flag -foreground

Source File: file:///Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
Line: 706
  • dstillman
    Were you using a custom data directory location? If so, first, for good measure, make sure you have a backup of your custom data directory. Then go to Tools->Add-ons, Control-click on Zotero, click Preferences, and change the data directory location back to the default, and restart Firefox. You should get an empty library (or whatever was in the data directory in your Firefox profile). Then go back to the prefs, point it back to the previous location, and restart Firefox. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

    Also, don't stop the script if you get an unresponsive script indicator unless you know for sure it's really hung and there's no disk activity. (Generally we temporarily disable the unresponsive script indicator before long operations and re-enable it afterwards, but there may be places where it still shows up.)
  • DaveR
    Hi Dan,

    that fixed it, although I didn't know that I'd chosen a custom dictionary because, when experimenting, I canceled the process (trying to point storage of PDFs to their existing location).

    The problem with imports is that there is no indication of how long the process will take. After 10 minutes or so with no apparent activity I assumed that the process was stuck. Talking to colleagues about import I no know that it takes many hours to import 1000 citations and most do this as an overnight task. We live and learn ...

    Many thanks for the prompt response.

    Dave
  • dstillman
    edited August 9, 2008
    In Firefox 2 we weren't able to update the progress indicator during import (at least without slowing down the whole process). There may be a way we can offer a proper progress bar in Firefox 3.

    Also, import speed will be highly dependent on the hardware you're using—1,000 items certainly wouldn't take hours on all machines.

This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Instead of commenting here, you should start a new discussion. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.