Can't get pdfs into Zotero

cadavis1

Hi,

I'm using the Zotero standalone (just updated it 4.0.23) with a translator for Chrome. It has been working fine, but today it won't let me drag and drop pdfs into any folder in my library. When I try to import a pdf using the import button, it tells me the file is not in a supported format. When I tried importing a file from Scholar on Chrome, it brought in the details and snapshot, but no pdf. Again, all of these functions were working properly up through last night, and I have no idea what's going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

aurimas

When I try to import a pdf using the import button, it tells me the file is not in a supported format.

You can't import PDFs using Import (we should probably rename it to "Import References"). If you want to attach a file to an existing reference, then right-click the reference -> Add Attachment -> Attach Stored Copy of File (other options may be more applicable to you though). If you want to add a PDF directly to the library, you can use the Add Item button in the toolbar (green plus) and select "Store Copy of File".

Drag and drop is supposed to work though. If the above options do not work, then please submit a debug log for performing the above actions. If they do work, please submit the debug log for dragging and dropping.

cadavis1

Thanks for the quick response!

So, it turns out that none of the options listed above are working properly.

The debug log for drag and drop is D1372634481

For the Store Copy of File, it's D1331418953

For Add Attachment, it's D1028721636

Also, I did add storage this morning and synced a bunch of files that weren't in the online library yet. There was a problem with the sync - I believe it was for a file in a group folder I didn't really want, so I wasn't too worried about it. Anyway, I have the exclamation point by my sync button with the message:

Component returned failure code: 0x80520015
(NS_ERROR_FILE_ACCESS_DENIED) [nsIFile.create]

Hope this helps. Thanks again.

adamsmith

that message is almost always the result of either security software or file/folder permissions.
Check the permissions on your Zotero storage folder and temporarily disable security software while you test.

cadavis1

Thanks guys!

I checked the permissions earlier this morning in the file info and I think I accidentally clicked to lock the storage folder, so that was the problem. Probably would have been awhile before that might have dawned on me if not for the advice here, so thanks for that!

Things seem to be working fine now.