Can't add Citation

ambermarieknows
I'm having a bunch of trouble with Zotero today :-(
I click "add citation" and it does not allow me to then enter the name of the journal and insert it. Please help????? I took a screen shot of the add ons etc but can't send it to you here...would it help? IS there an easy fix? Thanks so much in advance! Amber
  • dstillman
    Can you explain exactly what happens?

    https://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_problems#provide_steps_to_reproduce

    You can also upload a screenshot somewhere (Dropbox, imgur.com, etc.) and provide a link here.
  • ambermarieknows
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/hg3ngdkfwpu47w9/Screenshot%202015-10-06%2012.04.59.png?dl=0

    Sorry for being a bad explainer!

    So,
    1. I'm in my Word document, on my Mac,
    2. and I go up to the toolbar and click on the Zotero symbol,
    3. select "add citation",
    4. and then....nothing. It ignores me. There isn't any error message.

    Potentially something very simple. Have reloaded Zotero and firefox today as my computer had to be forced to shut down last night.

    Thanks Dan!
  • adamsmith
    I'd try in this order:
    Reinstall Word Component from the "Cite" tab of the Zotero preferences
    Restarting your computer.
  • ambermarieknows
    HI Adam,

    Yeah so please could you just direct me...I LOVE Zotero, but it's a bit confusing to me...sorry!!!

    Amber
  • DWL-SDCA
    edited October 6, 2015
    It seems that you are a bit lost. I will try to help.

    Some of what I recommend may be unnecessary but none of it will be in any way harmful.

    EDIT Start by checking to see what versions of the Mac OS, Word, and Zotero. Please make a list of those versions for later use. /EDIT

    Close all of the open programs (except, of course Finder).

    Open Firefox. Under the Firefox menu, click About Firefox. (This will tell you if you have the most recent version. If you don't have the most recent version, update FireFox and allow FireFox to restart.

    Go to the Zotero.org download page. (Do not download Zotero from any other source.) Download Zotero 4.0.x. This will update your Zotero software to the most recent version. (Do not delete Zotero before you update.) When you see the warning "FireFox prevented this site from asking..." click Allow. Ignore the warning statement that Zotero could not be verified. Restart Firefox. This will assure that you have the most recent version of Zotero. Updating Zotero should not interfere with your current Zotero library data.

    Return to the Zotero download page and, as @adamsmith said, click the link "Add a plugin for Word or LibreOffice". Read down the page to the line under "Mac" and click on "Install Word for Mac Plugin 3.5.12 (Firefox extension)" Ignore any warnings that you may receive (it may be that you will see no warnings here).

    Close all open software and restart your Mac.

    When you get back, open Firefox, open Zotero, and open Word. Unless there is something else interfering with the Zotero-Word connection everything should work. Try first with a new document. If your other document is damaged we can help with that later. If you are using Word 2008 follow this guidance: https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/no_toolbar_in_word_2008_plugin

    If it does not work (I hope that it will), reply here and tell the experts if you are using some sort of security software. (Given that you are using a Mac you probably are not.) Also, within FireFox under the Tools menu, select Add-ons and tell us everything on that list.

    As I said, much of this may be unnecessary but these steps will assure that you have the most up-to-date software and that everything has started afresh.
  • adamsmith
    I'd actually start simpler (DWL -- we very rarely recommend re-downloading/reinstalling Zotero itself):

    In the Zotero preferences: http://www.zotero.org/support/preferences
    under Cite, click on "Reinstall Word components".

    Then restart your computer. Very good chance this will help.
  • DWL-SDCA
    @adamsmith

    Yes, but we don't know how old her version of Zotero is. We don't know what version of Word she is using.

    No matter how I have set up my system, I always must go to the Zotero website to update my version. Although I have had settings to auto-update Zotero, the auto-update has never worked. She may have not updated Zotero in quite a while if she has my problem with auto-update.

    When I had other FireFox add-ons those didn't auto-update either.
  • ambermarieknows
    Hey guys - THANK YOU both SO much! I've restarted the Mac, and had to re-download Zotero for Firefox, and also the Word Plug In. And it's WORKING! Yay!

    Thanks again very much - hope you have a great day (or night?!).

    Amber xxx
  • adamsmith
    edited October 6, 2015
    amber -- great. glad to hear that.

    DWL -- not sure if you have seen this, but if you're on this forum with an outdated version of Zotero for Firefox, there's a big banner at the top of the page making you aware of that.
  • DWL-SDCA
    Banner? I see no banner.

    I noticed that I am using an out-of-date Zotero
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29002616/my-out-of-date-zotero.png

    See:
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29002616/I-see-no-banner.png

    My Firefox Update settings
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29002616/My-firefox-settings.png



    I will immediately update Zotero from the Zotero website.
  • adamsmith
    I noticed that I am using an out-of-date Zotero
    no, you're not. Look closely at the changelog: 4.0.28.8 was released as Standalone only (because it fixes issues affecting only Standalone).
  • DWL-SDCA
    edited October 6, 2015
    Sometimes I behave as though I am a nincompoop. Sorry.

    Edit
    I remember downloading 4.0.27 manually. Thus, my frustration.
    /Edit
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