Zotero Crashed and I can't figure out how to open it.

esocolov
Using a Mac. I think I am using the standalone and Firefox connector. Can't find solution in documentation. Help!
  • dstillman
    What exactly is happening?

    https://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_problems
  • esocolov
    I was working on it and it just crashed. I tried to reopen it and that didn't work. So I restarted the computer and tried to open it again. The icon on the doc has a small black dot under it - indicating that it is open. The Zotero menu appears on the top bar but no window opens.
  • dstillman
    I tried to reopen it and that didn't work.
    See the linked page — "didn't work" doesn't tell us anything that lets us help you.

    If you're getting the Zotero menu, quit it from there or by control-clicking on the Dock icon, and then restart it.
  • dstillman
    (I believe there's an issue in recent macOS versions where Zotero isn't properly restarted by the system if it was running when the computer crashed, though it sounds like you're saying just Zotero crashed (but not sure what you mean by that).)
  • esocolov
    I am sorry you don't like my use of "didn't work". I should have said "didn't open". I have control closed the dock icon repeatedly. I have tried closing it from the menu. I have tried opening it from the app folder. Am I being clear now?
  • esocolov
    Nothing but Zotero crashed. Everything else is working fine.
  • esocolov
    Do you recommend Zotero for Firefox or Zotero Standalone with browser extension?
  • dstillman
    edited April 19, 2017
    No, the point is that it doesn't give us enough to go on, as explained on the linked page. You need to say exactly what's happening — what you're clicking, what you're seeing on screen, whether you're getting an error message, whether a dot appears in the Dock before and after, etc.
    I have control closed the dock icon repeatedly.
    Yes, and what happens? Does the dot disappear? I know this is frustrating, but I'm not just being nitpicky here — we literally can't help you unless you take the time to explain exactly what's happening on your screen.

    Have you tried control-option-clicking and choosing Force Quit?
  • dstillman
    Do you recommend Zotero for Firefox or Zotero Standalone with browser extension?
    The latter, which will be the only option after the upcoming Zotero 5.0.
  • esocolov
    You are not being nitpicky. You are being parental.
    I am taking all the time that is needed. I see no "linked page" from you.

    I will try to break it down here.

    I was working in Zotero. Then, inexplicably, it quit.
    I tried to reopen it from the doc. The icon bounced up and down and the menu appeared on the top - but no window appeared. I closed it from the dock. Then I tried again. Same result. The icon bounced, the black dot appeared under it, the menu bar appeared. No window on my screen.

    So I went to the app folder and I tried to open it from there. Same result. Then I did a force quit and tried to reopen. No go.

    Then I restarted my computer. And tried to reopen from the dock. The icon bounced, the black dot appeared. But Zotero did not open.

    In Firefox, I added a new item to my bibliography in Zotero from World Cat and it appeared that Zotero was saving it properly.

    I don't know what else I can add. Please help.
  • dstillman
    Right — that's the kind of description we need. (The linked page is the page I linked to in my first response to you, which includes example descriptions like that.)

    We don't normally recommend this, but quit Zotero, make sure the dot disappears, and then redownload Zotero from the download page and try again.

    If that doesn't help, see the Reporting Startup Errors instructions for more info that might be helpful (assuming the Browser Console actually appears for you).

    Also, what macOS version is this?
  • esocolov
    Hi. I never got a linked page. Sorry. Please resend. Mac is 10.12.4.

    So just to be clear, you are asking me to re-download the standalone version but not to delete the current app. Then you want me to try to start up from the newly-downloaded version.

    I just took a peep at the "Reporting Startup Errors" and I see the instructions are different for the Firefox and Standalone. I assume I have standalone since it opens form the doc. Please confirm.

    Thanks.

  • esocolov
    *from the dock
  • dstillman
    I never got a linked page.
    It's in my first reply to you above. Just scroll up.
    So just to be clear, you are asking me to re-download the standalone version but not to delete the current app. Then you want me to try to start up from the newly-downloaded version.
    Yes.
    I assume I have standalone since it opens form the doc. Please confirm.
    Yes.
  • esocolov
    Sorry. I see the link now.

    I am very worried about this since all of my assets and pdfs are in Zotero.
  • esocolov
    Btw, does Zotero work better with Firefox than with Safari in your experience?
  • dstillman
    edited April 19, 2017
    Don't worry — all your data is still there, and reinstalling won't affect it. But you can back up your Zotero data directory for good measure. (Hopefully you're already using something like Time Machine for this.)
    Btw, does Zotero work better with Firefox than with Safari in your experience?
    It doesn't matter too much, but the Safari connector is currently somewhat limited for technical reasons. An upcoming version of the Safari connector will bring its functionality closer to Firefox and Chrome (e.g., a single button to save from all pages, instead of having to right-click on the page to save unrecognized pages).
  • esocolov
    Thanks. Yes. Time Machine is backing up everything. Will report back on my success.
  • esocolov
    Downloaded. Restarted computer. Then opened App folder and double clicked on Zotero 2. Same problem. Icon on dock bounced. Black dot appeared, menu bar at top. No window for Zotero.
  • dstillman
    Are you sure the window isn't just appearing at the edge of the screen somewhere? If you minimize it from the Window menu, do you see it swoop down into the Dock?

    You can also try deleting localstore.rdf, which stores window settings, from the Zotero profile directory with Zotero closed.

    Beyond that, we'd want to see info from the Reporting Startup Errors steps.
  • dstillman
    And actually, what do you see in the Window menu? Is there a "Zotero" entry? Are there other windows listed? Is "Zotero" checked? Does "Zoom" do anything?
  • esocolov
    OK. I will check all of these things and then go to Reporting Startup Errors.
  • esocolov
    It swooped when I minimized and then went off so far to the left it isn't visible!
  • esocolov
    Crisis averted! Thank you DStillman!

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