Upgrade StorageFile sync stopped properly working in latest iOS beta app
More precisely, I'm talking about WebDAV sync and it works one way only. If an item with PDF is saved via the iOS app it does not download to the desktop Zotero. Double clicking results in the File not found error message, similarly to when one device saves to Zotero and the other one to WebDAV.
However, when I fix the issue in the desktop app by removing and re-adding the file it syncs to the iOS app without any issue. This suggests that the basic problem is not the iOS app syncing files to the Zotero server. Also, any PDF file which is on the WebDAV server can be downloaded on both systems. The following screenshot was made after a successfully finished sync: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZE8PAXZLAHGkwPkdDYPriL2K61vlYxSOUIV
However, when I fix the issue in the desktop app by removing and re-adding the file it syncs to the iOS app without any issue. This suggests that the basic problem is not the iOS app syncing files to the Zotero server. Also, any PDF file which is on the WebDAV server can be downloaded on both systems. The following screenshot was made after a successfully finished sync: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZE8PAXZLAHGkwPkdDYPriL2K61vlYxSOUIV
Debug ID: D1546840224
Zotero desktop file open error message screenshot: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZxbKAXZI0NE87sJrMVJ5zzjxFJ8a8Rm8KM7
iPad Zotero screenshot: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZIhKAXZVhmLUgGVY2b3eHWQlH1bDFnu4nhX
D766597084
VRFIX5QT is not created on the WebDAV in the Zotero folder.
D346596513
J2GPZW7U is not created on the WebDAV in the Zotero folder.
D380957402
4CEV4UHI is not created on the WebDAV in the Zotero folder.
WebDAV\Zotero screenshot https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZwKIAXZePso3PsbJxzT5r9BqM4qLVDcRHNk
Nothing with the mentioned file names was created on the WebDAV\Zotero
See also screenshot in my previous comment.
Also there are some 0b files in your screenshot. Were those created by iOS app?
Yes, sync works perfectly the other direction, i.e. when saving on the desktop (latest beta Zotero). I only have this problem when saving papers with the iOS app on my iPad. Also, not all items turn out to be missing when saved on the iPad, so it’s not a general problem. I failed to recognize a pattern though.
I can try to save a few items on my iPhone in an attempt to replicate the problem on another device if that helps.
1) From iOS and desktop while saving on iOS and trying unsuccessfully to open on desktop
2) From desktop and iOS while saving on desktop and opening successfully on iOS
In both cases, start the debug output on both devices at the same time, perform the full process, and then submit both.
My debug output is D1680932420.
The method you use to add the file to the Zotero app shouldn't be relevant here, because it's actually getting a 201 Created from the WebDAV server, meaning something is supposedly being uploaded and accepted by the server.
To debug this, we'd need the pair of Debug IDs I ask for above.
I tried again the following:
1. on Zotero iOS I export the annotated pdf from an app (LiquidText) to Zotero (that asks in which section to put the pdf). Zotero Desktop syncs and realizes that a new item is in the library. It is in the right section but as soon as I open the pdf, Zotero is not able to find it (and it seems to look at the local storage folder rather than at the WebDAV server).
Debug IDs are the following:
Desktop ID: D1615960069
iOS ID: D198473883
2. on Zotero Desktop, since there is no export extension available (I cannot export the pdf to Zotero from an other app as I can on iOS) I create a new item in a specific section of the library. Then I attach the annotated pdf file that was on the local disk.
Zotero iOS realizes that there is a new item and it syncs correctly and the pdf is opened without any problem.
Debug IDs are the following:
Desktop ID: D241634849
iOS ID: D621014998
However, the problem might be communication related between the iOS Zotero app and the Zotero server. I regularly get API connection errors and this may also prevent proper saving of files. Debug ID: D1420253772
Another hint that the issue is Zotero app specific is that saving via PaperShip works 100 % of the time. One can easily tell which entries were saved via Zotero and which with PaperShip by just looking at the generated PDF file names: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZPTxaXZvhvBpiCc0KjcS5gzjegVnkOj6QEX
There are 3 items saved via Zotero and 3 via PaperShip out of the last 7 in the screenshot, and PaperShip worked 3/3 while Zotero 0/3. It doesn’t appear as a WebDAV server issue. (The very last item was saved via Zotero desktop.)
I use a system wide DNS based filter (AdGuard), although its involvement sounds unlikely, given that PaperShip can save all entries to Zotero and all files to the WebDAV server without any issue.
Do you know whether you updated to the latest app version before or after you saved these files? You have several files that were definitely saved incorrectly, but the most recent is from 12/25. Can you reproduce this with a newly saved item? If so, can you provide a Debug ID for the save?
I mean the issue was present both before and after updating the app in TestFlight.
Debugging was not active when getting this, but it’s very likely related: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZW1waXZyMTwXcbAX50bybcwoY9s6QE4GeK7
Will try to catch an upload error with Debug on and share.
I hope this report captured the problem. The in-app error message claimed that there were sync issues with 18 files?
The last 4 iPad saved items again contain no valid PDFs when trying to access on the desktop.
Another one following the failed API response/request timed out error message, this time right after app restart: D315606442
First, the iOS debug: D1807591404
The desktop: 1377550587
However, the Sync failed (Failed API response) as well as the very slow or failed loading of collections in Safari is rampant now. I still suspect that it’s linked to a communication error with the Zotero and not the WebDAV server.
Does this happen from any site, or just from that one?
I’m on iOS 15.3 beta now, but no difference is noticeable between OS versions, the behavior was the same when on 15.2 final.
If you recall it I recently reinstalled the app. I can give it another go if necessary. (It would be great to include a batch PDF download option for collections and/or for filtered lists for quick restoration of previous state. That’s the biggest pain of deleting and reinstalling.)
D2122321945
Corresponding desktop report ID: 182067952
Desktop error may be related to the latest beta, it was updated earlier today. I hadn't seen the sync error before that.
What’s different on the phone is that there are no Failed API responses and the Safari extension loads collections instantly vs. the lag/loading failure on the iPad.
Thanks.