Can't save articles or retrieve PDF metadata

rccordell
I'm having two large problems with my Zotero library. At first, PDF metadata retrieval stopped working. I don't get an error message. The progress bar box appears, but never makes any progress. I've let the bar stay up for quite awhile--more than an hour once--but it never moves.

Then, article import stopped working. When I attempt to import an article, a dialogue box appears that says "could not save item" and directs me to the page for known translator issues. I've followed all the recommended steps to repair this problem, to no avail.

Today I tried to overhaul my entire Zotero installation. I exported my library, uninstalled Zotero, quit Firefox, deleted my Zotero folder, restarted Firefox, and reinstalled Zotero with a clean library. I then imported my old files. Now I'm having the same two problems--I can't import new items or retrieve PDF metadata.

I've also tried installing the Zotero standalone for Mac. It does the exact same things. I should have said: I'm running OS 10.6.7, Firefox 5.0.1, and Zotero 2.1.8.
  • adamsmith
    I'd recommend more controlled troubleshooting the next time you encounter an issue like this, exporting your library is not a good way to back-up your data for example
    http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#backing_up_your_zotero_library

    A couple of questions:
    1. Do translators fail on all sites? Try
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/books/review/book-review-the-secret-knowledge-by-david-mamet.html

    2. If so create an error report ID for a failed attempt
    http://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_bugs
    and post it here

    3. Also, you could try the "Reset Translators" button in the advanced panel of the Zotero preferences.
  • rccordell
    Exporting my data was my last-ditch effort. As I wrote in my first post, I tried a number of things before hand, including everything listed under "troubleshooting translator issues" (http://www.zotero.org/support/troubleshooting_translator_issues). This includes reseting translators, as well as many other things. I will try to post an error report ID.
  • dstillman
    What adamsmith said stands: exporting and reimporting your data would basically never be a recommended troubleshooting step, and certainly not for this.
  • rccordell
    Duly noted. Suggestions for next steps?
  • rccordell
    I tried to use the "report errors" function after being unable to retrieve PDF metadata, but it didn't show as an error. To repeat: I'm not getting an error code at all; the progress bar just hang indefinitely.
  • adamsmith
    Sorry, I'm on the road, will get back to you on Tuesday unless someone else does.
  • rccordell
    Adam and Dan,

    So after going back through the various resets (Reset Translators, etc.), I seem to be able to add new items again. Somewhere in this whole mess, another problem I didn't realize I was having seems to have been fixed: my library is now syncing with the Zotero server. I still can't retrieve metadata for PDFs, though. When I try to do so, the progress bar pops up and never moves. I never get an error message, either--eventually I just give up and close the window manually.

    --Ryan
  • adamsmith
    Provide a Debug ID for such a failed attempt
    http://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output
  • rccordell
    Here it is:

    D1530204382

    I tried to retrieve metadata for 3 different PDFs. I didn't let them hang very long, but trust me: they'll hang as long as I let them.
  • dstillman
    It looks like you're storing your Zotero database on Dropbox. This is strongly discouraged, and we can't help you further as long as that's the case.
  • ajlyon
    There's discussion on how to use Dropbox safely-- you'll need to put the "storage" folder in Dropbox, but keep zotero.sqlite out of it. Use Zotero's built-in syncing to sync the metadata. Search on the forums for more information.
  • jeffreylcausey
    I am having the same problems. It was working brilliantly a few months ago. Since, I have updated all of my Adobe readers, Firefox, etc. and now each time I try to retrieve an article it gives me the "known translator issues" warning. I tried to reset my translators following the recommendations above.

    For the record, I recently updated to Mac OS Lion. Could this be part of the problem?

    Love the application! Hope I can use it to finish my dissertation....

    Best,
    -Jeff
  • adamsmith
    provide a sample URL for such a failed attempt as well as an error ID.
    http://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_bugs
  • jeffreylcausey
    The URL won't work because I am logged into a secure library server through my university.

    Here is the error message: 16501088

    Thanks,
    -Jeff
  • adamsmith
    we still need the URL - if you're really worried about privacy you can xxx out the name of your University if it's in the URL, but for security reasons there's no need to even do that.
  • jeffreylcausey
    Hi, Adam.

    I'm not worried about privacy, however, when you try to use my URL it will send you to a Proxy server login page instead of the article.

    I'll paste one here and let you try: http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.oregonstate.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=24&sid=a13d9e19-fef5-4995-b0cf-e654d429b436%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=52425737

    Thanks,
    -Jeff
  • adamsmith
    FYI - most proxys work by just adding a proxy address after the .com -
    in your case: proxy.library.oregonstate.edu -
    I can get proxied links to work by replacing that with my libraries proxy.
    EBSCO also uses session IDs, so that won't work here, but ajlyon has fixed that translator recently, so try this:

    Please go to http://github.com/ajlyon/translators/raw/master/EBSCOhost.js and save the file to the translators directory of your Zotero data directory (http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data) (replacing the old translator).
    This should start working again.

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