Importing from RefWorks

tangledbank
I have repeatedly tried to import from the web-based program Refworks. I don't have a ton of refs...just 65 of them. I tried exporting them into smaller bunches of 10 files and it still doesn't work...even following the about:configure changes to stop the automated response that there is a script error.

HELP!!!

I did try with just two files and it worked in two seconds...why does 10 files importing not work at all?

Thanks for any assistance.

tangledbank
  • noksagt
    What is the exact error that you get? Is it a timeout error (in which case you can disable that warning in your about:config and/or ignore it while you just wait)?
  • tangledbank
    edited April 28, 2008
    The error that I get is as follows:
    "A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete."

    It gives the option of clicking "Continue" or "Stop Script."

    I used the about:config and changed the timing to zero (as referred to in multiple other discussions).

    You can "ignore" the spinning rainbow wheel but cannot use Firefox in any other way while it is trying to process. That's rather annoying. However, I let it go for over an hour for only 10 references in one txt file. And NOTHING. I had to force quit firefox to use it again.

    I then tried to import a txt file with only two references and it processed within seconds.

    What's the big difference here?

    Thanks for helping with this.

    tangledbank
  • dstillman
    Importing 10 references should only take a few seconds, so you're hitting an infinite loop of some sort. Can you find a single reference (or the smallest possible combination of references) that hangs? If so, post it here.
  • tangledbank
    OK...Weird. I used a total of 22 separate folders in RefWorks and exported them as RIS (.txt) files.

    There were newly created RefWorks files that I created to test various numbers of files. Then there were Older RefWorks files that had different numbers of files in them that I used as tests as well. All told there were 22 files that I exported (from RefWorks) in the same way...and attempted to import (into Zotero).

    Here's the results:

    Newly Created Files
    1 file with 3 refs___WORKED
    1file with 5 refs__WORKED
    1 file with 6 refs__WORKED
    8 files with 10 refs each___NONE OF THESE WORKED
    1 file with 10 refs__WORKED (WHY???)
    1 file with 25 refs in it__DID NOT WORK
    3 files with 65 references__NEITHER WORKED

    Older Files (Last Accessed or Updated about 2 months ago):
    2 files with 5 refs each__BOTH WORKED
    1 file with 8 refs__WORKED
    1 file with 18 refs__WORKED
    1 file with 3 refs__WORKED
    1 file with 2 refs__WORKED

    All older files worked...newer files (generally) with more than 6 refs in the file don't import...with the exception of the one.

    Hope this is detailed enough, and helpful. Let me know if you have questions.

    I got my files imported piece by piece in the multiple loads...but MAN this would have really bit the big one if it was a year down the road and I had a ton more refs. For folks that have heavy files in RefWorks...they aren't going to want to switch if they do what I had to do. I'd say that there's gotta be an answer...and will keep an eye out to see what it is.

    Thanks again for Zotero...besides this import issue I LOVE IT....and will surely use it throughout the rest of my doctoral studies.

    To all of you that actually help to resolve these things...Thank YOU.

    peace.

    tangledbank
  • dstillman
    edited April 29, 2008
    The number of references in the files shouldn't make a difference. It's most likely just particular individual references that fail, which is why I suggested trying to narrow it down to a single reference that doesn't import. Send one of the files with ten references that doesn't work to support@zot....org, and we'll take a look.
  • tangledbank
    Thanks Dan. I've sent one of the files your way. Hope this helps...and looking forward to answering the mystery.

    Cheers,

    tangledbank
  • dstillman
    Go to the Advanced pane of the Zotero prefs and click Reset Translators and Styles, and the problem should be fixed.

    There was a problem in an earlier version of the BibTeX translator that could cause a hang when importing files—even non-BibTeX ones—with pre-OS X Mac line endings. This was fixed, but the new BibTeX translator is too large to push automatically to Firefox 2 clients, so you likely still have an older version. Resetting your translators should get you the new translator and fix the problem.

    We'll push the updated BibTeX translator to everyone with Zotero 1.5.
  • tangledbank
    Wow...you rock Dan. You're either burning the midnight oil or the middle of the night oil if you're based in north america...even if you're on another continent...you're quick reply on this issue was IMPRESSIVE. All the way around...Zotero is here to take over.

    Thanks a million.

    Peace.

    tangledbank
  • fvaron
    You should understand that most computer geeks do not pay attention to the time icon on the lower right of their screen.

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