JSTOR repeatedly fails to save citations
Hello Zotero Experts,
I looked through the discussion forums for answers to my query, but similar posts either dealt with operating systems more recent than mine, or described slightly different issues -- at least as far as I could tell. If someone can direct me to a post that answers my question, that would be great. If not, read on...
Specs:
Mac OS X: 10.5.8 (PowerPC G4 laptop)
Firefox: 3.6.28
Zotero: 2.1.10
I'm not sure if this is pertinent, but just in case: I use DropBox to store Zotero's database.
After manually saving a PDF from JSTOR, I tried to save two articles from a list of search results (using the folder icon). I received the following error message: "Could Not Save Item. An error occurred while saving this item. Check Known Translator Issues for more information." I then trying clicking on the individual article that I wanted to save, but I got the same message.
This is the stable URL of the first article I was trying to save: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3246619
And this is the second URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1882225
The error that appeared in Firefox's Error Console when I received Zotero's error message was: "Error: TypeError: line.replace is not a function"
I found a post similar to mine whose last entry was, "This is now fixed in the repository -- the updated translator will be out within 24 hours." However, my computer can't handle an upgrade to the new version of Zotero. Does my outmoded operating system doom me to forever receive error messages when I try to save citations from JSTOR?
Thank you in advance for your help!
AS
I looked through the discussion forums for answers to my query, but similar posts either dealt with operating systems more recent than mine, or described slightly different issues -- at least as far as I could tell. If someone can direct me to a post that answers my question, that would be great. If not, read on...
Specs:
Mac OS X: 10.5.8 (PowerPC G4 laptop)
Firefox: 3.6.28
Zotero: 2.1.10
I'm not sure if this is pertinent, but just in case: I use DropBox to store Zotero's database.
After manually saving a PDF from JSTOR, I tried to save two articles from a list of search results (using the folder icon). I received the following error message: "Could Not Save Item. An error occurred while saving this item. Check Known Translator Issues for more information." I then trying clicking on the individual article that I wanted to save, but I got the same message.
This is the stable URL of the first article I was trying to save: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3246619
And this is the second URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1882225
The error that appeared in Firefox's Error Console when I received Zotero's error message was: "Error: TypeError: line.replace is not a function"
I found a post similar to mine whose last entry was, "This is now fixed in the repository -- the updated translator will be out within 24 hours." However, my computer can't handle an upgrade to the new version of Zotero. Does my outmoded operating system doom me to forever receive error messages when I try to save citations from JSTOR?
Thank you in advance for your help!
AS
You can download the latest version of the JSTOR translator (updates aren't pushed to 2.1 clients anymore, afaik) from here:
https://github.com/zotero/translators/raw/master/JSTOR.js
and place it in your ZOtero data folder:
http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_library
but if that doesn't help, we can't do much.
Thank you for your response. I definitely understand the "too much has changed" line... It is nonetheless frustrating for those of us who belong to the "Don't fix it if it isn't broken" school. I'm perfectly happy with my elderly computer (b. 2004), but I find that I'm increasingly excluded from basic computing programs because, as you mentioned, security updates and other updates are no longer formatted for systems like mine. Even Zotero is beginning to shun me and my trusty PowerBook! All in all, quite disheartening.
As for the links you provided: I've located my Zotero data folder using the steps described on the second page you linked to. However, I'm not quite sure what to do with the first link. When I click on it, I see a bunch of code, but don't know how to proceed from there.
Thank you again for your help.
AS
The first link is a javascript program. Just download it (right-click (ctrl+click) on link --> save link as... and place the downloaded file - JSTOR.js - in the translator folder of the data directory, overwriting the existing one. No guarantees that will work, but I think in this case there is a fair chance that it will.
My system is not broken; rather, it is incompatible with the most current versions of software like Firefox or Zotero. You put the onus about internet security on users like me. That responsibilty, however, rightly belongs at the feet of companies like Mozilla, who -- if they truly cared about internet security and reducing the spread of viruses -- would keep their systems compatible even with "outdated" machines.
I do take warnings about security risks seriously. I'm just not sure what I can do to protect myself and others: stop using the internet altogether? Use a different browser (currently using Safari, but can't download Chrome or the new Firefox because neither works with my system...)? Buy a new computer? All of these suggestions are unrealistic for me (and for many others).
In the end, I'm saddened to hear such things from a Zotero developer. Such statements seem at odds with the open-source loveliness that is Zotero. Shouldn't it be a priority to keep Zotero available to the many overworked and underpaid researchers clacking away at their 8-year-old laptops, instead of blaming them for creating security risks?
AS
While a computer may not wear out like a household appliance, it does become obsolete -- even dangerous -- because of hardware and software design flaws. Apple made a decision to implement major changes to its operating system and hardware. We can debate the fairness and reasonablness of the Apple decision. I do not think that Apple's decision should require other software developers to continue indefinately to support outdated Apple systems.
I think that it is reasonable to expect continued software support from developers who sell a maintainence contract. It is quite another thing in the case of free open access software. There will likely always be evil ones who find and exploit weaknesses in systems. Software developers must not only work to improve the features of their product, they must also continue to find ways to eliminate the continuing threat of malware. I agree with the Zotero decisions about the balance between, one one hand, progress and security and on the other hand continued compatible upgrades for older systems.
Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. I just want to make clear that I really can't express how much I appreciate Zotero's "tiny staff of 1 1/2 and a ragtag group of volunteers." I understand that you all need to, as DWL put it, strike a balance between "progress and security" and the development of "compatible upgrades for older systems." It is nonetheless frustrating to hear that it is supposedly me who is behaving imprudently by using a computer that really does do almost everything I need it to do. As to the things it does not do: well, those are dependent on software upgrades that are no longer available to me.
Of course I do not want to put myself or others at risk, but I cannot afford a significant upgrade at this stage. Yes, as Dan Stillman said, I was unlucky in purchasing a system that cannot be upgraded to Snow Leopard. I'm not sure, though, how I'm supposed to "accept" that. As I said before, it's unrealistic for me to stop using my computer or get a new one at this time.
As I tried to make clear in my last post, my frustration is directed more toward companies like Mozilla, who employ more than a motley bunch of volunteers, and less at great projects like Zotero. Nonetheless, I can't help but be a bit frustrated that I can no longer get the support I need from Zotero.
All that beind said, I was an ardent Zotero proselytizer in the past and will continue to be one. Perhaps next year I'll be able to get a computer that's worthy of the latest version.
For now, I remain,
Yours truly,
Ye Olde PowerBook
But have you tried TenFourFox, as suggested by adamsmith? I would think it's exactly what you want. And while we can't really promise to help you with all problems you might encounter while using it, there's a decent chance things will just work normally.
http://caminobrowser.org/
http://www.zotero.org/downloadbookmarklet