Sync error

joeldaniels
Report ID 1507118357

I had to do a complete clean re-install of Windows, so I'm trying to sync my online account with my new Zotero Firefox plug-in. I'm getting as far as "Getting updated data from sync server," but no further. I'm using Zotero 4.0.4 and Firefox 20.0.1.

Any recommendations welcome. Thanks.
  • dstillman
    What happens, exactly? Zotero is successfully generating download data for you, but it's incredibly large—100MB—so it could easily take a long time to process.
  • dstillman
    (For what it's worth, we're in the process of switching to a new syncing architecture in Zotero 4.1 that will avoid problems like these with transferring a huge amount of data at once.)
  • joeldaniels
    Hi Dan, thanks for your help. Yes, I'm a member of a few groups with large research archives, so I'm not surprised the number of records is the complication.

    I'm getting the spinning arrow, with the "Getting updated data" message when hovering with the mouse, but, after a few minutes, the red error icon comes up next to the arrow, instructing me to try again in a few minutes. No luck when I do, though.

    Thanks again.
  • dstillman
    What does the error message say when you click on the error icon?
  • joeldaniels
    "Empty response from server.Please try again in a few minutes."
  • dstillman
    Are you connecting via a proxy server?

    The Zotero server appears to be successfully outputting your download data, but it's possible that something between you and the server is having trouble with a download of that size.
  • joeldaniels
    edited April 15, 2013
    No, I'm not using a proxy server. I'm not sure what would be between the server and my computer.
  • dstillman
    Do you have a backup of your Zotero data directory from before you reinstalled Windows? If so, the easiest thing would be to restore from that.

    Failing that, if this is a laptop, you could try from another network, on the off chance that that helps. Otherwise, other than continuing to try, which may eventually allow it to go through, the main thing I would suggest would be temporarily leaving one of the large groups you're in, syncing, and then rejoining. That would allow Zotero to download your data in separate parts.
  • dstillman
    Oh, also, you appear to have 4,500 items in the trash in your personal library on the server. If nothing else works, I could clear those for you, which would reduce the download size. (It's not yet possible to delete those all from the online library quickly.)
  • joeldaniels
    Leaving, syncing, and rejoining the groups worked like a charm. If clearing out the trash is still needed, and the offer stands, that would be great, too.

    Thanks, Dan; I really appreciate your help.
  • dstillman
    OK, great. If you're able to sync now, you should be able to empty the trash yourself in the client (or wait and it'll do it automatically after 30 days, but it wouldn't hurt to do it now).

    It'd probably be fine to do it all at once, but for good measure you might want to delete the items from the trash in a few batches by selecting 1/4 at a time or so and pressing Delete.

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