I cannot save ProQuest PDF to Standalone in either Chrome or Firefox

aelkins
I am using Zotero 4.0.8, and today downloaded the Standalone for use with Chrome, because Firefox is too slow. Since doing so, I have been unable to download the PDF of files found on ProQuest (newspaper articles), in either Chrome or Firefox. As far as I can tell, the only thing that changed, after I installed Standalone, was that I now have a Chrome Zotero extension.

For new files I've tried to import, I only have the "snapshot," no PDF. So when I click on the file, I'm taken to a new tab, in Chrome, my default browser, where I can click through to the PDF. From other discussion threads, I see that Zotero Standalone has imperfect compatibility with Chrome. So I'm willing to continue using Firefox, but I'd like to be able to download the PDFs, too.

I appreciate any and all guidance.

Alex
  • adamsmith
    please provide a URL exactly as you see it. Also, I think proquest has a permalink on the item page. If so, provide that as well.
  • aelkins
    Do you mean the URL for the "search results"? If so: http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.temple.edu/results/13E514970592AF9014E/3/$5bqueryType$3dbasic:OS$3b+sortType$3drelevance$3b+searchTerms$3d$5b$3cAND$7ccitationBodyTags:walter+headley+AND+miami+AND+police$3e$5d$3b+searchParameters$3d$7bRS$3dOP,+NAVIGATORS$3dpubtitlenav,objecttypenav,decadenav$28filter$3d110$2f0$2f*,sort$3dname$2fascending$29,yearnav$28filter$3d1100$2f0$2f*,sort$3dname$2fascending$29,yearmonthnav$28filter$3d120$2f0$2f*,sort$3dname$2fascending$29,monthnav$28sort$3dname$2fascending$29,daynav$28sort$3dname$2fascending$29,+jstorMuseCollections$3dJSTOR+MUSEALL,+chunkSize$3d50,+instance$3dprod.academic,+ftblock$3d1+660848+670831+194001+670829+194105+194000+660843+660840+105,+removeDuplicates$3dtrue$7d$3b+metaData$3d$7bUsageSearchMode$3dBasic,+dbselections$3d1006744$7c1005685$7c1007154$7c1006091$7c1007871$7c1006442$7ccv_734626$7c1006359$7d$5d?accountid=14270#scrollTo

    Here's the URL for one item from that search result: http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.temple.edu/docview/118045654/fulltextPDF/13E514970592AF9014E/102?accountid=14270

    What you wanted?
  • adamsmith
    when you do this via Firefox, do you have Standalone open? Could you try with Standalone closed?
  • aelkins
    With Standalone closed, I was able to save the PDF content of the file. But I could not save it to a specific folder, only to My Library. Is that just how it will have to be?
  • adamsmith
    PDFs aren't saved from Proquest via connectors, so that part is a known issue (Firefox goes into connector mode when Standalone is open).
    The collection issue shouldn't happen. Make sure the item actually isn't in the collection you had selected during import. Also try restarting Firefox and if that doesn't work disabling all other add-ons in Firefox (restart again) and see if that makes a difference.
    If none of that helps, we'd want a debug ID that covers
    selecting a collection and importing an item from Proquest.
    http://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output
  • aelkins
    In Firefox and Chrome, when I click the file folder icon in the URL bar, I never can select the collection. In Firefox, with Zotero installed on the bottom bar, I have more control; I can just keep it open to a certain collection when I import. But with Standalone needing to be closed, the file will just go to My Library. Make sense?

    I may opt for the debug. Thanks for your help.
  • adamsmith
    if standalone is closed you can open Zotero in Firefox and select a collection for import.
    With Standalone open, items will import into the selected collection in Standalone. Sounds like everything is working as it should be, unless I'm misunderstanding you there's ono need for a debug ID.

    You cannot set a collection for saving items directly to the server, but that would only happen with the Chrome connector and Standalone closed and there's typically no reason for it.
  • aelkins
    I see. The reason I downloaded Standalone is because Firefox freezes each time I open it, then my Zotero library; additionally, today I have been unable to view the files as Zotero attachments (e.g. zotero://attachment/10113/). Despite updating my Adobe plug-in, the problem remains. I only see the charcoal background.

    Alternatively, in Standalone, the file opens as a separate PDF, which is totally fine. If I can't fix the in-browser-viewing attachment, in Firefox, I'll just use Standalone.
  • adamsmith
    on viewing pdfs in Firefox see here:
    https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/29559/cannot-view-pdf-attachment-in-firefox/#Item_4

    You can also configure Zotero for Firefox to display pdfs with an external viewer by setting the launchNonNativeFiles hidden preference to true: http://www.zotero.org/support/preferences/hidden_preferences

    If you're insterested in troubleshooting the freeze start a new thread.
  • aelkins
    I think I'm all set. Thanks for all your help and the links, which helped me fix the PDF-viewing problem.

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