Merging Documents Error Messages

I am trying to merge documents in Windows 2010 but I am getting error messages. I looked at previous forum solutions for Windows 2007, but these are not working for me. I have about 600 citations across 5 documents so do not wish to insert them all again!

When I copy in the first document text/citations to the new global document, I select Insert Bibliography. I get error messages (see below), provide alternative "incorrect" citations (very unhelpful!), add a random new citation (which is deleted afterwards) and the bibliography appears.

However, on inserting the next document into the new global document, whatever steps I take, no bibliography for those citations is inserted.

The error messages are:

(a) Item 2* in the highlighted citation no longer exists in your Zotero database. Do you want to select a substitute item? Clicking “No” will delete the field codes for citations containing this item, preserving the citation text but deleting it from your bibliography.

*this depends on the citation Zotero selects.

The issue is that the citation is in the Zotero database. Whether I select "Yes" to substitute the item or "No" to delete it from the bibliography (which isn't there), I get another error message:

(b) Zotero experienced an error updating your document. An item in this document is missing from your Zotero library.

But it isn't missing!!

Your help would be much appreciated.

Thank you
  • Zotero identifies citations in a document using a unique internal identifier, so you can't easily tell whether an item is missing in your library or not. E.g. if you had the same item twice, deleted one of them (the one you happened to cite) it will look like you still have it in your library, but from Zotero's perspective you won't. Same if you work on multiple computers that aren't properly synced.

    So what I'd recommend is just to insert the _correct_ citation again for those items where Zotero complains and you should be good.
  • OK, get it and it works. It also helps if you let the document fully check for proofing errors, before either selecting Insert Bibliography for first document or Edit Bibliography for subsequent documents. Thank you!
  • I AM RECEIVING AN ERROR MESSAGE,WORD CAN NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ZOTERO
  • USING ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING AND IS HARD TO READ, SO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

    As for your question, see http://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#communication_error_or_non-responsive_plugin_buttons . If that doesn't help you solve your problem, start a new thread and mention your setup (operating system, version of Word, version of Zotero).

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