problems with windows 8

I'm having several simultaneous problems with standalone and I have reason to believe it's related to Windows 8.

1) When I try to import a pdf, I get a message that it's the wrong format (on the mac, the same files work fine)

2) If I drag the pdf into zotero, I get the windows 8 blue bar and a message that says, "this app can't run on your pc" twice, then lo and behold the file shows up in the library.

3) I get the same blue bar and message when trying to retrieve metadata.

Thanks for any help you can give.
  • 1) is normal - you can't use "import" for PDFs - what you want to do is drag&drop or "store copy of file" (under the green plus sign).

    2&3 sounds like an issue with the pdftools, Dan would have to say.
  • Try deleting the pdfinfo* and pdftotext* files in your Zotero data directory, restarting Zotero/Firefox, and reinstalling the PDF tools from the Search pane of the Zotero preferences.
  • that fixed it. thank you, dan.
  • Hi Guru's, I tried the above several times. No Joy...

    Whould it be worth uninstalling firefox and Zotero and starting again?
  • what exactly isn't working?
  • Saving a PDF and ticking extract MetaData from PDF, whilst viewing the PDF in the browser, or right clicking and extracting MetaData. I get the windows 8 blue bar and a message that says, "this app can't run on your pc".

    I tried deleting the pdfinfo* and pdftotext* files in the Zotero data directory, restarting Zotero/Firefox, and reinstalling the PDF tools from the Search pane of the Zotero preferences.

    No Joy :(
  • can you provide a debug ID for trying to run "retrieve metadata" for any PDF file
    http://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output

    FWIW "whilst viewing the PDF in the browser," that has nothing to do with what Zotero does. All that matters is the file you have selected in Zotero
  • Hi,
    how do i resolve "this app can't run on your pc"? thank you. M
  • debug ID D165063874
  • edited May 26, 2014
    See adamsmith's post above. We need a Debug ID (and a Report ID for good measure)

    Edit: good timing
  • We need a Debug ID 1) from Standalone and 2) that includes the operation that triggers the error.
  • But really the answer is just going to be the same as above. Have you tried deleting pdfinfo* and pdftotext* in the Zotero data directory and reinstalling the PDF tools from the preferences?
  • Dan Stillman,
    I deleted pdfinfo* and pdftotext* in the "Zotero data directory" and reinstalled the PDF tools from the preferences and now the problem is solved. The message has disappeared. THANK YOU SOO MUCH!
  • Thanks Dan!
    I tryed a few times before solving the problem. I think the key is DO NOT touch any thing before zotero finish installing the PDF tools. Anyway, it would be better if there is some feedback whilst install the tools.
Sign In or Register to comment.