Zotero (in FF) shows that it is saving to library, but does not

I am running Zotero for FF on a Windows 8 computer. When I select an item to add to my library within FF, say from a Google Scholar search, it shows "saving to library" in the bottom right corner and shows the progress of each file type. But then when I look at the library, it's not there.

After this happened, I downloaded Zotero standalone and it seems to work as intended with Chrome. Same process as above, but the items actually end up in my library.

Your help is appreciated.
  • Did it give the title of what it was saving in the "Saving to Library" popup?
  • The first few times it would show the title and would show each file type (.pdf, etc). I just tried it again and all it does is say "saving to library...." for a few seconds and then goes away.
  • If it doesn't show titles and attachments, you're almost certainly looking at 10. here: https://www.zotero.org/support/troubleshooting_translator_issues

    If it does show titles, the items are saved somewhere, you may just be looking in the wrong place. Where are you looking?
  • 10) It is a brand new install of the latest versions of both FF and Zotero. I have checked and “Firefox will:” was set to “Remember history”. I only have one other extension, which was already disabled: FaceRecognition.

    I am looking in My Library, unfiled items, duplicate items and trash. Those are the only folders I have on Zotero so far.

    1) Zotero 4.0.21.5 shows in my extensions manager on FF 31.0

    2) Google Scholar is not listed as a known issue

    3) As noted in 1)

    4) As noted in 1)

    5) I haven't modified translators, nor am I using a dropbox. Factory settings. I reset the translators for the heck of it and no luck.

    6) Up to date

    7) "Save to Zotero... (Google Scholar)

    8) I see the icon

    9) Clock looks fine to me currently 12:09 PM CST

    The following is my error report, but it doesn't appear that these pertain to the FF-Zotero, but rather the Chrome-Standalone.

    [JavaScript Error: "TypeError: this._treebox.treeBody is null" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/itemTreeView.js" line: 919}]
    [JavaScript Error: "value is not a non-null object" {file: "chrome://browser/content/browser.js" line: 14756}]
    [JavaScript Error: "value is not a non-null object" {file: "chrome://browser/content/browser.js" line: 14756}]
    [JavaScript Error: "value is not a non-null object" {file: "chrome://browser/content/browser.js" line: 14756}]
    [JavaScript Error: "value is not a non-null object" {file: "chrome://browser/content/browser.js" line: 14756}]
    [JavaScript Error: "HTTP GET https://pretenderfishing:********@api.zotero.org/users/2026192/laststoragesync failed: Unexpected status code 500" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/storage.js" line: 214}]
    [JavaScript Error: "HTTP GET https://pretenderfishing:********@api.zotero.org/users/2026192/laststoragesync failed: Unexpected status code 500" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/sync.js" line: 586}]
    [JavaScript Error: "TypeError: this._treebox.treeBody is null" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/itemTreeView.js" line: 919}]

    version => 4.0.21.5, platform => Win32, oscpu => Windows NT 6.3; WOW64, locale => en-US, appName => Firefox, appVersion => 31.0, extensions => Shockwave Flash (14.0.0.179, plugin), FastAccess Web Login (1.87, extension, disabled), Microsoft Office 2013 (15.0.4514.1000, plugin, disabled), Google Update (1.3.24.15, plugin, disabled), Adobe Acrobat (11.0.8.4, plugin, disabled), Fast Access SSO (1.0.0.85, plugin, disabled), McAfee SecurityCenter (12.8.957.0, plugin, disabled), Intel® Identity Protection Technology (4.0.5.0, plugin, disabled), Intel® Identity Protection Technology (4.0.5.0, plugin, disabled)


    I'm sure it's something simple, since this is a new install. I appreciate your help.
  • The following is my error report, but it doesn't appear that these pertain to the FF-Zotero, but rather the Chrome-Standalone.
    no, these are right, chrome:// is, confusingly, a Firefox protocol.
    [JavaScript Error: "TypeError: this._treebox.treeBody is null" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/itemTreeView.js" line: 919}]
    this here is the problem. The items are likely in your Zotero, they just don't show up. We usually don't recommend this, but why don't you simply try re-installing Zotero for Firefox. Can't hurt and maybe that'll fix things (no need to uninstall: just re-download and re-install).
  • I tried uninstalling/reinstalling it before I even sent that message. I have just tried what you suggested (just reinstalling it) and that hasn't fixed the issue.

    I am thankful for your patience in helping me figure this out. I really hope to use Zotero for the PhD work I am just beginning.
  • @Dan, any thoughts?
  • To confirm that the items are actually being saved, have you looked on zotero.org to see if they show up there (assuming you have auto-sync enabled)?

    Can you provide a Debug ID for a save attempt?

    What do you see in the left-hand pane of Zotero, and what's selected when you're trying to save? Are you sure you're looking in My Library? If, say, the trash or a non-matching saved search was selected when you were saving, you wouldn't see the items show up without switching views.

    If My Library is indeed selected, my best guess is that there's some other software on your system (malware or security software) that's interfering with Zotero. We've never seen that "this._treebox.treeBody is null" error before.
  • Not showing up in any folder on Zotero window or zotero.org. I have my library highlighted before saving.

    Debug ID D1036062328

    One other thing that I've noticed is that I am unable to get the bibliography manager setting for Google Scholar is stuck at "do not show any citation import links" when using Firefox. I can click it and change it to "endnote" or "BibTeX", but it doesn't stick when I save. Cookies are enabled and all other settings stick when I change them.

    Also, the setting sticks when I change in Chrome, but only for Chrome-based sessions. Similarly, the same actions work fine for Zotero standalone when using Chrome. I am able to select multiple articles from a Google Scholar search and they save to Z standalone with related materials and PDFs.
  • (3)(+0000001): Translate: Beginning translation with Google Scholar

    (5)(+0000006): Translate: Running handler 0 for select

    (3)(+0005166): Translate: Changing cookie: [...]

    (3)(+0000000): Translate: Cookie set to: [...]; domain=.scholar.google.com; expires=Sun, 17 Jan 2038 19:14:09 UTC

    (3)(+0000001): HTTP GET http://scholar.google.com/scholar.bib?q=info:237ofIx0DQ0J:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,14&ct=citation&cd=1&output=citation

    (3)(+0000000): HTTP GET http://scholar.google.com/scholar.bib?q=info:Bcw6vSTl2zUJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,14&ct=citation&cd=1&output=citation

    (3)(+0000000): HTTP GET http://scholar.google.com/scholar.bib?q=info:jndsu4N2_58J:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,14&ct=citation&cd=1&output=citation

    (3)(+0001129): Translate: Creating translate instance of type import in sandbox

    (4)(+0000001): Translate: Binding sandbox to http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=landsat+inundation&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0,14

    (4)(+0000004): Translate: Parsing code for BibTeX

    (3)(+0000020): Translate: Beginning translation with BibTeX

    (3)(+0000014): Translate: discarded item from BibTeX; type was mediascreenand

    (3)(+0000002): Translate: discarded item from BibTeX; type was mediaonlyscreenand

    (3)(+0000002): Translate: discarded item from BibTeX; type was mediaonlyscreenand

    (3)(+0000015): Translate: Translation successful
    Can you also provide a Debug ID for saving from an Amazon product page?
  • Any chance that third party cookies are disabled in Chrome?
  • Dan, I did similar actions with an Amazon search. The following is the report:

    D1646544422

    aurimas, in Chrome browser, allow local data to be set has been selected. But the issue I'm having is with Zotero extension in Firefox, not Google Chrome. Zotero standalone seems to be working in Chrome.

    In FF, the history setting is set to remember.
  • I'll add that I got an error message when trying to save from the Amazon page and that I should look into translator troubleshooting.
  • (3)(+0001684): Zotero.HTTP.processDocuments: http://www.amazon.com/Landsat-1976-CreateSpace/dp/B004OVA6M8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409352683&sr=8-2&keywords=landsat loaded

    (3)(+0000000): Translate: Scraping from Page

    (3)(+0000008): Deleted hidden browser (2)

    (3)(+0000004): Deleted hidden browser (1)

    (3)(+0000001): Deleted hidden browser (0)

    (2)(+0000000): Translate: Translation using Amazon.com failed:
    string => TypeError: invalid 'in' operand elements
    stack => Zotero.Utilities.xpath@chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/utilities.js:1039:6
    Zotero.Utilities.xpathText@chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/utilities.js:1110:7
    Zotero.Translate.SandboxManager.prototype.importObject/attachTo[localKey]@chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/translation/translate_firefox.js:476:7
    scrape@C:\Users\[...]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\z0mstncj.default\zotero\translators\Amazon.com.js:179:1
  • Oh, well, that one's not a great example — it looks like the Amazon translator genuinely isn't working on video pages, or at least that one. Try just a regular book.
  • Sorry,

    D155609910

    This one worked fine. All of the books I checked on the list were imported to my Zotero extension library.
  • So the only issue right now is that Google Scholar imports fail via Firefox? This really boils down to the issue you describe above
    One other thing that I've noticed is that I am unable to get the bibliography manager setting for Google Scholar is stuck at "do not show any citation import links" when using Firefox. I can click it and change it to "endnote" or "BibTeX", but it doesn't stick when I save. Cookies are enabled and all other settings stick when I change them.
    That is exactly what Zotero tries to do (by modifying your cookies directly) but clearly fails.

    I would guess that there's some sort of corrupted cookie in Firefox. Try clearing your cookies (for google scholar or all websites) and see if that makes a difference. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-login-issues-on-websites-require-passwords#w_clear-all-cookies-and-the-cache

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