Zotero and new version of word for mac (version 15.18)

Alice Irving
I have been using zotero for sometime successfully in combination with word on my mac. I have just updated word and I can't figure out how to get my zotero toolbar to appear with the new version. i have updated my zotero, and have also tried to download the most recent plugin for word for mac, but this file won't run on my computer because it says it is corrupted. I've half my thesis written with zotero... help!?
  • adamsmith
    And have also tried to download the most recent plugin for word for mac, but this file won't run on my computer because it says it is corrupted.
    Is this with Zotero Standalone? You shouldn't need to install anything manually. Which Zotero version (under about in the gears menu).

    Do you still have Word 2011 installed?

    Can you find your Word startup folder? It should be listed in the Word preferences under "File Locations" (we'd want the filepath, something like /Library/Word.... etc.
  • Alice Irving
    I've solved it. So within Zotero preferences (since I have standalone) i can prompt it to install the plugin for word. The first time I tried to reboot word it said again that the file was corrupted. The second time I rebooted it worked... for some reason.
  • Katrina Cherney
    Hello,

    I'm having a similar issue. I am using Microsoft Word for Mac, version 15.18. The Zotero drop down menu simply does not appear. I clicked "Reinstall Microsoft Word plugin" on the "Cite" tab of the Zotero stand alone preferences page, but no luck. What am I doing wrong?
  • adamsmith
    If you're not seeing that toolbar, see
    https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#no_zotero_add-on_visible_in_word_2016
    otherwise, please provide more details.
  • Katrina Cherney
    Thanks. I made some progress and added the "add-ins" toolbar to word and now see several zotero icons. however, when I click on any of them, the following dialogue box comes up: "Word could not communicate with Zotero. Please ensure that Firefox is open and try again".

    I would like to be able to link Word and Zotero standalone, as I don't use firefox.
  • adamsmith
    yeah, that error message is outdated, it should say "Firefox or Zotero open". Do you have Zotero Standalone open when you try? Are you sure it's the most recent version (4.0.28.8)?
  • Katrina Cherney
    I updated my standalone to 4.0.28.8, restarted both programs and am still having the same problem.
  • adamsmith
    OK, now try re-installing word components from Cite again and that should really work.
  • Katrina Cherney
    Still no luck. Also, I checked in the Add-ons manager in Zotero standalone and the Zotero Word for Mac Integration has the following caution: Zotero Word for Mac Integration could not be verified for in Zotero. Proceed with caution. I'm not sure if this related or not...
  • adamsmith
    no, the not verified message is irrelevant (it'll go away in the next version). It does show as enabled though, yes? It's not greyed out or anything?
  • Katrina Cherney
    It's enabled.
  • adamsmith
    Please run
    echo 'MacWord2016 addCitation' > ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/.zoteroIntegrationPipe

    from the terminal with both a Word document and Zotero open. What happens?
  • Katrina Cherney
    Sorry - how do I run that?
  • adamsmith
    open your Applications folder, then open the Utilities folder. Open the Terminal application.

    Then just paste the code above into the terminal window and press return.
  • Katrina Cherney
    Okay - I tried that and re-installed from Cite and nothing changed.
  • adamsmith
    so when you use the command above, you also get the "cannot communicate" error? Or what happens?
  • Katrina Cherney
    I still get the "cannot communicate" error.
  • adamsmith
    that's very odd. Is there anything unusual about your install? E.g. could Standalone have been installed by a different user? Do you have particular stringent security software running? Did you have Zotero working with a different word processor on that computer?
    I don't believe we have seen this particular issue on Mac before at all.
  • Katrina Cherney
    I believe that the answer is no to all of these questions but I could be missing something! Should I try to delete Zotero altogether and re-install from scratch?
  • adamsmith
    Could you maybe try to install Firefox and the Zotero add-on? It'll share the data directory with Standalone by default (which you should keep) and so won't affect your work at all, but would be good to see if that works. Note that you'll have to install the Word add-on separately on Firefox: https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_installation#microsoft_word
  • Katrina Cherney
    I followed the link to download the word add-on for Firefox and a warning message came up. It says that the file is corrupt and cannot be opened.
  • adamsmith
    did you do that in Firefox or a different browser? It's a Firefox add-on so should be downloaded with and opened in Firefox.
    The file behind the link is definitely fine.

    This is your personal computer, right? It's not some institutional environment where you don't have full control of your security and internet settings?
  • Katrina Cherney
    I've not installed and enabled the firefox extension, and still no luck. This is my personal computer - I have full control.
  • adamsmith
    that's a typo, right? You mean "now" installed, I'm assuming.
    Hmmm - running out of ideas, if anyone has any more ideas or knows how to flag Simon for this, that'd be great.
  • Katrina Cherney
    Sorry - yes, a typo! I have installed it.
  • adamsmith
    and just to be sure, in Firefox, you have both the Zotero add-on and the Zotero for MacWord add-on installed, correct?
  • Katrina Cherney
    Yes - still no luck.

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