The zotero is too slow for large database

weasteam
this is really a huge problem.
I just imported around 500 references from my Endnote list, I found zotero have a big speed problem.

1)When import a file contain more than 300 references, the speed is relatively slow.
2)After the references been imported, I found it is difficult to operate further utilizing, such as to add a note, it will take around 3-5s for every single click.

The firefox3.0 is installed in Ubuntu8.04 on my computer.

Any plan to speed up the zotero?
  • adamsmith
    unless you have a very slow computer there seems to be something else going on.
    Many people here work with much larger collections - mine has more than 1000 entries, others have several thousands - and I have no speed issues. (the only lag I get is searching and that one can get around using advanced search.)
    It's not a linux issue either, I'm using ubuntu 8.10
    Hard to troubleshoot - you are using 1.5 I take it?
  • mronkko
    I also have performance problems, but my database has 4744 items. With this, I have noticed delays only when I do something that causes the item list in the middle to be updated. I am using the latest beta, so switching to that might help you. One possible cause for slowness can be lack of memory on your system.

    Mikko
  • weasteam
    yes, it is 1.5b2 in my computer,
    My computer is 2G memery plus 2 core Interl Pentium 3.0G CPU. I do not think 1000 references would take total 2G memery and it truly did not.

    I will updata the system to ubuntu 9.04 20 days later, wish it will be ok then.
  • mronkko
    edited March 29, 2009
    If you feel like throubleshooting this yourself, you can download Venkman javascript debugger and run profiler to see what takes so long with your system.

    Steps to do:
    -Install Venkman from https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/216
    -Choose Tools -> Javascript Debugger
    -In Venkman window, choose Debug -> Exclude browser files. Make sure this is unchecked
    -Click on the Profile-button to start profiler
    -In Zotero, do whatever you think is too slow
    -Click again on the Profile button to stop profiler
    -Choose Profiler -> Display profile data

    If you put the results online and post a link here, people can help you trooubleshoot the performance issue.

    Mikko
  • weasteam
    thank you Mikko, I'd like to try Venkman.
  • octavabasso
    I want to second this one. I have a AMD 64, plenty of ram, using Ubuntu 8.10. Zotero 1.5b2 is really slow on searches, adding new tags, and any autocomplete field (like book titles, places of publication, and publishers).
  • sean
    What version of Firefox are you using? Is Zotero 1.0.9 also slow on your systems? This sounds like either an Ubuntu issue or a Firefox issue.
  • octavabasso
    Sean - Firefox 3.0.7 ; Ubuntu 8.10

    If a list of add-ons to Firefox helps, I have AdBlock, Stealther, and of course the Ubuntu add-on pack.
  • dstillman
    octavabasso: How many items in your library? (Select All and look in right column.)
  • octavabasso
    2894
  • weasteam
    hi all, I have updated to ubuntu9.04, and everything goes well in this new version, I like zotero.
  • sean
    Hmm, interesting. @weasteam, you see an noticeable improvement in Zotero performance just from the Ubuntu update? What version of Firefox are you running in Ubuntu 9.0.4?

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