Cannot Save PDFs Directly into Zotero

mvkarra
Zotero version: 5.0.38-beta.9+8782eaf50
Zotero type: Stand-Alone
Firefox version: 52.7.2 (64-bit)
OS: Windows 10

I have been having issues with saving references with PDF attachments to Zotero over the past few days. When I go to a PDF from a search engine, such as Google Scholar or JSTOR and click on the "Save to Zotero" icon in the address bar to save the PDF and import the reference, I receive a message "An error occurred while saving this item. See Troubleshooting Translator Issues for more information." I have tried other sites and databases, and while I am able to import the citation from the site, the PDF does not automatically attach. Moreover, when I use Google Scholar to import a citation (either with a PDF attachment or not) nothing happens when I click on the "Save to Zotero" folder icon and select the citation to import. In general, I find that PDF attachments are no longer are imported automatically along with the citation into Zotero, and creating a webpage from the PDF and retrieving the metadata from the PDF does not work either. I have tried to go through the Zotero forums to search for solutions, and I have attempted the following with no success:
1. Resetting my translators
2. Updating my translators and styles
3. Uninstalling and re-installing the Zotero icon
4. Updating my Firefox version
5. Disabling all other Firefox add-ons to see if there are any incompatible add-ons.

Finally, I decided to report my error to the forum. I have also tried to debug log the issues and have submitted a debug log (ID D1548435950) to the Zotero server.

Any support on this matter is greatly appreciated!
  • adomasven
    I can confirm that the google scholar translator is at least behaving weirdly. The results on https://scholar.google.lt/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=test&btnG= are inconsistent for me. The first article saves the PDF fine, but the snapshot link seems to have a `.pdf` at the end, which confuses Zotero in regards to the file mime type. However, the fulltext PDF saves fine.

    I can also confirm that the JSTOR translator does not provide Zotero with any attachments.

    Does saving articles from https://arxiv.org/list/astro-ph/new work fine for you, both PDF and snapshots?
    Moreover, when I use Google Scholar to import a citation (either with a PDF attachment or not) nothing happens when I click on the "Save to Zotero" folder icon and select the citation to import.
    Can you provide a Debug ID for loading the Google Scholar page and performing this action from the Zotero Connector (not the Zotero client)?
    In general, I find that PDF attachments are no longer are imported automatically along with the citation into Zotero, and creating a webpage from the PDF and retrieving the metadata from the PDF does not work either
    Can you provide specific links where this happens?
  • mvkarra
    Thank you for your reply. So, using your own example in Google Scholar, when I try to save the first entry into Zotero, I am able to save the citation, but neither the snapshot nor the PDF (which I am able to access when clicking the link) is not being imported along with the citation into Zotero. What I am able to do is manually save the PDF separately, import it into Zotero, and then associate it with the citation. However, this is clearly not how Zotero is supposed to work (and it was working fine before a few days ago).

    Saving articles from the https://arxiv.org/list/astro-ph/new link gives me the same problem - the citation is imported, but none of the snapshot or PDF attachments.

    The Debug ID that I have provided is: D1548435950, and I just sent in a report ID 739426602.

    As far as I am aware, this happens to all links where there are attachments (snapshot, PDF, etc.). No attachment is imported along with the citation.
  • adomasven
    In Zotero Preferences -> General, are the first two checkboxes under File Handling checked?
  • mvkarra
    Yes.
  • adomasven
    Can you provide a Debug ID for loading the Google Scholar page and performing this action from the Zotero Connector (not the Zotero client)?
    The Debug ID that I have provided is: D1548435950
    That's the Debug ID you have submitted earlier. Please follow the instructions for Debug ID from the Zotero Connector. Record loading the Google Scholar page and perform the save that fails.
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