RIS Import Error

mdavismcd
I'm getting a syntax error when trying to import an RIS file from a library catalog. It's a single citation from Primo (Library Discovery Tool). The item permalink is below if someone would like to try:
https://davidson.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01DCOLL_INST/19u2smm/alma991023235409705716

Zotero Dev Tool Error Message:
[JavaScript Error: "XML Parsing Error: syntax error
Location: moz-nullprincipal:{a63c47e7-2f0b-0647-af11-79e05b46ba08}
Line Number 1, Column 1:" {file: "moz-nullprincipal:{a63c47e7-2f0b-0647-af11-79e05b46ba08}" line: 1 column: 1 source: "PB - Yale University Press"}]

[JavaScript Error: "XML Parsing Error: syntax error
Location: moz-nullprincipal:{1f5ddc17-7da6-f54e-a2fc-810b144b8b02}
Line Number 1, Column 1:" {file: "moz-nullprincipal:{1f5ddc17-7da6-f54e-a2fc-810b144b8b02}" line: 1 column: 1 source: "PB - Yale University Press"}]

[JavaScript Error: "XML Parsing Error: syntax error
Location: moz-nullprincipal:{514f0bed-563b-c44d-9a72-4698ee4f63f4}
Line Number 1, Column 1:" {file: "moz-nullprincipal:{514f0bed-563b-c44d-9a72-4698ee4f63f4}" line: 1 column: 1 source: "PB - Yale University Press"}]

[JavaScript Error: "XML Parsing Error: syntax error
Location: moz-nullprincipal:{f773ce1d-787e-c647-a62d-086afda1efda}
Line Number 1, Column 1:" {file: "moz-nullprincipal:{f773ce1d-787e-c647-a62d-086afda1efda}" line: 1 column: 1 source: "PB - Yale University Press"}]



The pop-up error says the file extension isn't supported: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e2Jklx0dI4c24XGsIQp0eqMlWwJnQfgf/view

I tried on another catalog and didn't get the error when importing. Any help parsing the JavaScript error?

Thanks!
  • adamsmith
    That's not valid RIS. RIS must begin with a TY - tag.
    Any reason you are not using the save to Zotero icon?
  • mdavismcd
    edited July 12, 2021
    Oh wow. Didn't realize it may be this simple (missing TY tag). I opened a ticket with ExLibris in the meantime. It looks like the TY tag wasn't first by default but this was fixed in Feb 2021 (according to release notes: "February 2021 SF: 885449
    When exporting to the RIS format, TY was not always displayed first. This has been fixed."

    I replied with the ticket with your info (thanks!).

    What do you mean by the "save to Zotero icon?"
    [edit: Do you mean the Zotero browser extension? If so, sure, that is another option. I guess some of our users use the RIS file path. The ISBN magic wand is another path, which I suggested to our faculty member, but the Zotero extension is another (possibly better?). /edit]

    Thanks again!
  • dstillman
    edited July 12, 2021
    The save button isn't "another option" — it's the primary way of saving to Zotero, and should always be preferred over other options. It's the fastest option, it will often improve upon any metadata exported by the site, it will automatically save available PDFs, it provides the easiest interface for filing saved items, etc. RIS import is only necessary if the save button fails for some reason or you're exporting a large number of items at once and hitting site access limits.

    Add Item by Identifier is fast and generally accurate, but it won't download files unless you have direct (on-campus or VPN-based) access to them and it requires you to manually find and copy an identifier. And for ISBNs specifically, there isn't really an authoritative single metadata provider, so if you're already on a site with good metadata that's supported by the save button, you should save from there.
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