Error adding bibliography for large google docs file

edited June 12, 2024
Hello, I've been pulling my hair out trying to get the bibliography to load in my google docs file.

The writing is complete, and the zotero extension refreshed properly (so the citations are properly numbered and linked). When I clicked "Add/edit bibliography" to the end of the text, the plugin returns errors, and the citations end up unlinked and incomplete in the bibliography:

[JavaScript Error: "Error: Too many changes applied before saving document. Please save changes in smaller batches using Document.saveAndClose(), then reopen the document with Document.openById().
at chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/messaging_inject.js:79:17
at async Zotero.GoogleDocs.ClientAppsScript.setDocumentData (chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/zotero-google-docs-integration/clientAppsScript.js:129:5)
at async Zotero.GoogleDocs.ClientAppsScript.call (chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/zotero-google-docs-integration/clientAppsScript.js:60:13)" {file: "[object Object]"}]

[JavaScript Error: "Error: Exceeded maximum execution time
at chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/messaging_inject.js:79:17
at async Zotero.GoogleDocs.ClientAppsScript.setDocumentData (chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/zotero-google-docs-integration/clientAppsScript.js:129:5)
at async Zotero.GoogleDocs.ClientAppsScript.call (chrome-extension://ekhagklcjbdpajgpjgmbionohlpdbjgc/zotero-google-docs-integration/clientAppsScript.js:60:13)" {file: "[object Object]"}]

I have seen some posts on the forum about using the beta version on firefox, which is what I am using now (https://www.zotero.org/support/beta_builds#zotero). However, problem persists:

[JavaScript Error: "Too many changes applied before saving document. Please save changes in smaller batches using Document.saveAndClose(), then reopen the document with Document.openById().
Zotero.Messaging</this.init/Zotero[ns][meth]</</<@moz-extension://805231a1-9500-4673-8853-e72a7ca83b64/messaging_inject.js:79:17
" {file: "[object Object]"}]

[JavaScript Error: "Exceeded maximum execution time
Zotero.Messaging</this.init/Zotero[ns][meth]</</<@moz-extension://805231a1-9500-4673-8853-e72a7ca83b64/messaging_inject.js:79:17
" {file: "[object Object]"}]

Now I just want my file back. I am unable to change word processors (download a docx).

Please help! Thanks ahead of time.
  • You either have a huge document, or Google servers are having some issues. I don't recall seeing this error since we've released the extension years ago. To start with, Troubleshooting Errors in Word Processor Documents might help.

    If you want to transfer your document to Word, are you saying that Moving Documents with Zotero Citations Between Word Processors does not work for you too with the same error?
  • I'm looking at around 700 citations. The document is modestly large, ~150 pages. Nothing like the 1000s of pages some other users have reported.

    I'm trying to think of a work-around, where I can port this to something more reliable like Word, but I get the same "Exceed time" error when I do "Switch word processeors"
  • Same issue here. I started the document a year ago and Google used to work fine, but the restriction from the server side made me unable to run simple "Switch word processor" task.
  • @popovic: You may be able to copy and paste smaller sections of the document into individual Google Docs documents and then do the switching process from those.

    Make sure to do a Refresh after pasting to confirm that the citations are still active. (The Zotero Connector needs to handle them as you paste them, so it still depends on Google servers. If you're finding that they're becoming unlinked, you might need to try smaller batches, or you might need to wait longer so Google stops rate-limiting you.)
  • Thanks @dstillman. It will take me a lot of time, but at least it works and I will manage to save the document.
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