Zotero glitchy, slow and not saving from refman on google docs on macbook

janesuiter · August 23, 2024

Hi
I have a MacBook Pro with Apple M3Pro chip. I have Zotero. I am working on google docs and the files are not huge. I have two issues.
1. it is really glitchy and will only import about half the references i try that are in my library. It simply freezes.
2. It will not import from google scholar (via refman) to add any new references. Rather it wants to download them as .ris files..
It is ultra frustrating. Any help out there?
Thanks so much

dstillman · August 23, 2024

1. it is really glitchy and will only import about half the references i try that are in my library. It simply freezes.

I'm not sure what you mean by "import". Are you talking about inserting a citation into your Google Doc? What exactly freezes? Can you provide a screenshot and a Debug ID for reproducing it after restarting Zotero?

2. It will not import from google scholar (via refman) to add any new references. Rather it wants to download them as .ris files..

This is a misunderstanding of how you save to Zotero. Manually exporting has never been the correct way to save to Zotero from Google Scholar or any other supported site, and it's no longer possible due to changes in Chrome:

https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/466053/#Comment_466053

janesuiter · August 23, 2024

Thanks
see screenshots attached.
Re 1 the r d bar just gets stuck 2/3 through or the document freezes. If I quit Zotero it just relaunches
I cannot see a help option in Zotoro
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u7161972/nj31n16iwsn1wevrl20u.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u7161972/fu1zqta9rfs0utz0il81.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u7161972/qdxhyv93b71frk29j2ur.png
to get a debug ID.
Re 2. See screenshot I don't have a zotero option in scholar just a refman one.
Thanks for any help
J

enozkan · August 23, 2024

You don't want to import into Zotero for this; you add items. Importing means something else in Zotero and adding the default way is a lot easier. As dstillman mentioned, you use the Zotero's browser connectors as explained here:

https://www.zotero.org/support/adding_items_to_zotero

Look for a Save to Zotero icon to the right of the URL at the top of your browser window. Click on it is how you save. If you don't see one, that means you never installed Zotero's connectors:

https://www.zotero.org/download/

dstillman · August 24, 2024

For (1), start by updating to Zotero 7 via Help → "Check for Updates…". We can't help with Zotero 6 anymore.

If you're still having trouble, make sure the citation dialog isn't just appearing behind your other windows. That's the most likely thing here.

If you're sure it's not that, we would need a Debug ID for reproducing this after restarting Zotero? "Help" is a standard menu in the menu bar — it just doesn't show up if you have Zotero's Settings window open. Just close the Settings window and you'll see it.