Cannot install Libreoffice plugin from flatpak

dr.davide
Hi, this is my first time using Zotero.

I installed the flatpak of version 7.0.4 on my installation of Fedora 39.
When trying to install the Libreoffice plugin using the automatic process, I get:

NotFoundError: Could not get children of file(/opt) because it does not exist

Despite /opt actually existing.

Furthermore, global search for *oxt files didn't find the zotero plugin.
  • dstillman
    We have nothing to do with the Flatpak. You'd have to ask the package maintainers or use our official tarball.
  • dr.davide
    Managed to install the extension.
    Had to:
    1. Uninstall zotero and libreoffice flatpaks
    2. Install zotero from official tarball
    3. Install libreoffice with dnf
    4. Upgrade to Fedora 40 to have the right version of libicuc for Libreoffice's unopkg to work (annoying)
  • giocomai
    For anybody encountering this after installing Zotero via Flatpak, here is the easier workaround:

    Step 1: if not available, install manually the Libreoffice / Zotero integration. From within Libreoffice, go to "Tools" -> "Extensions" -> "add" and you'll find the oxt file in the following path: /var/lib/flatpak/app/org.zotero.Zotero/current/active/files/share/zotero/integration/libreoffice/Zotero_LibreOffice_Integration.oxt

    Step 2: with Flatseal (install it if you don't have it already), look for the Zotero app, and disable "wayland windowing system" in the "socket" section. - See https://github.com/flathub/org.zotero.Zotero/issues/165#issuecomment-2347228485

    Without step 2, Zotero would crash.

    This hopefully will be fixed in due time on the Flatpak's side.
  • jdien
    You are a lifesaver!!!!

    In my case, installed zotero 7.0.7 with Pop!_OS 22.04 using it's Pop!_Shop. For this configuration, zotero was installed in ~/.local/share/flatpak...
    But otherwise your info was on the money! Since .local is invisible, I had to first copy the .oxt file to somewhere that Libreoffice could see using Terminal. I did not, however, have to do anything with Flatseal. I was able to add citations in Libreoffice without any problems, so maybe something was fixed?
  • giocomai
    Great!

    Both differences are related to OS or to user specific options, so I'll add a couple of clarifications if anybody's stumbles upon this workaround.

    1. Flatpaks can be installed system-wide, or only for the current user. If it's installed only for the current user, app files are stored under `~/.local/share/flatpak` as pointed out above; if they are installed system-wide, they will be under `/var/lib/flatpak/`. Users may want to try both locations.

    2. Step 2 described above is necessary only for those using the Wayland compositor. Mainstream Linux-based OS have been using Wayland by default for a few years (e.g. Ubuntu since 2021, Fedora since much earlier), but indeed Pop!_OS waited a bit longer to do the switch, so its 2022 version was still relying on the most established Wayland predecessor (X11). Folks who are into how OS works will understand instantly what this is all about, and for those who don't, it's not really an issue: if it works without Step 2 above, it's great (either you have X11 or it's been fixed by the time you read this), if it doesn't work, try Step 2: as of this writing most users with an up-to-date OS will need to do this: it's an easy step and it can anyway be easily reverted.
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