empty tabs after invoking attachments

zip-it
Hello,

I'm using several Profiles in order to keep separate data spaces. I'm using Zotero 7 on Ubuntu 24. One database contains a list of books. Each entry has attachments and notes. After having moved to a new PC and after continued filling (around 900 now), I suddenly couldn't open any attachments, only an empty tab showed up (for PDFs , HTML ...). The other spaces I'm using worked fine (same version of zotero running, just separate profiles). The data are on an external disk, so I just attached it to the new PC. After realizing the errors, I went back to the former system, there the database worked fine (same version of OS and same version of Zotero).

Next I installed the version 6 of Zotero on the new PC and got it working again. After an new update (via help menu) to 7 the problem reappeared. The databse check claimed no errors found.
Using version, 6 I tried to export the complete library in order to import it into a fresh profile. The export form the affected library (including everything) was fine, the import succeeded along with all files.

After having switched to Zotero 7 again, I found the exported library in the new profile working again. I tried to import to another new profile then, which succeeded as well.
I’m not sure now, if the export under 6 made a difference compared to having used 7. (The original library does still not work under 7 of course)

Best regard
DH
  • dstillman
    Restart in Troubleshooting Mode (Help → "Restart in Troubleshooting Mode…”), which temporarily disables all plugins. If that fixes it, you'll need to identify the plugin that's causing it and then report the problem to the plugin's developer.

    If not, we'd want to see a Debug ID for reproducing this with all plugins disabled.

    Don't use an export of your library.
  • zip-it
    Thanks for your hints. I had no plugins, so starting in TM didn't change anything regarding that. In the meanwhile I could restore the biggest part of the database from a backup, where everything is still working.
    In the old database I followed your hints:
    I started debugging and tried to open a PDF, resulting in the described empty tab.
    ID:1869615170
    Best regards
  • dstillman
    That's a Report ID, not a Debug ID.
    QM_TRY failure (ERROR): 'Unavailable failed with resultCode 0x80004005, resultName NS_ERROR_FAILURE, context dom::quota::FirstInitializationAttempt::TemporaryStorage', file dom/quota/ActorsParent.cpp:6174

    QM_TRY failure (ERROR): 'Unavailable failed with resultCode 0x80004005, resultName NS_ERROR_FAILURE, context dom::localstorage::FirstOriginInitializationAttempt::Datastore', file dom/localstorage/ActorsParent.cpp:6918

    [JavaScript Error: "TypeError: this._iframeWindow.wrappedJSObject.createReader is not a function" {file: "chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/reader.js" line: 182}]
    How exactly did you install Zotero?
  • zip-it
    After having restored the Zotero DB from the backup, I could successfully export/import the missing last entries. Now everything works again...so far.
  • dstillman
    edited November 22, 2024
    Again, you really don't want to be exporting and reimporting data. That resets creation/modification dates and breaks links to citations in existing word processor documents, and it may lose other data. And beyond outright database corruption, there's no problem that shouldn't be fixable another way.
  • zip-it
    Regarding the installation I followed the instructions on zotero.org after removing the existing one (by mv /opt/zotero /opt/zotero_old).
    Download and cp:

    $ sudo cp -pr ~/Downloads/Zotero_linux-x86_64/ zotero
    I changed the ownership of the files to my user ID after.

    Since this was version 6 at first, I made an update via the help menu later.

    Thanks for the hint regarding export/import. I'm currently filling in the data of my library. As for now I didn't use any citations, but I don't want any missing data or corruption of course.

    I still keep the corrupt DB, hoping it can be fixed. This would be the best solution of course. If I would have to fill in the missing data manually (lib of physical books), would last about 4-5 hours.

    I try to reproduce the scenario later and send in the Debug ID (hopefully the right one this time).
  • zip-it
    mmh. the windows pops up and I got this:

    Der Fehlerbericht wurde übermittelt.

    Bericht-I

    : 1978813816

    Bitte erstellen Sie einen Beitrag in den Zotero-Foren
    (forums.zotero.org) mit dieser Berichts-ID, einer Beschreibung
    des Fehlers und den Schritten, die notwendig sind, um ihn zu
    reproduzieren.

    Fehlerberichte werden im Allgemeinen nicht beachtet, wenn
    kein entsprechender Thread im Forum erstellt wird.
  • dstillman
    That's still a Report ID, not a Debug ID. Follow the link for instructions.
  • zip-it
    After having switched the language to English it was easier for me to find the right way. On the other hand, I would believe I did the same thing when having German enabled with a different result. whatever.
    The debug ID is now displayed as D744627165.
    Thanks for your patience.

    By the way, you where right with your warnings regarding export. I found, that the images I've out into the notes were lost after import. It was a time consuming job to find them and to put them there. And- I'm using Zotero for many years now and had never problems with anything before.
  • dstillman
    I would try moving the data directory to the local disk. You're getting some weird errors, and there might be a problem with the (unusual) filesystem where you have your files.
  • zip-it
    Bingo, after moving the data to the local disk everything works fine again.
    Since using the external flash disk for more than 15 years without any problems on Windows and Linux (Zotero since 10 years), I didn't expect this kind of failure.
    Thanks for your help!
Sign In or Register to comment.