Zotero has suddenly stopped taking snapshots

dclarke · 2025-07-01T21:29:40+00:00

I know there is an existing discussion of snapshots and how they relate to websites and item types. My problem is different. It's that Zotero has suddenly stopped taking snapshots of anything. This includes from sites where it previously took snapshots without any problem. I checked my settings and "automatically take snapshots" is checked. In other words, things that previously worked fine have suddenly stopped working. Any thoughts?

dstillman · 2025-07-02T01:01:58+00:00

We would need some example URLs.

dguggenh · 2025-07-02T13:34:28+00:00

I have been experiencing the same issue for the past couple of weeks. Zotero throws an error (see screenshot image link below) when I try to save. Here the example is the Guardian, but this is happening with ANY site, including scientific papers as well, and it will not save PDFs if they're available.

The following errors are reported in the browser (Firefox) extension:

-------------------------------------
[JavaScript Error: "can't access property "items", data is null
saveItems@moz-extension://8da3900e-e663-4b39-baa5-71204ecb795a/translate_item.js:168:25
" {file: "[object Object]"}]

[JavaScript Error: "Method saveItems failed
@moz-extension://8da3900e-e663-4b39-baa5-71204ecb795a/connector.js:311:49
" {file: "[object Object]"}]
-------------------------------------

Screenshot:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u4851505/xwwega584jub06wsfih9.jpg

poettli · 2025-07-02T13:37:46+00:00

The example above (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/trump-california-gas-car-ban) works for me

Chrome 136.0.7103.93
Zotero Connector 5.0.167

dclarke · 2025-07-02T17:40:30+00:00

I tried the Guardian URL from dguggenh's post, and got the same result as him (failure). Here's the error message, identical to his:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u968689/ac1eefe5pqjjdnp8r2hj.png

I also found the same error report:

-----------------------------------------

[JavaScript Error: "can't access property "items", data is null
saveItems@moz-extension://4ff6e1a2-4d15-4928-8828-86220c7cc6fb/translate_item.js:168:25
" {file: "[object Object]"}]

[JavaScript Error: "Method saveItems failed
@moz-extension://4ff6e1a2-4d15-4928-8828-86220c7cc6fb/connector.js:311:49
" {file: "[object Object]"}]

------------------------------------------

For both of us, then, this is something that is happening with every website. It's clearly a Zotero issue, not a website issue. And for both of us it has started suddenly - things that used to work don't work any more.

adamsmith · 2025-07-02T18:55:13+00:00

hmm -- but the result you see on that page -- failure of multiple translators and no item is imported at all -- isn't what you initially report, which was no snapshot attaching.

We still want to look at this at specific URLs which clearly exemplify the issue (that doesn't mean it's not a Zotero issue -- almost any failure to save from a website is a Zotero issue).

For the Guardian issue at a minimum, we'd also want a debug ID from the Zotero connector: https://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output#zotero_connectors_firefox_chrome_and_safari

jdiz · 2025-07-02T19:20:29+00:00

I am having this same issue. It started today

dstillman · 2025-07-02T19:22:23+00:00

@jdiz: We'd want a Debug ID from you as well for reloading the page and trying to save.

dstillman · 2025-07-02T19:26:56+00:00

@dclarke, @jdiz: Does it happen with other browser extensions disabled?

dclarke · 2025-07-02T20:02:16+00:00

"hmm -- but the result you see on that page -- failure of multiple translators and no item is imported at all -- isn't what you initially report, which was no snapshot attaching."

Not sure what the problem is here. I'm just trying to supply you with as much information as possible, following the dguggenh's example. My problem is that snapshots are not attaching. I don't know whether the extra information I supplied is relevant to that or not. If it's not, just ignore it.

dclarke · 2025-07-02T20:03:33+00:00

"We still want to look at this at specific URLs which clearly exemplify the issue"

This happens with every single website. Happy to send more examples if that would help; how many would you need?

adamsmith · 2025-07-02T20:13:34+00:00

Just one where you get an item in Zotero but no snapshot, i.e. the behavior (I think) you originally reported. Also see the other requested info above

dclarke · 2025-07-02T22:00:01+00:00

Thanks. The Guardian URL does that: it does in fact import bibliographic information, despite the error message it produces, but doesn't take a snapshot. I followed the instructions for obtaining a Debug ID; here it is: D1578662728. Please let me know what other information would be helpful, or if I've misunderstood something so far.

dstillman · 2025-07-03T00:11:16+00:00

5.0.151

@dclarke: You're running an outdated version of the Zotero Connector. Check for a warning icon on the application menu in the top-right corner of Firefox, and accept the updated permissions if necessary.

dstillman · 2025-07-03T05:08:55+00:00

(And I'd guess it's the same for @dguggenh and @jdiz.)

dclarke · 2025-07-06T02:05:47+00:00

Aha. Thanks - problem solved! For some reason Firefox didn't display any warning icon on the top right corner or otherwise indicate that anything was out of date.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u968689/2gfo20jhqtsa7hpzdtxg.png