Trouble since update Zotero 8

gmcb2025
This morning Zotero updated to Zotero 8. Since then, I have been having problems with the programme. When I highlight texts in my documents and add a comment to it, the programme crashes. Are there other users experiencing this issue as well?
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    Crashes as in freezes or as in closes completely?

    Can you say more about exactly what you're doing and what's happening?

    See Reporting Problems for the two things we always need in order to help.
  • gmcb2025
    Whenever I highlight text in a PDF stored in Zotero, and then choose “Add Comment” on that highlight, Zotero freezes. After a short time, I get a system pop-up saying “Zotero is not responding”, and the program closes/crashes.
    This happens consistently and makes it impossible to annotate PDFs properly.
    Report ID: 449734741
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited yesterday at 2:40pm
    Can you provide a Debug ID (different from a Report ID) for Zotero startup up through right before you do the action that freezes, using the Help → Debug Output Logging → "Restart with Logging Enabled…" option?

    Does this happen for all PDFs or only some?
  • gmcb2025
    I have no idea if this is the right one, but this is de Debug ID: D898011301
    This happens to all my PDFs.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    No, that's not a Debug ID for Zotero startup. See above for exactly what you need to do.
  • gmcb2025
    I can’t manage to get that debug ID, because my program completely freezes and then crashes. And then it doesn’t keep the output anymore, So I can't get the debug ID. I’m honestly done with it at this point.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited yesterday at 2:59pm
    As I say, you should submit the output immediately before the performing the action that causes the freeze. We just need to actually see a Debug ID for Zotero startup through that point, which isn't what you provided. I gave you the exact menu option to use above.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    (And no, no one else has reported anything like this, so if you'd like this fixed, you'll need to work with us to investigate the problem.)
  • gmcb2025
    D104092125

    Here’s the new debug ID, exactly as you told me to get it. Could you please give me a more detailed explanation of what I should do, in case this still isn’t correct? I also don’t think this is a feature that many people use, so it’s possible it hasn’t been reported by others yet.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    I mean, that's just not what I asked for. I asked for debug output for Zotero startup, by going to Help → Debug Output Logging and choosing "Restart with Logging Enabled…". That's just not what you're providing.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited yesterday at 3:04pm
    (You don't think adding comments to annotations is a feature people use? I promise you many, many people add comments to annotations.)
  • gmcb2025
    Okay so when I do that, what should I do next exactly? Please take me through all the steps, because I really am trying my best, but I am not the best in software/programming etc.
    I'm really doing my best to figure this out and provide the information you need. I’m trying to help get the program working properly, not make things difficult. Could you please stay polite as well?
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    I really can't say it more clearly that I did the very first time:
    Can you provide a Debug ID (different from a Report ID) for Zotero startup up through right before you do the action that freezes, using the Help → Debug Output Logging → "Restart with Logging Enabled…" option?
    I understand you're frustrated, but I have been extremely clear this entire time. You'll need to take the time to carefully read what I write and provide it if you want us to help you. There's just no other way we can do so.
  • gmcb2025
    Okay — I’ll explain as precisely as I can what I’m not understanding, so you can see where I’m going wrong.

    When I follow the exact steps:

    I enable troubleshooting mode (Help → Debug Output Logging → Restart with Logging Enabled…)

    Zotero restarts

    I create a highlight and add a comment

    Before Zotero freezes/crashes, I click: Help → Submit Debug Output Logging → ‘Submit Output’

    After I click ‘Submit Output’, I get a code that I can copy to my clipboard: D2086178140

    Is this the Debug ID you’re asking for? If not, what exactly is missing or different from what you need?

    I’m genuinely trying to provide the correct information so you can diagnose the issue
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    Yes, that one was correct.

    But I'm confused: you said it freezes when you add the comment, which is why I asked for output up until right before you add it. But you're capturing the adding, which means it's not actually freezing immediately. So then how long after you add the comment before it freezes? Are you doing something else that makes it freeze? Or do you just not touch anything and it freezes shortly after?

    Can you open the debug output window with Help → Debug Output Logging → View Output, position the window so you can see it alongside your Zotero window, and then reproduce the freeze, and when it freezes, take a screenshot of the debug window and post it here? That may show us additional logging from when it freezes.
  • gmcb2025
    Okay, good to hear that it’s working fine now. That’s correct: if I’m quick, I can sometimes add a comment, but how long it takes varies. Sometimes it freezes after just one sentence, sometimes only after three. In the end, it always freezes if I keep typing long enough.
    If I stop after one sentence and it hasn’t frozen yet, and then continue working elsewhere in the document, it doesn’t suddenly freeze afterwards. It really only freezes while I’m typing in the comment.

    I hope this is what you mean with the screenshot. I made it when the programme did not react any more, and just before i shut it down:
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u18712802/99ryo28orlp68fus1k07.png
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    No indication of a problem there. I would try updating Windows to the latest version and see if that helps.
  • gmcb2025
    Okay, would you say this is more likely related to my Windows system or my computer’s performance, rather than the latest Zotero update?
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