Upgrade StorageZotero Connector cannot save PDFs from ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore
Report ID: 106336667
I am unable to save PDFs using Zotero Connector. This happens not only on ScienceDirect/Elsevier pages, but also on IEEE Xplore.
Problem:
When I open a PDF page in the browser and click the Zotero Connector button, Zotero Connector fails to save/extract the PDF. The problem occurs even when I am already on the PDF-only page. It is not limited to saving from the article/abstract page.
Steps to reproduce:
1. Start Zotero Desktop.
2. Open Chrome/Edge.
3. Open a subscribed article on ScienceDirect or IEEE Xplore.
4. Confirm that the PDF can be opened manually in the browser.
5. Go to the PDF page itself.
6. Click the Zotero Connector button.
7. Zotero Connector fails to save the PDF.
Expected result:
The PDF should be saved as an attachment in Zotero.
Actual result:
The PDF is not saved. The Connector reports an error. I submitted an error report and received Report ID 106336667.
Relevant error text from the Connector log includes repeated JavaScript errors such as:
“TypeError: Cannot set properties of null (setting 'getAllResponseHeaders')”
with stack traces involving:
singleFileFetch
single-file.js
getContent
connector.js
background-worker.js
Environment:
- Zotero version: 9.0.4
- Zotero Connector version: 5.0.205
- Browser: Chrome
- Operating system: macOS 26.5
- Access method: University subscription / OpenAthens
- Sites affected: ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore
Things I have tried:
- Restarted Zotero and the browser.
- Tried saving from the PDF page itself.
- Confirmed that the PDF can be opened manually in the browser.
- Checked that this is not limited to ScienceDirect, since IEEE Xplore is also affected.
Could you please advise whether this is a known Zotero Connector issue, a browser-specific issue, or a problem with authenticated PDF access?
I am unable to save PDFs using Zotero Connector. This happens not only on ScienceDirect/Elsevier pages, but also on IEEE Xplore.
Problem:
When I open a PDF page in the browser and click the Zotero Connector button, Zotero Connector fails to save/extract the PDF. The problem occurs even when I am already on the PDF-only page. It is not limited to saving from the article/abstract page.
Steps to reproduce:
1. Start Zotero Desktop.
2. Open Chrome/Edge.
3. Open a subscribed article on ScienceDirect or IEEE Xplore.
4. Confirm that the PDF can be opened manually in the browser.
5. Go to the PDF page itself.
6. Click the Zotero Connector button.
7. Zotero Connector fails to save the PDF.
Expected result:
The PDF should be saved as an attachment in Zotero.
Actual result:
The PDF is not saved. The Connector reports an error. I submitted an error report and received Report ID 106336667.
Relevant error text from the Connector log includes repeated JavaScript errors such as:
“TypeError: Cannot set properties of null (setting 'getAllResponseHeaders')”
with stack traces involving:
singleFileFetch
single-file.js
getContent
connector.js
background-worker.js
Environment:
- Zotero version: 9.0.4
- Zotero Connector version: 5.0.205
- Browser: Chrome
- Operating system: macOS 26.5
- Access method: University subscription / OpenAthens
- Sites affected: ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore
Things I have tried:
- Restarted Zotero and the browser.
- Tried saving from the PDF page itself.
- Confirmed that the PDF can be opened manually in the browser.
- Checked that this is not limited to ScienceDirect, since IEEE Xplore is also affected.
Could you please advise whether this is a known Zotero Connector issue, a browser-specific issue, or a problem with authenticated PDF access?
I meet the same problem. My Zotero Connector cannot save PDFs from several ACS publications, including OPRD and JACS.
The Zotero Connector could pick up ALL metadata from the website (including the author, DOI, URL, etc.), then create a local item in my library.
It could not download the full text PDF. A "×" would present before the "full text PDF", and this row would become red, if I press the extension.
I have access to these PDFs. It is viable to download all these PDFs manually and attach them to the items manually.
For Elsevier links, my Zotero connector could download the PDFs itself.
I hope this comment brings useful information for you. Thank you for the time to read the comment.