Upgrade StorageWord for Mac: Citation corruption after changing citation style (Track Changes enabled)
Hi,
I'm having problems with a Word document and have a submission deadline, so I'd really appreciate any help.
I am using:
Zotero (latest version)
Word for Mac 16.111.1 (Microsoft 365)
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Track Changes is required by my supervisor and enabled. I think the issue started when I changed the citation style. During the update, Zotero repeatedly showed a dialog about restoring modified citations. I clicked "No" several times, and I think after each time an additional citation field/number appeared where my cursor was (I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this is when the problems started).
Since then, some citations are no longer recognised by Zotero ("You must place the cursor in a Zotero citation to edit it"), and citation numbering is incorrect (e.g. after 14 comes 16, so citation 15 seems to exist somewhere). In at least two places, some grey/empty citation objects remain in the document (also after citation number 14).
Refresh does not fix the numbering. The bibliography is still recognised as a Zotero bibliography and most citations still work normally (I believe) but I found at least one with the wrong number.
I followed the troubleshooting guide and generated a debug log. The Debug ID is: D242506837 but I dont know what that means.
Is there a way to identify/remove the hidden citation that Zotero is still counting or otherwise repair the document?
Thank you very much!
Best, Anna
I'm having problems with a Word document and have a submission deadline, so I'd really appreciate any help.
I am using:
Zotero (latest version)
Word for Mac 16.111.1 (Microsoft 365)
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Track Changes is required by my supervisor and enabled. I think the issue started when I changed the citation style. During the update, Zotero repeatedly showed a dialog about restoring modified citations. I clicked "No" several times, and I think after each time an additional citation field/number appeared where my cursor was (I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this is when the problems started).
Since then, some citations are no longer recognised by Zotero ("You must place the cursor in a Zotero citation to edit it"), and citation numbering is incorrect (e.g. after 14 comes 16, so citation 15 seems to exist somewhere). In at least two places, some grey/empty citation objects remain in the document (also after citation number 14).
Refresh does not fix the numbering. The bibliography is still recognised as a Zotero bibliography and most citations still work normally (I believe) but I found at least one with the wrong number.
I followed the troubleshooting guide and generated a debug log. The Debug ID is: D242506837 but I dont know what that means.
Is there a way to identify/remove the hidden citation that Zotero is still counting or otherwise repair the document?
Thank you very much!
Best, Anna
Your best bet is to enable field shading (Word Preferences -> View -> Field shading -> Select "Always"), and find shaded areas in the document that are likely (corrupt) Zotero citations, then remove and reinsert them. Make sure citations in this document weren't inserted in some other way, e.g. by using the Word's native citation functions, or that you're not putting your cursor in some other non-Zotero Word field which can be used for a variety of functions.
Based on the debug log you've submited, you have 2 citations numbered "10", that have been previously modified, and are not automatically updating. You should find them, put the Word cursor in them, and press the Add/Edit Citation button in the Zotero tab, click through the prompt warning about their modification, and submit (press Enter) the citation dialog, so that they are regenerated.