Error: Invalid Characters
I can't sync because I supposedly have a file with invalid characters. However, the file does not even come up in my library when I search for it.
Using newest Zotero update on Firefox 3.6.16, on Mac OS X 10.6.7.
Using newest Zotero update on Firefox 3.6.16, on Mac OS X 10.6.7.
File was indeed in the trash. So I emptied the trash and tried to sync. Once again, an error message about invalid characters pertaining to a file not in my library came up. This one isn't in the trash, either.
My error report ID is: 1844448799
ID: 1380321609
And if you can tell us where the item in question came from (e.g., import via RIS, import from a particular site), that would be helpful.
WARNING THIS METHOD IS NOT FULLY TESTED. MAKE A BACKUP.
YOU WILL LOSE PATHS TO ATTACHMENTS AND SNAPSHOTS
However the titles/names of the attachments and snapshots will be maintained.
(Note to SQL coders - a better command could probably selectively delete only file paths and leave attachments alone)
1. Install SQLite Manager addon for Firefox.
2. Disable Zotero.
3. Backup entire Zotero directory.
4. Connect to "zotero.sqlite" using SQLite Manager.
5. Run check integrity test on entire database.
6. Select the itemAttachments table.
7. Execute this SQL command ... UPDATE "itemAttachments" SET "path" = "";
Path column of itemAttachments should now be empty of nasty file path characters.
8. Run all the commands at the bottom of this page ... https://zotero.org/utils/dbfix/manual ... you might have to cut and paste a little as one of them gives an error. But this appears to be a necessary step as I was getting a DB error before I did this step and could not sync.
9. Close SQLite Manager.
10. Remove any journal or bak sqlite database files in the Zotero directory (otherwise I think SQLite repairs what you've done from the journal).
11. Re-enable Zotero and now you should get a clean sync. Just did this myself and all my references are now there on the public web page of my references on the Zotero site. You might have to put your password back in.
The bad characters were originally introduced by a buggy mount of an SD card on my machine (in the path). Although I guess there may be other ways that bad characters can get in there.
Needless to say, the above method is not recommended.
Glad to hear sync is working again for you, though.
What comes up is
The filename 'Âc et al. - 2010 - lq¾½:MºÃvøsvðÃ.do' contains invalid characters.
I can't find any record that even looks like this!
Any suggestions (apart from deleting all the 2010 records)?
Best wishes,
Anthony Staines
Again, we'd want to know where that item - a Stata .do file? - came from.