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jlegewie / zotfile

Zotero plugin to manage your attachments: automatically rename, move, and attach PDFs (or other files) to Zotero items, sync PDFs from your Zotero library to your (mobile) PDF reader (e.g. an iPad, Android tablet, etc.), and extract PDF annotations.
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Zotfile doesn't always rename and move automatically PDFs saved through browser connector #496

Open talestomaz opened 3 years ago

talestomaz commented 3 years ago

Hey guys, I'd like to know if I'm doing something wrong, if this is a bug or if this is a feature: Zotfile doesn't always rename and move automatically PDFs saved through my browser connector. In my installation, half of the times it renames the file, moves it to the desired folder and creates the link within Zotero. But in many other times Zotero just saves a PDF the same way as before (in Zotero's original storage folder). I've introduced the discussion in Zotero's forums: https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/85103/making-zotfile-move-file-automatically-after-saving-to-zotero-via-browser-connector#latest. Someone found as possible pattern that PDFs (journal papers) without open access (to which I have access by using the VPN of my university) cannot be correctly managed by Zotfile.

At the end of the day, from time to time I have to manually ask Zotfile to rename all files in order to ensure that all PDFs are in my desired folder, what I find non-ideal.

Is Zotfile supposed to work this way? If so, why? Or am I missing something in my configuration? Bonus question: is there any possible configuration in Zotfile that would make every Zotero PDF be saved/moved automatically into the indicated folder, be it with browser connector, be it dragged into Zotero? If not, does this behaviour apply for a "feature request"?

FYI: Running Manjaro Linux KDE, Firefox 83, Zotero Connector for Firefox, Zotero 5.0.93, Zotfile add-on. Configuration of Zotero+Zotfile: (1) installed Zotfile, (2) in Zotfile preferences, changed "Location of files" to "Custom location" and indicated the folder I want; (3) changed Zotero's "Linked attachment base directory" to the same path indicated in Zotfile preferences.

Thanks!

VectorZhao commented 3 years ago

I encountered the same problem. I found that modifying the storage directory results in successful renaming sometimes.

talestomaz commented 3 years ago

I encountered the same problem. I found that modifying the storage directory results in successful renaming sometimes.

What do you mean by "modifying the storage directory"? Changing the folder address inside ZotFile configurations? Anyway, I have the impression this is not the way it's supposed to work...

ailich commented 3 years ago

I've had the same issue as well. adamsmith in the forum post suggested that this happens when you try to save a reference to your library using the browser extension while on the PDF of the article rather than on the html version. This seemed to be the case for me as well, but it does seem a bit odd that it would work one way but not the other especially if a certain article only has a PDF version (e.g. a government document). You can move them to the proper directory with "right click > Manage Attachments > Rename Attachments", provided you realize it didn't go to the desired directory, but it'd be better if this happened automatically.

VectorZhao commented 3 years ago

I've had the same issue as well. adamsmith in the forum post suggested that this happens when you try to save a reference to your library using the browser extension while on the PDF of the article rather than on the html version. This seemed to be the case for me as well, but it does seem a bit odd that it would work one way but not the other especially if a certain article only has a PDF version (e.g. a government document). You can move them to the proper directory with "right click > Manage Attachments > Rename Attachments", provided you realize it didn't go to the desired directory, but it'd be better if this happened automatically.

This is the only way to solve the problem.

VectorZhao commented 3 years ago

I encountered the same problem. I found that modifying the storage directory results in successful renaming sometimes.

What do you mean by "modifying the storage directory"? Changing the folder address inside ZotFile configurations? Anyway, I have the impression this is not the way it's supposed to work...

try the way from @ailich

ahrendsen commented 3 years ago

I've experienced this issue on occasion. For me, it doesn't appear to be associated with any particular journal website, as often simply re-importing it with the browser extension results in the file be renamed as expected. It could be associated with a performance issue on the computer, but that's more or less wild speculation.

ahrendsen commented 3 years ago

I should have mentioned before that I always save the pdf from the article page, rather than the .pdf page.

Another data point! This paper experienced the issue: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433201000678, but like I said, re-downloading it resulted in a correct rename.