BBT startup fails when a system-wide proxy is in effect, blocking use and synchronization

[dmkaplan2000]

Debug log ID

Zotero Debug ID = D1498337816

BBT log file.io = 3LT38P7J-fio-EkENJhJvee9i

What happened?

Recently, when I start Zotero, I often (but not always) get a popup with the following message:

TransactionInactiveError: A request was placed against a transaction which is currently not active, or which is finished.

When this happens, BBT does not appear in menus and in the list of add-ins and synchronization of my library with zotero.org stops working. This problem occurs on two different machines connected to the same Zotero account. Unfortunately, I do not see how to make a BBT debug log as when this happens, it is as if BBT was not present, so no option to generate a BBT log. Instead I have restarted with Zotero debugging enabled and that is what I copied in the Debug Log ID field.

I am running zotero-better-bibtex-6.7.263.xpi on Zotero 7.0.11 (64-bit) on Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS.

This error seems to be linked to the use of a (system-wide) network proxy as it occurs when the proxy asks for a username and password (that I unfortunately do not know how to permanently modify). When I turn off the proxy, then I do not seem to get this error, but I need the proxy for journal access...

[github-actions]

Hello @dmkaplan2000,

@retorquere is ready to assist you with Better BibTeX. In order to do so efficiently, a debug log is generally required. The information it containst is key to him understanding, replicating, and resolving your issue. If you have shared a D<number> log, those go to the Zotero team, @retorquere cannot access those.

Here’s how you can share your debug log:

1. If your issue involves specific references, citekey generation, or exports, right-click on the relevant item(s) and select "Better BibTeX -> Submit Better BibTeX debug log" from the menu.
2. For issues where items do not play a role, follow these steps:

• Restart Zotero with debugging enabled (Help -> Debug Output Logging -> Restart with logging enabled).
• Reproduce the problem.
• Choose "Send Better BibTeX debug report..." from the help menu.

After these steps, you will receive debug ID displayed in red. Please share this ID with @retorquere in this issue thread. If your query is about an export, include both the actually exported result and your expected/desired outcome.

Sharing your debug log gives @retorquere a view of your Better BibTeX configuration and the elements contributing to the issue. This helps him address your concerns more efficiently.

If you have submitted a debug log and its ID looks like D<number>, that debug log goes to the Zotero team, not to @retorquere. Please see the points above how to send a BBT debug log.

Thank you.

PS: If the Debug Log menu is not available, or if it fails to send the debug log, you can use the option under “Help” > “Send debug log to file.io”.

[dmkaplan2000]

After submission, I see that the file.io BBT export option is now in the help menu, so I edited the original submission to indicate both the Zotero log ID and the BBT file.io log ID.

[retorquere]

I'll look at the fio log when I'm home, but I have no access to D<number> logs, only the Zotero crew can access those.

[dmkaplan2000]

OK, thanks. For the Zotero log ID, I just included it because I had already created it. Please just ignore it if it is not of use.

[retorquere]

I see no relevant errors in the log, but debug logging was off at time of log submission, so maybe some were missed?

[dmkaplan2000]

I redid the export of the debugging log. This time it was definitely enabled up until I exported the BBT file.io log. The error only occurs when the system wide proxy is enabled. The debug log ID is 67HLNVN4-fio-LdLzfv9jufYz .

Thanks,
David

[retorquere]

How do I set the system wide proxy under linux?

[dmkaplan2000]

Sorry for the slow response, I have been teaching (about Quarto + Zotero + BBT). To set the system wide proxy, you go to settings => network => network proxy. I use the automatic option with a proxy configuration URL...

[retorquere]

Do you know a proxy I can use?

[dmkaplan2000]

Yeah, that is the problem... You are welcome to use mine to the point of entering the username and password, but I am a little bit less enthusiastic about sending you my password...

In any case, the configuration URL for my proxy is http://proxy-doc.ird.fr/proxy.pac

[retorquere]

Don't want it and fortunately don't need it. The problem reproduces. As of yet no idea how to get around it.

[dmkaplan2000]

That is something of a relief as I was worried that it was perhaps a problem on my end. Let me know if I can provide any more information.

[pitoftar]

I am also encountering this issue. I have been getting around it by entering my proxy information and then disabling and renabling BBT each time, but this gets cumbersome.
BBT version 7.0.0
Zotero version 7.0.11
OS is Linux Mint 22 (Linux kernel 6.8.0-51-generic)

[retorquere]

It has something to do with a modal dialog being present. It's new to Zotero 7, the devs haven't responded yet on a possible cause.

It may be possible to delay bbt startup until no modal dialogs are open, but Zotero should just not be behaving this way.

[pitoftar]

Thank you for the follow-up!!

[dmkaplan2000]

Tried 7523 and got what appears to be the same error.

bbt.log

TransactionInactiveError: A request was placed against a transaction which is currently not active, or which is finished.
put@jar:file:///home/dmk/.zotero/zotero/pza2p8mg.default/extensions/[email protected]!/content/better-bibtex.js:14200:48
open@jar:file:///home/dmk/.zotero/zotero/pza2p8mg.default/extensions/[email protected]!/content/better-bibtex.js:15644:25
openWindowPrompt@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1231:17
openPrompt@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1052:12
openPromptAsync@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1265:29
nsIPrompt_promptUsernameAndPassword@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1525:19
promptAuth@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1666:21
asyncPromptAuth@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:653:14
promptAuthInternal@resource://gre/modules/LoginManagerAuthPrompter.sys.mjs:699:34

[github-actions]

🤖 this is your friendly neighborhood build bot announcing test build 7.0.2.7525 ("log window titles")

This update may name other issues, but the build just dropped here is for you; it just means problems already fixed in other issues have been folded into the work we are doing here. Install in Zotero by downloading test build 7.0.2.7525, opening the Zotero "Tools" menu, selecting "Add-ons", open the gear menu in the top right, and select "Install Add-on From File...".

[retorquere]

Another log please

[dmkaplan2000]

Another log please

Note that I am doing these tests on a different machine running Ubuntu 22 than the previous tests on Ubuntu 20, but the problem seems to be the same...

bbt.log

TransactionInactiveError: A request was placed against a transaction which is currently not active, or which is finished.
put@jar:file:///home/dmk/.zotero/zotero/vcjfil50.default/extensions/[email protected]!/content/better-bibtex.js:14201:48
open@jar:file:///home/dmk/.zotero/zotero/vcjfil50.default/extensions/[email protected]!/content/better-bibtex.js:15645:25
openWindowPrompt@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1231:17
openPrompt@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1052:12
openPromptAsync@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1265:29
nsIPrompt_promptUsernameAndPassword@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1525:19
promptAuth@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:1666:21
asyncPromptAuth@resource://gre/modules/Prompter.sys.mjs:653:14
promptAuthInternal@resource://gre/modules/LoginManagerAuthPrompter.sys.mjs:699:34

[retorquere]

And while this happens the proxy window is open? The log says only the main Zotero window is open.

[retorquere]

Are you running zotero under wayland, or under X11?

[dmkaplan2000]

Are you running zotero under wayland, or under X11?

Ahhh, both... On the Ubuntu 20 system at my office that I used when testing 7523, I am running X11, but the Ubuntu 22 system that I use when working from home (as I am today and therefore that was used for testing 7525) I am running wayland. Sorry about the switching of systems, but I occasionally work from home and don't have access to my Ubuntu 20 desktop.

[dmkaplan2000]

And while this happens the proxy window is open? The log says only the main Zotero window is open.

I started zotero, then zotero launches the proxy username and password dialogue (but perhaps this is a system window that zotero doesn't own???? hard for me to tell) and then after a few seconds (but not enough for me to enter username and password), the BBT error window pops up. Before sending the log, I closed all the windows.

[retorquere]

Can you attach a log from both, indicating which is wayland and which is X11?

[dmkaplan2000]

Can you attach a log from both, indicating which is wayland and which is X11?

bbt-wayland.log
bbt-x11.log

(I was able to do the x11 one remoting into my desktop)

[github-actions]

🤖 this is your friendly neighborhood build bot announcing test build 7.0.2.7540 ("await proxy auth")

This update may name other issues, but the build just dropped here is for you; it just means problems already fixed in other issues have been folded into the work we are doing here. Install in Zotero by downloading test build 7.0.2.7540, opening the Zotero "Tools" menu, selecting "Add-ons", open the gear menu in the top right, and select "Install Add-on From File...".

[github-actions]

🤖 this is your friendly neighborhood build bot announcing test build 7.0.2.7542 ("Merge branch 'master' into gh-3101")

This update may name other issues, but the build just dropped here is for you; it just means problems already fixed in other issues have been folded into the work we are doing here. Install in Zotero by downloading test build 7.0.2.7542, opening the Zotero "Tools" menu, selecting "Add-ons", open the gear menu in the top right, and select "Install Add-on From File...".

[dmkaplan2000]

7542 seems to have fixed the problem. I only tried it on the X11 system, but on that system BBT appears to have waited patiently for me to fill in the proxy dialogue. I created the log nonetheless, just in case it is useful. I can also try on wayland, but that will have to wait until I get home.

bbt-x11.log

[retorquere]

I don't expect there to be a difference between X11 and wayland now, I'm no longer trying to detect the dialog, Zotero intentionally triggers the dialog, and I just wait until it has done so.