BBT startup fails, 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.