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Open Office Writer-Zotero-Firefox integration problems

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inlandsurfer1
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Open Office Writer-Zotero-Firefox integration problems

I am having continuous problems with the portable open office writer and portable firefox using zotero (but damn I really like portable apps!). The zotero extension works fine on firefox portable, but with open office its a different story. I copied over the python files like it says on the previous forums, but I still kept getting these runtime errors and it wouldnt install. Finally I reverted back to version OOo portable 2.2.1 and it seems to load ok until the end. It had a similar error but it at least loads the add-on and is present when I restart open office. Now when I try to add a citation it says that it is "An error occurred communicating with Zotero. Please make sure firefox is open and try again." I think that if I was using the local version of firefox, then I would be fine. Can somebody tell me how to make it communicate with the portable version?

MarkoMLM
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Try the last Firefox Portable and OpenOffice.org Portable 3

I've tested it.
Installation - no problems...
Zotero Call in OpenOffice.org Portable 3 - works (without a local Firefox)
Try it with PR2 or wait for the final (will be released soon)

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inlandsurfer1
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that worked

That worked and I'm not sure why. I had tried it with the all the versions of OOo. I think it may be that I had Firefox 2.0.14, but because I also downloaded another copy of the OOo add-on for zotero, I cannot eliminate it completely.

This makes for an awesome research system.

MarkoMLM
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Your welcome ;-)

it works because of the better interoperability and Extension Support in OpenOffice.org (Portable) 3.

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sancac
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Zotero Problems

I tried with Openoffice Portable 3.0.0 and Firefox Portable 3.0.5 and it did not work. It crashed at installation. Any help? I think Zotero is a very important add-on for those of us who do research.

MarkoMLM
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No problem here

Download the OpenOffice.org extension
Add the extension over Tools-extension-Add 'For all users'

Install the Zotero-Plugin for Firefox.

Testet with FFP 3.0.5 and OOoP 3.0.0 and 3.0.1

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sancac
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Thanks for your quick answer

I tried again and it crashed again.

The OOoP message was:

Microsoft Visual C++

Runtime Error

...\program\soffice.bin

abnormal program termination

Zotero add-on worked properly with the local installation of OOo. Any idea?

Thanks in advance

MarkoMLM
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Yes, Problem with MSVCRT ...

under Windows 2000 or XP.

Upload of 3.0.1 in progress, please try this version.

Can You post some more details about Your system?
When does it crash (after click on add for all users)?

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sancac
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OS version

Thanks again for your answer,

My OS is Windows XP. It crashed in two different computers. A laptop (with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 SP2) and a desktop (with Windows XP Professional Edition and SP2) both with the same OOoP and Firefox Portable.

It crashed after clicking on "add for all users"

What other information do you need?

Rumata
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same problem

Hi,

I encountered the same problem. Have you found a solution yet? I would be very much obliged if you can help me out. Otherwise I would have to get back to 2.4.1 portable until that problem is fixed.

Thx

MarkoMLM
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Try to add the extension "for me only"

... i still can't reproduce it Sad

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jrjoyce
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Another with Zotero Installation Problems

Greetings,
Well, I suppose it is of some comfort to discover that I'm not alone with having problems installing the Zotero extension in OpenOffice. I'm seeing similar symptoms, where it will appear to run through the install okay until it gets to the end, when it pops up the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library window saying 'Runtime Error! Program: ...ps\OpenOfficePortable\App\openoffice\program\soffice.bin This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.'

I have been attempting to use a system configured with the following software components: PortableApps 1.1, Firefox Portable v.3.0.6, OpenOffice.Org Portable v.3.0.1 (OOO300m15 Build 9379) all running under MS Windows XP Professional Version 2002, Service Pack 2. The system does have McAfee VirusScan Enterprise ver 8.0i installed on it, but turning off it's On Access Scan didn't change the observed behavior.

Doesn't seem to make a difference with whether I select the install only for me or all users options. I've seen both configurations recommended in different places, though single user seems to be the most common.

I have searched through the Zotero support site and the closest thing I can find to a consensus there is that there is a likely problem with the Python installation or one of it's support files. And I have observed a difference in the file structure between different installations of OpenOffice under PortableApps. The fix described at 'http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/1150/openoffice-portable-and-extensi...' appears to have worked for some people, though I have had no success with it yet. Currently, it seems like the problem may be due to either a reconfiguration of the file structure or totally missing files, possibly from trying to pare down unneeded features to make supporting the application on a USB drive more practical. I don't know how many different OpenOffice configurations are currently in distribution or how much variation there might be between them, but that may well be part of the reason why this plug-in seems to work for some people and not others.

Would be interesting to know if there is any correlation with which other PortableApps applications might be loaded. From examining some of the directories, it looks like the various apps are designed to be fairly well isolated from each other, but I'd hesitate to say that there was no leakage at all. I don't know if it's an issue either team can fix on their own or if it will require a joint investigation. However, considering how useful both of the apps seem to be on their own, I definitely hope the issue can be resolved soon.

If you have any suggestions that you'd like me to try to provide you with additional debugging information, just let me know.

Cheers,

John

MarkoMLM
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It is definitiv not a Problem of OpenOffice.org Portable ...

... or Mozilla Firefox Portable Edition.

I have tested it with the actual version on this Apps (fresh install with all available patches for the OS, no local installed OOo or FF)

Win2000, WinXP, Vista Home Premium 32bit, Vista Business 32bit and last but not least
under Muppi Linux and WINE.

No problems with install or use of Zotero.

You don't need any patch or fix with the actual versions. If it don't work it could be only a problem with You local installation, the used stick and /or the userprofiles of the PortableApps.

Please try a fresh install of the actual versions of OpenOffice.org Portable, Mozilla Firefox Portable Edition and Zotero. ATTENTION!!! don't use the available Beta 1.5! Use the stable version as suggested on http://www.zotero.org/support/openoffice_integration

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Surfaces
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Me too

I have tried this on 3 different PCs with the latest portable builds of firefox and openoffice but like others here I have had no luck; installation crashes with the runtime error message mentioned previously. If anyone wants me to supply details I will be happy to. I hope this gets resolved as I rely on portable openoffice at work and they are about to roll out office 2007 (shudder).

vole
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Yet another

I've got the same problem. Tried a clean install of the newest version of Portable Ooo, and no luck. It worked fine on my Portable 2.x install; unfortunately, I need 3 now. The version installed on Firefox shouldn't affect the actual Ooo plugin installation process, right? Anything I can do to help?

MarkoMLM
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Possible solution for the extension problem

Install (update) the last available OpenOffice.org Portable and Mozilla Firefox (TM) Portable Edition.

Install the last FF Plugin:
http://www.zotero.org/download/zotero-2.0b4.xpi

Download http://www.oooportable.org/portableapps/uno_packages.exe

Save Your OpenOffice.org Portable User Profile ( Data/settings/user ) for backup.

Run uno_packages.exe and extract to OpenOfficePortable/Data/settings/user
(allow replacing existing files)

Start OpenOffice.org Portable.
Attention (!) All Extensions installed 'for all users' will stay alive, all other extensions installed 'for You only' will be lost!

Please tell me if this solution works, than I will create a plugin in order to make the installation more compfortable.

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vole
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closer...

I followed your instructions and I get a Zotero toolbar with legitimate looking buttons. When I click on them, it thinks for a minute, but nothing happens (Firefox is open and Zotero is installed). Just to confirm, I'm not supposed to be running the Zotero Ooo extension installer on my own, after your instructions, right? Your Uno package install results in an install of the extension?

Also, just to see what would happen, I tried disabling and enabling the Zotero plugin from your install via the Extensions Manager - same error and crash. I don't know if that's helpful or not.

MarkoMLM
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I give up :-(

if this way not works it is definitivly a problem with the local machine.

(And yes You don't have to run the OOo extension installer, it is pre installed in this modified user profil)

I've tested it again (with portable installations on sticks an with installed portable versions on several sticks an as told before on Win2000, xp, Vista and under wine) an there are no (!) problems if You have a host with all actual servicepacks on it and without additional software.

I have no idea whats the problem on Your machine Sad

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vole
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OK, thanks for trying. I'll

OK, thanks for trying. I'll try on a few other machines. Seems like there are a few other people with related problems:

http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/1150/openoffice-portable-and-extensi...
http://forums.zotero.org/discussion/3084/openoffice-extension-installati...

I haven't had any luck with any of the Python-related solutions those users have found, either.

vole
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After I ran your Uno install

After I ran your Uno install on a University computer (where I got a non-functional Zotero toolbar), I took my USB stick home, unaltered, and the Zotero plugin ran perfectly on my home computer. I then tried uninstalling the Zotero plugin, still on my home computer, and reinstalling it normally, through the Extensions Manager. That seems to have worked.

You must be right about it being something on the local computer... It's a University computer, and I don't have any admin or write privileges... Could it have something to do with that?

Once I get back to the University today I'll let you know if this (now working) install still functions.

vole
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Back on the University

Back on the University computer: I have the non-functioning Zotero toolbar again. Didn't make any changes.

mikese
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Make sure you have the latest

Make sure you have the latest version of office and firefox as well as the plugins. We've been using this in our office to cut back costs that along with not using staples to bind paper and just moving all our office documents to pdfs.

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