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dev:how_to_write_a_zotero_translator_2nd_edition:chapter_2 [2010/10/20 23:29] – rmzelledev:how_to_write_a_zotero_translator_2nd_edition:chapter_2 [2017/11/12 19:53] – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +<html><p id="zotero-5-update-warning" style="color: red; font-weight: bold">We’re
 +in the process of updating the documentation for
 +<a href="https://www.zotero.org/blog/zotero-5-0">Zotero 5.0</a>. Some documentation
 +may be outdated in the meantime. Thanks for your understanding.</p></html>
 +
 +
 ====== Chapter 2: General Troubleshooting Guidelines ====== ====== Chapter 2: General Troubleshooting Guidelines ======
  
 Before we start, you should be aware: you will get frustrated — at least once. Here are a few tips to help you ease the frustrations and solve your problems. Before we start, you should be aware: you will get frustrated — at least once. Here are a few tips to help you ease the frustrations and solve your problems.
  
-===== Search Engines: =====+===== Search Engines =====
  
 If you run into difficulties when writing computer code the great news is: the answer to almost any problem can be found online. All computer programmers have needed help at one time or another, and given their love for computers, most sought that help online. Lucky for you, that means that most of the questions they asked — and the subsequent answers — are still floating around the internet. If you run into difficulties when writing computer code the great news is: the answer to almost any problem can be found online. All computer programmers have needed help at one time or another, and given their love for computers, most sought that help online. Lucky for you, that means that most of the questions they asked — and the subsequent answers — are still floating around the internet.
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 The more specific you can be about your problem, the better the results you will find. Don't be discouraged if you don't find the answer on your first search. Rephrase the search terms and try again. The more specific you can be about your problem, the better the results you will find. Don't be discouraged if you don't find the answer on your first search. Rephrase the search terms and try again.
  
-===== Online Tutorials: =====+===== Online Tutorials =====
  
 Your second best option is [[http://www.w3schools.com/|W3Schools]] tutorials. W3Schools has step-by-step tutorials for nearly every internet-related programming language. Particularly helpful for this project are: Your second best option is [[http://www.w3schools.com/|W3Schools]] tutorials. W3Schools has step-by-step tutorials for nearly every internet-related programming language. Particularly helpful for this project are:
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 Apart from W3Schools, you can find many other tutorials online. Try typing in what you want to learn into a search engine and you will likely find a tutorial. Keep in mind that many tutorials teach you how to accomplish a specific task and may not teach you exactly what you're looking for. Apart from W3Schools, you can find many other tutorials online. Try typing in what you want to learn into a search engine and you will likely find a tutorial. Keep in mind that many tutorials teach you how to accomplish a specific task and may not teach you exactly what you're looking for.
  
-===== Forums: =====+===== Forums =====
  
 If you've Googled it, Yahoo'd it, looked it up on the W3Schools reference charts and tried various combinations of teas, coffees and energy drinks to no avail, you're going to need to ask for help. There are numerous internet forums to which you can turn for this; just find a forum you like. Here are a couple to get you started: If you've Googled it, Yahoo'd it, looked it up on the W3Schools reference charts and tried various combinations of teas, coffees and energy drinks to no avail, you're going to need to ask for help. There are numerous internet forums to which you can turn for this; just find a forum you like. Here are a couple to get you started:
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 When fixing problem code, only change one thing at a time. If you are working on a section of code that has several issues, fix one problem and retry the code before moving on. Sometimes if you make three or four changes before retrying the program, you will inadvertently cause another unexpected problem. This can make you think your fix was incorrect, when in fact only the last change you made was wrong. Change one thing and make sure it works before moving on and you will prevent a lot of confusion. When fixing problem code, only change one thing at a time. If you are working on a section of code that has several issues, fix one problem and retry the code before moving on. Sometimes if you make three or four changes before retrying the program, you will inadvertently cause another unexpected problem. This can make you think your fix was incorrect, when in fact only the last change you made was wrong. Change one thing and make sure it works before moving on and you will prevent a lot of confusion.
 +
 +**Next**: [[dev/How to Write a Zotero Translator, 2nd Edition/Chapter 3|Chapter 3: Required Software (all free)]]