Web search in Medline/PubMed produces empty result

[sauliusg]

JabRef version 5.0-dev (commit db96f88 master) on Ubuntu-16.04 x86_64

[x ] I have tested the latest development version from * master db96f88 Fix problem with search and switching between libraries (#5326) from https://github.com/JabRef/jabref.git and the problem persists

When searching Medline/PubMed using the Web search feature, a dialogue opens but stays empty, apparently indefinitely. No progress indicator or status feedback is provided:

Searches in other libraries (ArXiv, ACM portal, Google Scholar) work as expected.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Start JabRef: build/image/bin/JabRefMain &
2. Create a new library
3. Search for "nuclease" in Medline/PubMed. An empty dialogue appears and stays indefinitely long.

The PubMed web site (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=nuclease) is operational during the search and produces 22077 hits. Searches with fewer hits (~50) also fail on JabRef.

The STDERR log does not contain any hints; a lot of "ERROR ThemeLoader Could not watch css file for changes jrt:/org.jabref/org/jabref/gui/Base.css / java.lang.UnsupportedOperationException" are produced, however (but they are always produced in this revision of JabRef...)

Update: creating a new entry using the "Select entry type dialogue", selecting Medline/Pubmed ID type and pasting PMID into the ID field does not work as well. The same dialogue works for DOIs, however. Thus, it could be a related issue...

[Siedlerchr]

It takes a moment to load the data, but it works fine otherwise.
Could not reproduce it.

[tobiasdiez]

We should definitely add a progress indicator.

[Siedlerchr]

One of the key performance issues is that for each entry the Duplicate check is executed, although it's already in a background thread it still takes a lot time.

[AEgit]

JabRef 5.0-dev
Linux 5.0.0-29-generic amd64
Java 11.0.4

Can confirm the issue for the current dev snap version. Note, however, that Google Scholar also does not appear to work reliably.

[sauliusg]

Update:
the reproducibility of this issue seems to be dependent on how the KabRef was started (checked both commits db96f88 and 2bd0995, after ./gradlew -x test build; ./gradlew -x test jlink):

• if JabRef is started using ./gradlew run, then the list of PubMed entries appears in 12 sec and is the same as @Siedlerchr reports;

• if JabRef is started using build/image/bin/JabRefMain &, the search window stays empty after 1 min., and probably indefinitely.

This test was performed on a slightly different computer, and using my home Internet connection (optics in the flat, then WiFi 5GHz, 100 Mbps) instead of the university's; the software:

JabRef 5.0-dev
LinuxMint-18.1
Linux 4.4.0-53-generic x86_64
openjdk 11.0.4 2019-07-16

I guess this should not influence the result.

In both cases the start sequence was the same:

• start JabRef without a library;

• click the 'new library' icon;

• the PubMed search interface and the group interface were activated automatically (saved from the previous launches, or by deleting preferences and selecting "PubMed");

• type "nuclease" into the search field and click "Search".

[bernhard-kleine]

As of today, I could not repeat the error. The search was done in under 10 seconds.
JabRef 5.0-beta.409--2020-02-09--6a9c915
Windows 10 10.0 amd64
Java 13.0.2

[Enrico68]

As of today, I can reproduce the error. Just upgrade to 5.0 from the dev version (which worked like a charm, and the search button was showing the entries. Now I have to wait indefinitely without success. I will return to 5.0.dev
OSX 10.14.6