# Help **URL:** https://discourse.jabref.org/c/help/7.md [Latest](https://discourse.jabref.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.jabref.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://discourse.jabref.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the Help category](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/about-the-help-category/22)
**Author:** [@matthiasgeiger](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/matthiasgeiger)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/about-the-help-category/22 "2024-06-05T14:21:01Z")
This is the place to ask questions and request help on using JabRef. If you have found a bug, please report it at GitHub. You are new to JabRef and have some questions? Or you'd like to have some more details regarding… --- ## [Dino Girl's JabRef themes](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/dino-girls-jabref-themes/3937)
**Author:** [@thedino-girl](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/thedino-girl)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/dino-girls-jabref-themes/3937 "2023-08-30T22:59:25Z")
Hi I’m creating themes for JabRef! The themes are tested in JabRef 5.9 and higher. If it’s day/night, hot or cold, or it’s summer/winter/spring/autumn or maybe depending on your mood, you can use Dino Girl’s JabRe… --- ## [Tried Mistral AI, it did not work but now I can't run JabRef it at all](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/tried-mistral-ai-it-did-not-work-but-now-i-cant-run-jabref-it-at-all/9149)
**Author:** [@evkamat](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/evkamat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/tried-mistral-ai-it-did-not-work-but-now-i-cant-run-jabref-it-at-all/9149 "2026-09-19T21:30:19Z")
I tried to use Mistral AI, I uploaded my API code and it did not work and returned me some weird error. java.util.ServiceConfigurationError: dev.langchain4j.model.mistralai.spi.MistralAiChatModelBuilderFactory: module … --- ## [Is Jabref 6.0 fully "wayland friendly"?](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/is-jabref-6-0-fully-wayland-friendly/9141)
**Author:** [@esteelpaz](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/esteelpaz)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/is-jabref-6-0-fully-wayland-friendly/9141 "2026-09-06T19:37:43Z")
I am running Jabref in what was Pop\_OS!, which is now “COSMIC” which is “wayland” based I believe. When I try to run Jabref in COSMIC it seems like there are function issues, like using “control + c or v” doesn’t seem t… --- ## [Workflow for working with an Android tablet](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/workflow-for-working-with-an-android-tablet/1785)
**Author:** [@reox](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/reox)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/workflow-for-working-with-an-android-tablet/1785 "2026-08-24T13:12:09Z")
I recently bought a new Android tablet. Now, I can read all the papers on the tablet and even create nice annotations using Xodo. I synchronize the PDFs and .bib files using a git repo, I already had since using Jabref.… --- ## [Search for just the first author](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/search-for-just-the-first-author/9091)
**Author:** [@FredStroh](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/FredStroh)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/search-for-just-the-first-author/9091 "2026-08-12T12:00:49Z")
In a big library how to search for papers by just the first author name. What should the serach term look like in this case? --- ## [Entry table question](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/entry-table-question/9145)
**Author:** [@Angelika](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Angelika)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/entry-table-question/9145 "2026-08-06T01:19:47Z")
Every time I open JabRef, the column widths in the entry table is set in an unusable way: the Year entries have lots of space, while the Title entries are hardly visible. Every time I open JabRef I adjust the column wi… --- ## [The update issue of croessref field](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/the-update-issue-of-croessref-field/9140)
**Author:** [@Jerome\_Zhu](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Jerome_Zhu)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2026, 9:28am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/the-update-issue-of-croessref-field/9140 "2026-07-27T09:28:17Z")
Sorry, I’m new to Jabref. I discovered that after generating citation keys for cross-referenced entries, the citation keys of those entries won’t update synchronously in the crossref fields they respectively refer to. A… --- ## [Bootstrap error when trying to connect to LibreOffice](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/bootstrap-error-when-trying-to-connect-to-libreoffice/9123)
**Author:** [@Vir](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Vir)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2026, 9:09am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/bootstrap-error-when-trying-to-connect-to-libreoffice/9123 "2026-06-17T09:09:21Z")
Hi! I’m trying to connect Jabref 5.15 to LibreOffice 26.2.4.2 (or 26.2.0.3) in Windows 11. A LibreOffice Document is open. After choosing the Programm Folder containing the soffice.exe (C:\\Program Files\\LibreOffice\\pr… --- ## [The date is not shown using IEEE style](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/the-date-is-not-shown-using-ieee-style/9101)
**Author:** [@usingjava](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/usingjava)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/the-date-is-not-shown-using-ieee-style/9101 "2026-05-21T14:36:57Z")
I am using JabRef 6.0-alpha.6 (because JabRef 5 did not have IEEE style support for LibreOffice), but when I use the “Electronic” entry type and write the year and month in “Optional fields”, it is not shown in the previ… --- ## [Embedding Model](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/embedding-model/9005)
**Author:** [@reox](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/reox)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/embedding-model/9005 "2026-05-12T13:21:37Z")
I use an on-premise installation of a LLM (specifically glm-4.6) and thus came by the embedding model option as I set the API path. It looks like there are thousands of models (okay, about 300…) to choose from, and I was… --- ## [Exporting as a CSV leaves out the cross reference field](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/exporting-as-a-csv-leaves-out-the-cross-reference-field/9096)
**Author:** [@Kris\_Lockyear](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Kris_Lockyear)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2026, 11:04am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/exporting-as-a-csv-leaves-out-the-cross-reference-field/9096 "2026-05-12T11:04:10Z")
Hi folks, I want to export a .bib file into a CSV in order to import it into a relational database (not for bibliographic management but other purposes). When I have lots of papers from the same book of collected paper… --- ## [Version 6.0 jabref\_6.0\_arm64.deb not starting](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/version-6-0-jabref-6-0-arm64-deb-not-starting/9016)
**Author:** [@andrewufrank](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/andrewufrank)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/version-6-0-jabref-6-0-arm64-deb-not-starting/9016 "2026-05-07T22:12:40Z")
I downloaded jabref\_6.0\_arm64.deb and run it on gdebi on a raspi5 running debian13(trixie) (Linux neprodi 6.6.63-current-bcm2712 #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Nov 25 16:19:55 UTC 2024 aarch64 GNU/Linux). it runs without an error, … --- ## [What are the Bibliography Types - in order](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-are-the-bibliography-types-in-order/9092)
**Author:** [@bksnlow](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/bksnlow)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-are-the-bibliography-types-in-order/9092 "2026-05-07T16:04:31Z")
Hello, I just exported my database as a plain BibTeX. I have a column that says Bibliography Type and then numbers. I already cought that 7 is journal, however I was unable to find what are the numbers of all other types… --- ## [File links not updated after "Copy linked files to folder" and cleanup — PDFs still point to original paths](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/file-links-not-updated-after-copy-linked-files-to-folder-and-cleanup-pdfs-still-point-to-original-paths/9088)
**Author:** [@hasibagen](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/hasibagen)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/file-links-not-updated-after-copy-linked-files-to-folder-and-cleanup-pdfs-still-point-to-original-paths/9088 "2026-05-03T17:36:54Z")
Summary I imported PDFs from multiple scattered directories into a single .bib library via JabKit (convert --input-format=pdfMerged). The file fields contain absolute paths to the original locations (deep nested Zotero… --- ## [Problem with special characters in references](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/problem-with-special-characters-in-references/2534)
**Author:** [@Katerina\_Kornilia](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Katerina_Kornilia)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/problem-with-special-characters-in-references/2534 "2026-04-20T20:23:16Z")
Hi all, I am using JabRef to insert library on .tex files. Encoding in JabRef is UTF-8 and so is in .tex files. Some of the references contain special characters. I get the followign symbols in .bib file: ĂŻ â€� á … --- ## [Setting up dev environment for JabRef](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/setting-up-dev-environment-for-jabref/1862)
**Author:** [@kdaud](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/kdaud)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/setting-up-dev-environment-for-jabref/1862 "2026-03-10T12:14:45Z")
:eye: I read through the community guidelines and really felt great to contribute to this collaborative community. However,I didn’t find information on how to set up dev environment for JabRef. Any resource to help me g… --- ## [BibTex not starting because of "Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: Error creating vertex shader"](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/bibtex-not-starting-because-of-caused-by-java-lang-runtimeexception-error-creating-vertex-shader/9049)
**Author:** [@Tom42](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Tom42)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/bibtex-not-starting-because-of-caused-by-java-lang-runtimeexception-error-creating-vertex-shader/9049 "2026-03-08T18:08:37Z")
This is a bug, but I am not sure where. I am on Linux Mint with several machines. All work fine, except my main computer :frowning: Working machines have AMD GPUs, or older Intel VGAs. This happens with all debs and port… --- ## ['Uncaught exception' error for JavaFX](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/uncaught-exception-error-for-javafx/9038)
**Author:** [@Oriel3](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Oriel3)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/uncaught-exception-error-for-javafx/9038 "2026-02-21T21:58:22Z")
My system: OpenSUSE Leap 16.0; JabRef 5.15 from https://jabref.org/download/linux\_rpm; java-25-openjdk 25.0.1.0 Good day, When I begin to enter data into a new entry, the error ‘Uncaught exception occurred in Thread\[#4… --- ## [How to change automatically links of pdf files](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-change-automatically-links-of-pdf-files/9041)
**Author:** [@Cwb](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Cwb)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-change-automatically-links-of-pdf-files/9041 "2026-02-18T15:49:56Z")
I changed the location of my folder where the PDF files are stored. I also changed the path in the “Library Properties”.My problem is, how can I automatically change the path for all entries that point to the old locatio… --- ## [GSoC 2026: Project Ideas List](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/gsoc-2026-project-ideas-list/9040)
**Author:** [@GiulioRinalduzzi](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/GiulioRinalduzzi)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/gsoc-2026-project-ideas-list/9040 "2026-02-11T19:06:03Z")
Hi JabRef team, I’m a 2nd-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Bologna (UniBO). I’m planning to apply for GSoC 2026 and I’m particularly interested in Java and SQL tasks. When do you expect to publish… --- ## [How to properly build from source](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-properly-build-from-source/9039)
**Author:** [@ncvescera](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ncvescera)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-properly-build-from-source/9039 "2026-02-10T14:37:17Z")
I am on Gentoo Linux and I am trying to build JabRef from Source. I’m following the instruction listed in: Installation | JabRef The command ./gradlew :jabgui:jpackage ends up in a crash (probably because it is meant f… --- ## [Enter new field in .bib file, but for all citations](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/enter-new-field-in-bib-file-but-for-all-citations/9026)
**Author:** [@GFedorow](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/GFedorow)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/enter-new-field-in-bib-file-but-for-all-citations/9026 "2026-01-30T19:10:19Z")
It’s a bib file with alot of enteries, I need to add field = Language = english, but in all. Have I any chance? --- ## [Issue: Groups not visible in the vertical left bar even if correctly visibile in the groups field in each record](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/issue-groups-not-visible-in-the-vertical-left-bar-even-if-correctly-visibile-in-the-groups-field-in-each-record/5659)
**Author:** [@Pierfranco](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Pierfranco)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/issue-groups-not-visible-in-the-vertical-left-bar-even-if-correctly-visibile-in-the-groups-field-in-each-record/5659 "2026-01-30T00:25:37Z")
Hi all, I’ve been using JabRef just now with macos 15.6. I’ve a big library from Zotero exported in BibTex format using the Zotero Extension BetterBibTex Export so as to have additional metadata such as my former Zotero… --- ## [How to create a group based on readstatus (To be read)](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-create-a-group-based-on-readstatus-to-be-read/3074)
**Author:** [@bombo](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/bombo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2026, 5:37am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-create-a-group-based-on-readstatus-to-be-read/3074 "2026-01-23T05:37:31Z")
Hello folks, I want to create the grouping by readstatus shown on the JabRef hompage and docs. I already created a static group By Status and the two groups Skimmed and Read using “Collect by searching for a keyword… --- ## [Page number is not imported](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/page-number-is-not-imported/9022)
**Author:** [@alshehab](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/alshehab)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 6:34am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/page-number-is-not-imported/9022 "2026-01-15T06:34:29Z")
I was using JabRef-5.15 but recently I noticed that it cant bring page number when usnig DOI. I upgrad to JabRef.6- Alpha.4 but still the problem exist. Here are some DOI to try from differentt publishers: 10.1103/ytdl-… --- ## [Find duplicates/Merge entries not working as expected](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/find-duplicates-merge-entries-not-working-as-expected/9018)
**Author:** [@10000](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/10000)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/find-duplicates-merge-entries-not-working-as-expected/9018 "2026-01-10T12:26:30Z")
I’m having difficulty with merge entries in multiple ways. Somehow jabref has created multiple copies of the same record, some with associated pdf files, some not. Several records have 3 or more copies. I want to merge t… --- ## [Dopplungsprüfung bei Einfügen von Datensätzen einer bib-Dateitabelle in die einer anderen bib-Dateitabelle](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/dopplungsprufung-bei-einfugen-von-datensatzen-einer-bib-dateitabelle-in-die-einer-anderen-bib-dateitabelle/8977)
**Author:** [@Reeser](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Reeser)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/dopplungsprufung-bei-einfugen-von-datensatzen-einer-bib-dateitabelle-in-die-einer-anderen-bib-dateitabelle/8977 "2026-01-02T23:49:37Z")
Trotz Neuinstallation von JabRef (Windows 10) habe ich nach wie vor folgendes Problem seit ca. Mitte Juli 2025: Beim Einfügen von Datensätzen einer bib-Dateitabelle (kopiert) in eine andere bib-Dateitabelle (\) … --- ## [GSOC contribution 2026](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/gsoc-contribution-2026/9015)
**Author:** [@zedaan](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/zedaan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/gsoc-contribution-2026/9015 "2025-12-25T14:33:23Z")
Hi everyone , My name is zeedan and i am student participating in Gsoc 2026 and interested in contributing to JabRef , i work in java and spring boot I will set up the local development environment soon , Could you po… --- ## [Interested for GSoC contribution 2026 Jabref](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/interested-for-gsoc-contribution-2026-jabref/9014)
**Author:** [@Kartik\_Deep\_Gautam](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Kartik_Deep_Gautam)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2025, 11:15am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/interested-for-gsoc-contribution-2026-jabref/9014 "2025-12-24T11:15:34Z")
My name is Kartik Deep Gautam, and I’m a pre final-year undergraduate student planning to apply to Google Summer of Code 2026 with Jabref Over the past few days, I’ve been exploring the Jabref ecosystem and I’m currentl… [Next page](https://discourse.jabref.org/c/help/7.md?page=1)