# Can I use Inspire citation keys when importing via jabref?

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [January 30, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530 "2021-01-30T00:14:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ronakmsoni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/ronakmsoni/32/861_2.png) [@ronakmsoni](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ronakmsoni)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/1 "2021-01-30T00:14:57Z")

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I’m using Jabref to make my bib file for a paper I’m writing, and I import all references from Inspire-HEP using the built-in jabref importer.

Inspire-HEP has its own system for citation keys, which involves [three random letters](https://blog.inspirehep.net/2012/12/bibtex-key-generation-now-on-inspire/).  
For reasons of collaboration, it’s easiest if the bib file uses the exact citation key from Inspire-HEP.

Is there a setting in the new jabref that keeps the Inspire-HEP keys instead of generating its own?

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**Author:** ![k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/k3kaw8pnf7mkmdsmphz2/32/1116_2.png) [@k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/2 "2021-02-03T17:20:39Z")

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Not yet. I’ll suggest it on GitHub. Meanwhile, you can temporarily change the citation key in the preferences to `[CITATIONKEY]` while importing the references

 ![Skärmavbild 2021-02-03 kl. 12.19.49](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/jabref/original/1X/e176f7fb74950fa8085399005673d5d77784a97d.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/k3kaw8pnf7mkmdsmphz2/32/1116_2.png) [@k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/3 "2021-02-03T20:57:19Z")

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It is added as a bug in the GitHub issue tracking system at

> <https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/7420>
>
> The citation key generator never preserves citation keys while importing from sites such as INSPIRE HEP. The citation keys are overwritten...

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**Author:** ![ronakmsoni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/ronakmsoni/32/861_2.png) [@ronakmsoni](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ronakmsoni)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/4 "2021-02-03T21:37:48Z")

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Thanks a lot for adding it as a bug!

The temporary workaround just makes it import with an empty key, but hopefully they’ll get around to fixing this issue soon. (🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/k3kaw8pnf7mkmdsmphz2/32/1116_2.png) [@k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz2)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/5 "2021-02-04T16:53:39Z")

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> [@ronakmsoni](#):
>
> The temporary workaround just makes it import with an empty key

If you are using an old version it is possible that `[BIBTEXKEY]` will work instead 😛  
Also remember to remove the `:` from the list of characters that get removed.  
The screenshot is from the latest version in [https://builds.jabref.org/master/](https://builds.jabref.org/master/), just remember to backup your data if you decide to give it a go.

 ![Skärmavbild 2021-02-04 kl. 11.46.05](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/jabref/original/1X/c1f87ff3092902e87908b9c7be8fa9ecb4cb0783.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ronakmsoni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/ronakmsoni/32/861_2.png) [@ronakmsoni](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ronakmsoni)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/can-i-use-inspire-citation-keys-when-importing-via-jabref/2530/6 "2021-02-05T01:03:09Z")

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Thanks, that worked!

After that, I ended up updating anyway, and [CITATIONKEY] works there.