# Citation key generator does not use # symbol

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-key-generator-does-not-use-symbol/3779>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [April 4, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-key-generator-does-not-use-symbol/3779 "2023-04-04T01:50:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![eufemismo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8e7dd6/32.png) [@eufemismo](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/eufemismo)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-key-generator-does-not-use-symbol/3779/1 "2023-04-04T01:50:28Z")

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I put the following pattern in the citation key generator:

```auto
#[auth][year]

```

Expected behavior: The citation key generated will be something along the lines of: #Smith2023  
Observed behavior: The citation key generator will behave as if the # is not present, for instance: Smith2023

I’ve already attempted the obvious ways of escaping the character, to no avail. Is there any way to do this? It would make my life much, much easier when using this program. Thank you!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-key-generator-does-not-use-symbol/3779/2 "2023-04-04T19:32:18Z")

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HI,

Unfortunately, this is not possible.  
JabRef follows the bibtex/biblatex standard, and the # is one of the illegal characters that are not allowed for citation keys. I think the # is disallowed because it’s used to identify Bibtex-Strings-

> <https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/blob/3583b4e1fdc38cd5927a6425b9bec98aaf65ea72/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/citationkeypattern/CitationKeyGenerator.java#L30-L31>