# Citation keys does not change in the bib file

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-keys-does-not-change-in-the-bib-file/2694>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [April 29, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-keys-does-not-change-in-the-bib-file/2694 "2021-04-29T17:20:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lopez\_Daniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/lopez_daniel/32/956_2.png) [@Lopez\_Daniel](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Lopez_Daniel)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-keys-does-not-change-in-the-bib-file/2694/1 "2021-04-29T17:20:18Z")

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Hello!

I am new to JabRef. At that time I was using Zotero, but given that Zotero makes really weird things when exporting Latex math expressions and so on to the bib file I decided to change to jabref.

I am using JabRef 5.2 in Ubuntu 20.04 installed from the software manager.

The thing is that I would like to change the citation keys when generating my .bib file, but eventhough I read the documentation and followed the steps, the citation keys of the .bib file remains unchanged…

The citation I am using is:  
[auth:lower]_[veryshorttitle:lower]_[year]

But I am getting the default behaviour:  
[auth][year]

Attached are my configuration and the output I am getting.

 ![Captura de pantalla de 2021-04-29 19-19-52](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/jabref/original/1X/8cbbb448406de90df9aeec6ca8a2adf5b9ab9ba3.png)

Thank u very much.  
Daniel.

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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:** [April 29, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-keys-does-not-change-in-the-bib-file/2694/2 "2021-04-29T23:31:57Z")

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What action/button are you using to generate the keys?

The `Generate citation keys` in the Edit menu?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lopez\_Daniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/lopez_daniel/32/956_2.png) [@Lopez\_Daniel](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Lopez_Daniel)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2021, 7:42am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/citation-keys-does-not-change-in-the-bib-file/2694/3 "2021-04-30T07:42:08Z")

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I think I was missing the “Ctrl + G” shortcut…  
I thought it was done automatically for all the entries, but I see I have to “force” them to change (what is quite good to not modify previous cite keys)

Thanks for your attention!