# Combining citations of the same author without repeating the name

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [February 24, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262 "2022-02-24T13:58:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pantteri](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/pantteri/32/1319_2.png) [@Pantteri](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Pantteri)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/1 "2022-02-24T13:58:52Z")

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Hi, my first post

I love Jabref, and I’m really glad that the past Java problems (at least I had) are bygone and Jabref is doing great!

But, now I have a question, I must be missing something obvious, haven’t found the answer here or the manual. I am using Jabref in connection with Libre Writer. When I want to cite two papers from the same author, I would expect to get this: (Smith et al. 2013; 2018) but I get this: (Smith et al. 2013; Smith et al. 2018). Both styles are used I guess, but now I need the first. Anyone know how to achieve this?

Thanks if anyone can help me!

P

Version and system are below:

JabRef 5.5–2022-01-17–27a05c7  
Linux 5.4.0-91-generic amd64  
Java 16.0.2  
JavaFX 17.0.1+1

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**Author:** ![ThiloteE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/thilotee/32/1008_2.png) [@ThiloteE](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ThiloteE)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/2 "2022-02-25T13:11:01Z")

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Which citationstyle do you use? Maybe you need a customized citationstyle.

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**Author:** ![Pantteri](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/pantteri/32/1319_2.png) [@Pantteri](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Pantteri)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 6:20am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/3 "2022-02-28T06:20:04Z")

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Thanks, I am trying to build a custom style (.jstyle), but I can’t figure out how to achieve this outcome.  
Looking at documentation ([https://docs.jabref.org/cite/openofficeintegration](https://docs.jabref.org/cite/openofficeintegration)) I can’t see anything which describes this feature. Then maybe this is not possible in JabRef.

P

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**Author:** ![ThiloteE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/thilotee/32/1008_2.png) [@ThiloteE](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ThiloteE)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 10:26am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/4 "2022-02-28T10:26:54Z")

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I think the page you refer to already explains a little bit. Another relevant page is this: [https://jstyles.jabref.org/](https://jstyles.jabref.org/)  
I recommend the [export filter editor](https://github.com/teertinker/Export-Filter-Editor)

Is there a specific question you have for building the style?

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**Author:** ![ThiloteE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/thilotee/32/1008_2.png) [@ThiloteE](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/ThiloteE)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 10:30am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/5 "2022-02-28T10:30:01Z")

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Maybe you can use an already existing style and then just change a few things 🙂

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**Author:** ![Pantteri](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/pantteri/32/1319_2.png) [@Pantteri](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Pantteri)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/combining-citations-of-the-same-author-without-repeating-the-name/3262/6 "2022-02-28T20:29:41Z")

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Thanks, the editor is quite handy. However, the feature doesn’t seem to be available - or maybe I just can’t see it. My custom style is working, no problems there, just one additional thing I need: whether JabRef can combine same authors, and just show the consecutive years, as described in the first message. I have read the manual but have not found the feature. Maybe it is not possible - it’s no biggie. But, maybe it is possible, so I thought I’d ask if anyone had actually achieved this. Anyway, thanks for help!

P