# Improved duplicate key resolving

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50>\
**Category:** Features\
**Created:** [June 29, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50 "2016-06-29T19:43:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![oscar.gustafsson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/oscar.gustafsson/32/8_2.png) [@oscar.gustafsson](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/oscar.gustafsson)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50/1 "2016-06-29T19:43:44Z")

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Currently, JabRef checks if there are duplicate keys on opening a database. There are three things which could improve the experience if you happen to click yes when offered to resolve the issue:

1. A “stop resolving for now” button as “cancel” only gives you the next entry
2. A possibility to merge entries instead of generating a new key
3. A button to automatically remove exact duplicates

Actually, 1 can be implemented with an option to search for duplicate entries instead as this has both the other features.

Yes, I get merge conflicts from version control quite often…

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Please vote if you support this proposal:

_Poll ([view on site](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50/1))_

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**Author:** ![matthiasgeiger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/matthiasgeiger/32/7_2.png) [@matthiasgeiger](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/matthiasgeiger)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 6:49am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50/2 "2016-06-30T06:49:25Z")

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👍

Yes, this all are some valid points which would really improve the workflow.

For 1. I would propose two buttons “Skip this duplicate” and “Cancel duplicate key resolving”.

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**Author:** ![mlep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/mlep/32/387_2.png) [@mlep](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mlep)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50/3 "2016-06-30T07:31:58Z")

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And for consistency:

- instead of “Use”(Left None Right) at the top of the window, use “Keep”
- instead of “Merged entry” at the bottom left, use “Merged entry preview”

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**Author:** ![oscar.gustafsson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/oscar.gustafsson/32/8_2.png) [@oscar.gustafsson](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/oscar.gustafsson)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/improved-duplicate-key-resolving/50/4 "2016-07-04T14:28:41Z")

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I added a small patch for 1. using “Ignore” and “Cancel” (as they were readily available).