# Move to file directory moves to Bibtex location even though general directory is set

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/move-to-file-directory-moves-to-bibtex-location-even-though-general-directory-is-set/2740>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [May 28, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/move-to-file-directory-moves-to-bibtex-location-even-though-general-directory-is-set/2740 "2021-05-28T13:22:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Melch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@Melch](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Melch)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/move-to-file-directory-moves-to-bibtex-location-even-though-general-directory-is-set/2740/1 "2021-05-28T13:22:16Z")

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Hi

I have always stored all my .bib files in a single directory with the linked files stored in another directory. In the library properties I have set the the “general file directory” as a relative path …/…/Papers.

The reason I specify the file directory as a relative path is that I use the jabref library on multiple computers, the jabref file and linked documents are stored in my onedrive. If I set an absolute path for the file directory I need to update it on each computer as the usernames are not the same. This has worked well for years now.

In 5.1 and earlier my workflow was link files using the entry editor then right click and select move to file directory. If I was adding multiple files I would select multiple entries and use the clean up entries (Alt + F8) & move files to default file directory. Either method would copy files to my “Papers” folder.

In 5.2 there was a small bug where the right click menu item disappeared. This was not to much of a problem as I could use the clean up entries method I describe above. However, even though I still have the default file directory set (all my linked documents open correctly) new files are moved to the location of my Jabref file.

I have now installed version 5.3 ( [main - builds.jabref.org \> main](https://builds.jabref.org/main/)). This fixes the right click move file to file directory option. However, files are still moved to the folder location of my bibtex file and not the file directory I specified (Papers).

My workaround it to let a couple of documents build up in my jabref file directory before manually copying them across to my default file directory. This is not a big issue but was wondering if a proper fix/workaround is available.

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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:** [May 28, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/move-to-file-directory-moves-to-bibtex-location-even-though-general-directory-is-set/2740/2 "2021-05-28T18:29:42Z")

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I saw that you found the GitHub issue already, but if someone else ends up here, further discussions/details can be found in

> <https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/7658>
>
> \<!-- 
> Note: Please use the GitHub issue tracker only for bug reports. 
> Feature… requests, questions and general feedback is now handled at http://discourse.jabref.org.
> Thanks! 
> \--\> 
> 
> JabRef 5.2--2020-12-24--6a2a512
> Windows 10 10.0 amd64 
> Java 14.0.2
> 
> \<!-- IMPORTANT NOTE -\>
> \<!-- 
> Please always test if the bug is still reproducible in the latest development version.
> We are constantly improving JabRef and some bugs may already be fixed.
> You can download the development version at: http://builds.jabref.org/main
> Please make a backup of your library before you try out this version.
> If you already use a development version, ensure that you use the latest one.
> --\>
> \- \[x\] \*\*Mandatory\*\*: I have tested the latest development version from http://builds.jabref.org/main and the problem persists
> 
> 
> 
> When trying to cleanup all the entries the option to move the files into the default location ignores my global settings aswell as the settings for my bib file, where the default location is set. All the files get moved to the folder where the .bib-file lives. 
> 
> !\[grafik\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/41870754/115558222-cfda4a00-a2b2-11eb-9587-09649fea0b0f.png)
> 
> !\[grafik\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/41870754/115558305-e41e4700-a2b2-11eb-9a70-b51ad6fe9117.png)
> 
> !\[grafik\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/41870754/115558353-f4362680-a2b2-11eb-86d7-7be3a9a0c4ee.png)
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> !\[grafik\](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/41870754/115558535-22b40180-a2b3-11eb-80b9-f501b270299e.png)
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> 
> Maybe that is an issue on my part, which does not require a bug report, but I don't know what could be wrong.