# Unable to save BibTeX key generator preferences

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/unable-to-save-bibtex-key-generator-preferences/2126>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** preferences\
**Created:** [May 27, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/unable-to-save-bibtex-key-generator-preferences/2126 "2020-05-27T09:58:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Mander](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Mander)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/unable-to-save-bibtex-key-generator-preferences/2126/1 "2020-05-27T09:58:14Z")

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I am using JabRef version 5.0 on Windows 10.

I would like to change the default BibTeX key pattern. I go to Options -\> Preferences -\> BibTeX key generator, double click on the field I want to change and enter the pattern that I want. But as soon as I click Save, the pattern reverts to the default pattern.

Is there some kind of permissions issue? Everything is installed using the default methods on the local system.

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**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:** [May 27, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/unable-to-save-bibtex-key-generator-preferences/2126/2 "2020-05-27T12:15:12Z")

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Hi,

you stumbled upon an annoying issue of the underlying GUI framework. You first have to hit enter to make the changes in the field “permament” and then save.

For reference [https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/5825](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/5825)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Mander](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Mander)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 9:42am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/unable-to-save-bibtex-key-generator-preferences/2126/3 "2020-05-28T09:42:52Z")

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Aha! Now why couldn’t I find that myself? Apparently I wasn’t looking in the right place. Thank you, it works as expected now.