# What should I do if I want to rename my bib file

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [September 23, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223 "2016-09-23T01:29:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mgqqlwq001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@mgqqlwq001](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mgqqlwq001)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223/1 "2016-09-23T01:29:19Z")

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Dear everyone,  
I did not add bib suffix to my bib file’s name before. For example, one of my bib file’s name is ‘manual’. Now, I want change the name to ‘manual.bib’.  
I found that there is another file named ‘manual.bak’ in the same direction. I do not know the function of this file.  
My question is can I just rename my bib file to ‘manual.bib’? How should I treat the file ‘manual.bak’. Do I lose some information if I just rename my bib file in the file folder?  
Thanks very much in advance!

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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:** [September 23, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223/2 "2016-09-23T06:42:14Z")

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Renaming your file `manual` into `manual.bib` should be safe.  
The .bak file is for backup, just in case something goes wrong (e.g. JabRef crashes).

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**Author:** ![mgqqlwq001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@mgqqlwq001](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mgqqlwq001)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:22am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223/3 "2016-09-23T09:22:32Z")

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Thank you very much!  
So, I think I can just simply rename my bib file. After that, I can delete the bak file as it will regenerate in the later which follows the new bib file name.  
It seems very easy.

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**Author:** ![tobiasdiez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/tobiasdiez/32/340_2.png) [@tobiasdiez](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/tobiasdiez)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223/4 "2016-09-26T22:40:05Z")

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Exactly, its as easy as you describe it. Just rename the bib file - no further changes needed.

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**Author:** ![mgqqlwq001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@mgqqlwq001](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/mgqqlwq001)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-rename-my-bib-file/223/5 "2016-09-27T01:11:16Z")

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Thank you very much! That is great. I like easy things.