Add entry using PDFs
JabRef can create entries from PDF files.
Last updated
JabRef can create entries from PDF files.
Last updated
The simplest way to create a new entry based on a single PDF file is to drag & drop the file onto the table of entries (between two existing entries). JabRef will then analyze the PDF and create a new entry.
If you drop a PDF onto an entry in the main table or the entry preview in the entry editor, the PDF is simply attached to the entry. To add a new entry based on the PDF meta data, drop it between two entries in the main table or onto the empty area in the maintable (available for small libraries). The meta data of the PDF is then parsed and a new entry is added to the library. The PDF file is moved and renamed to the library as default. If you want to copy or just link it, hold the respective modifier keys. On Windows, Ctrl is for copying and Alt is for linking.
JabRef changes the filenames automatically. You can adapt the pattern at Preferences -> Import
Select "Choose pattern" and choose "bibtexkey - title" . This results in the setting \bibtexkey\begin{title} - \format[RemoveBrackets]{\title}\end{title}.
This makes the filenames start with the citation key followed by the full title. In the concrete case, \bibtexkey only may be the better option as the described bibtey key already contains the title.
More details are given at Managing Linked Files.
In case you have numerous PDF files and want to convert them into new entries, JabRef can search automatically for the PDF files, let you select the relevant ones, and convert them into new entries.
This feature is available through Lookup -> Search for unlinked local files.
JabRef offers a BibTeX key generation and offers different patterns described at BibtexKeyPatterns.
This information is partially outdated. Please help to improve it (how to edit a help page).
Create or open a library (AKA a .bib file).
Go to Lookup -> Search for unlinked local files. (or press SHIFT + F7)
The "Search for unlinked local files" dialog opens.
Choose a start directory using the "Browse" button.
Click on "Search" / "Scan directory".
In "Select files", the files not yet contained in the library are shown.
Select the entries you are interested in. Note: the button Export selected files allows you to export the list of the selected files (a text file containing on each line one filename with its path)
Click on Import.
The windows close and the entry table now contains the newly-imported entries.
You can now save the file and are finished.
The imported entries may need some editing because all the information gathered from the PDF files may not be accurate (see below "PDFs for which it works").
The importer works well if there is BibTeX on the first page of the PDF, based on the content has been written for IEEE and LNCS formatted papers. Other formats are not (yet) supported. In case a DOI is found on the first page, the DOI is used to generate the BibTeX information.
Background:
Embedding BibTeX inside PDFs is done by the LaTeX authorarchive package
Having BibTeX on the first page is done by the LaTeX CoverPage package
Embedding BibTeX data using XMP is available in JabRef
Online parsing is enabled using the online service Grobid.
The entry editor with the last imported entry is shown
Optional: Click on "General" to see the linked file
Optional: Click on "BibTeX source" to see the BibTeX source
Optional: You have to shrink it to see the entry in the entry table, enlarge the JabRef window and use the mouse at the upper border of the entry editor
Optional: Press Esc to show the entry preview
