Undefined file type Error

[Vaver]

• I have tested the release 4.3.1 and the problem persists

JabRef version 4.3.1 on Windows 10

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open a .bib library

2. press Ctrl+F4 to synchronize file links

3. select the Check existing file links

4. Then it promote "Undefined file type" "One or more file links are of the type 'PDF', which is undefined. What do you want to do?"

5. I search the "Options" / "Manage external file types", the pdf type is in it.

[PierreMarchand20]

I have the same issue on MacOs.

[Siedlerchr]

Could you please try the latest snapshot? You are advised to create a backup of your library.
http://builds.jabref.org/master/

[PierreMarchand20]

The option "Synchronize file link..." is not there anymore, is it normal ? (We are not talking about the option "Automatically set file links" here I think)

[Siedlerchr]

Yeah, we removed the Synchronize file links option as it was partially overlapping with the Automatically set file links which does nearly exactly the same. There was a long discussion in #3626

The automatically set file links now uses the same functionality which is used in the General Tab, to automatically find a file

[Siedlerchr]

Closing this issue due to inactivity 💤
Please reopen the issue with additional information if the problem persists.

[davidcbenson]

I have come across this issue myself. Given statements above, I assumed that the feature had been removed, but in Windows 10, 64 bit Jabref, Ctrl+Shift+F7 will synchronize file links. The option is still available under the "Quality" tab.

As described above, the synchronization process begins, but immediately fails to recognize the PDF file type. The type is listed. Defining it again makes no difference.

Additional information:

Once in this loop, the program will not quit. Selecting "Cancel" as what to do with and undefined file type only generates another error.

The additional challenge is when setting files automatically, or moving the files, if there is a previously set but now unsynchronized (dead) link, the process stops.

If there were only a functionality to check for dead links (i.e. search to see if there was a file with the name in file field, and automatically delete the name in the file field if there wasn't) might be the easiest way to solve the problem. Therefore, two functionalities: set file links, delete dead links. If this already exists, I apologize.

[tobiasdiez]

@davidcbenson Are you using the current development version? There recently have been some changes to this feature. Could you please check the build from http://builds.jabref.org/master/. Thanks! Please remember to make a backup of your library before trying-out this version.