Bulk Copy/Open files

[AtrusRiven]

I would find it very helpful if it were possible to copy/open multiple attached files at once (after having selected multiple entries and having right-clicked and having selected from the context menu: "copy/open all files attached to the selected entries").

[Siedlerchr]

I'm not entirely sure what you exactly mean, but do you know about the Autolink files feature?
Maybe that's what you wantto achieve
https://docs.jabref.org/finding-sorting-and-cleaning-entries/filelinks

[AtrusRiven]

Thanks for your reply!
In my case, multiple entries already have files attached to them. Be it that I want to give all PDFs (full texts) related/belonging to multiple entries to another person. At the moment, I have two possible workarounds:

• I have to pick and copy the files one by one by right-clicking on every entry and selecting "Open folder" by which the folder opens and the related file is selected.
• If I select all entries (whose attached files I want to copy in one step) and then right-click and select "Open folder", then one folder for each file is opened and I still have to copy all files one by one.
  But it would be very helpful if I could copy (or at least: select) all files related to multiple entries in one single step.

Another use case would be to open (instead of copying) multiple files in one step, for example in order to analyse their relevance for me. I hope that was more comprehensible. Thanks!

[Siedlerchr]

@AtrusRiven You are lucky, for the bulk copying/exporting there is already a feature in JabRef.
You select multiple entries and go to Tools -> Copy linked files to folder and JabRef will export all linked files from the entries to a folder you specify. Maybe that feature helps you already?

[AtrusRiven]

Thanks, @Siedlerchr! That does the trick for copying/exporting. I'd be glad if it were possible to add the feature "open linked files" (in addition / parallel to the bulk copy feature).
Thanks for your fast help!

[github-actions]

This issue has been inactive for half a year. Since JabRef is constantly evolving this issue may not be relevant any longer and it will be closed in two weeks if no further activity occurs.

As part of an effort to ensure that the JabRef team is focusing on important and valid issues, we would like to ask if you could update the issue if it still persists. This could be in the following form:

• If there has been a longer discussion, add a short summary of the most important points as a new comment (if not yet existing).
• Provide further steps or information on how to reproduce this issue.
• Upvote the initial post if you like to see it implemented soon. Votes are not the only metric that we use to determine the requests that are implemented, however, they do factor into our decision-making process.
• If all information is provided and still up-to-date, then just add a short comment that the issue is still relevant.

Thank you for your contribution!

[AtrusRiven]

• This issue is still relevant although not very urgent. Would be a »nice to have«.
• At the moment the context menu option Open File is greyed out when multiple entries are selected. It would be nice (in addition to the bulk copy option) to be able to open all files of multiple entries.
• Possible use case: Reviewing the content of multiple texts while looking for specific content.
  

[XDZhelheim]

Hello, I'm trying to work on this issue. So far I successfully added a new option in the right click menu. But when multiple entries selected, it is disabled, same as Open file option. Which part of codes should I modify to enable it?

[XDZhelheim]

Finally made it. There is a needsEntriesSelected condition.

I will draft a PR in the coming few days ASAP.

[tobiasdiez]

Thanks to @XDZhelheim this should be implemented in the latest development version. 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.