[6.0alpha4] library file modified externally (fixed by switching entrytype to misc)

[ThiloteE]

JabRef version

Latest development branch build (please note build date below)

Operating system

Windows

Details on version and operating system

JabRef 6.0-alpha.4--2025-12-25--a706fab
Windows 10 10.0 amd64
Java 24.0.2
JavaFX 25.0.1+3

Checked with the latest development build (copy version output from About dialog)

• I made a backup of my libraries before testing the latest development version.
• I have tested the latest development version and the problem persists

Steps to reproduce the behaviour

In JabRef:

@Legal{EuropaeischeUnion20160607kfd,
  date             = {2016-06-07},
  title            = {Konsolidierte Fassungen Des Vertrags Über Die Europäische Union Und Des Vertrags Über Die Arbeitsweise Der Europäischen Union},
  language         = {Deutsch},
  url              = {https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=celex:12016},
  comment          = {http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/art_2/oj
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=celex:12016
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/DE/legal-content/summary/division-of-competences-within-the-european-union.html},
  comment-thilo    = {TEU & TFEU

TFEU - Artikel 2: Aufteilung der Zuständigkeiten in der Europäischen Union; Competences of the European Union},
  creationdate     = {2026-01-31T12:14:50},
  file             = {:JabRefBibLinkedFiles/EuropaeischeUnion20160607kfd  (2016-06-07) Konsolidierte Fassungen Des 1--366.pdf:},
  institution      = {Europäische Union},
  journaltitle     = {Official Journal of the European Union},
  modificationdate = {2026-01-31T17:50:17},
  number           = {202},
  pages            = {1--366},
  ranking          = {rank5},
  series           = {C},
  volume           = {59},
}

On Disk:

@Legal{EuropaeischeUnion20160607kfd,
  date             = {2016-06-07},
  title            = {Konsolidierte Fassungen Des Vertrags Über Die Europäische Union Und Des Vertrags Über Die Arbeitsweise Der Europäischen Union},
  language         = {Deutsch},
  url              = {https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=celex:12016},
  comment          = {http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/art_2/oj
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=celex:12016
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/DE/legal-content/summary/division-of-competences-within-the-european-union.html},
  comment-thilo    = {TEU & TFEU

TFEU - Artikel 2: Aufteilung der Zuständigkeiten in der Europäischen Union; Competences of the European Union},
  creationdate     = {2026-01-31T12:14:50},
  file             = {:JabRefBibLinkedFiles/EuropaeischeUnion20160607kfd  (2016-06-07) Konsolidierte Fassungen Des 1--366.pdf:},
  institution      = {Europäische Union},
  journaltitle     = {Official Journal of the European Union},
  modificationdate = {2026-01-31T17:50:17},
  number           = {202},
  pages            = {1--366},
  ranking          = {rank5},
  series           = {C},
  volume           = {59},
}

1. Seems to be related to the comments. No other changes visible in external changes resolver.
2. One other thing that stands out to me is that the modificationdate is still 17:50:17, even though I just tried to save at 22:16:xx.

When I merge the entry, the and save the library again, the same notification pops up and the modificationdate strikingly is still 17:50.17.

Appendix

No response

[ThiloteE]

[ThiloteE]

vs

Is it not comparing to the latest backup? It does. Even in the latest backup there is modificationdate = {2026-01-31T17:50:17},

[ThiloteE]

Removing the comments from within JabRef during the merge window is not possible. JabRef fails to change the entry.

[ThiloteE]

Lol. Changing the entry types to Misc solved the issue. I suppose it also was caused by #14534. The issue is explained by #14985 (comment)

[koppor]

Lol. Changing the entry types to Misc solved the issue.

This is a valid workaround, but does not solve the underlying issue.

The issue is explained by #1213 (comment)

Let's see.

I would like to keep this issue open, because it might be related to #14985, maybe not. - We need a regression test in call cases.