Plugins
Starting with version 2.4, JabRef offers a plugin framework that allows the application to be extended with further import and export filters, web search modules (fetchers), layout formatters, cite-while-you-write modules and general sidepane components.
Installing plugins
There is yet no plugin manager for JabRef, so plugins must be installed manually. This is fortunately quite simple - you must create a directory named plugins right below the directory where JabRef is installed (specifically, the directory where the file named JabRef-X.jar is located, where X is the version number), and drop your plugins there. All plugins (in the form of jar files) in this directory will be loaded automatically when you start up JabRef.
Plugins available for download
Openoffice.org integration
by Morten O. Alver
This plugin provides cite-while-you-write functionality for OpenOffice.org Writer.
See extra page for this plugin.
BibSonomy plugin
Home page (see also for source code)
BibSonomy is a free online platform for collaborative sharing of bookmarks and scientific references, based on the BibTeX-format. Its features comprise e.g. the comfortable maintenance of online publication lists. With this plugin, it is possible to fetch, store and delete BibTeX entries from BibSonomy; in this way, JabRef can be used as a client application to remotely manage the online bibliography stored centrally at bibsonomy.org.
Push to Emacsclient
Version 1.0
Plugin -
Source code
This plugin provides the same functionality as the built-in Push to Emacs feature, except that it uses emacsclient instead of gnuclient to communicate with Emacs. This requires a recent version of Emacs to work.
RIS export format
by Morten O. Alver
Version 1.0
Plugin -
Source code
This plugin provides RIS export format functionality.
Chicago Manual of Style export filters
by Juan Jose Baldrich
Plugin (English) - Plugin (Español)Export filters for preparation of bibliographies according to the Chicago Manual of Style. More information
JabRef ADS fetcher
by Ryo Igarashi
JabRef plugin for fetching BibTeX entry from "The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System" using Digital Object Identifier (DOI) More information
Developing plugins
A plugin is basically an implementation of one or more of JabRef's interfaces, packaged in a jar file with an XML file describing the plugin and which extension points it connects to. See our Wiki page on getting started writing plugins.
Export filters
JabRef allows you to create custom export filters. This functionality is described in the help file on Custom export filters. Some users have created export filters that can be useful to many others, and on this page we provide links or direct downloads for some of these export filters.
If you have created one or more export filters that you want to share with other users, please notify us, and we can provide a download from this page, or link to your own page.
Mark Schenk's HTML export filters
Mark Schenk's HTML export filters provide HTML listings of your reference list. The exported HTML comes complete with scripts for quick filtering of the list.
Note: some of Mark Schenk's filters are distributed with JabRef as standard export filters.
Marten Kooiker's RTF export filters
Marten Kooiker has put together a number of export filters outputting RTF references formatted for specific journals.
Download Marten Kooiker's RTF export filters
Edward Elgar export filters
Christian Bartolomaeus has made an export filter matching the author guidelines of Edward Elgar. The export filter requires definition of two name formatters - please read the included README file.
Download Edward Elgar export filters
JabRef journal abbreviation lists
JabRef can help you refactor your reference list by automatically abbreviating or unabbreviating journal names. This requires that you keep one or more lists of journal names and their respective abbreviations. to set up these lists, choose Options -> Manage journal abbreviations.
Downloadable journal lists
JabRef includes no list of journals by default. Instead, the management window allows you to edit a personal list of journals, and to reference one or more external lists. To make this process more efficient for you, we offer a couple of lists from this web page, which can be downloaded by clicking a Download button in the External files section of the management window and entering the correct URL. You will then be asked to provide a local filename for the list.
The download URL defaults to the general list linked below, which is a large list of journals, not limited to a single subject area. In addition there are (or will be) other, smaller, lists that contain journals from specific fields. To get one of these, just copy the URL from one of the links below, click Download in JabRef, and paste the URL into the query dialog that appears.
Contribution to journal abbreviation lists
We want to expand both the general list and the selection of smaller lists, so if you have set up a representative list for your own subject area, we would appreciate it if you share your list by opening a new entry in our Patches section on SourceForge. You can either add your list as an attachment to the patch entry, or keep the list on you own home page and link to it. We will then add your list to this page.