Inability to enter data in Optional Fields

[rs-aesi]

Running the 5.2-linux-portable build of 2020-09-09. The optional fields tab has 2 columns on the left for data entry and a preview of the entire entry on the right. However, text cannot be entered in the right column and that whole window cannot be expanded to allow data entry.

The attached screen shot illustrates the situation. Notice in the right side window the volume number (8) at the end of the text. That number is not visible in the volume entry field on the right half of the display.

I kept trying to enter the volume and expand that window, but was unsuccessful. I noticed the string of volume numbers in the right side window and hit the delete key until only a single '8' was present.

This situation was in a previous release and fixed. Please fix again.

[rs-aesi]

Update: this same problem exists with the stable 5.1 release (linux-portable-5.1).

[Siedlerchr]

Yeah, it's a problem if the entry preview is shown as part of the entry editor.
You can only expand the colum if you move the preview to the right or you can tick the options show preview as own tab.

The code for calculating the column constraints and witths in the "compressed" mode is here:

jabref/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/entryeditor/FieldsEditorTab.java

Lines 109 to 120 in 1d2ecff

	if (compressed) {
	rows = (int) Math.ceil((double) fields.size() / 2);
	addColumn(gridPane, 0, labels.subList(0, rows));
	addColumn(gridPane, 3, labels.subList(rows, labels.size()));
	addColumn(gridPane, 1, editors.values().stream().map(FieldEditorFX::getNode).limit(rows));
	addColumn(gridPane, 4, editors.values().stream().map(FieldEditorFX::getNode).skip(rows));
	gridPane.getColumnConstraints().addAll(columnDoNotContract, columnExpand, new ColumnConstraints(10),
	columnDoNotContract, columnExpand);
	setCompressedRowLayout(gridPane, rows);

[rs-aesi]

On Sat, 12 Sep 2020, Christoph wrote: You can only expand the colum if you move the preview to the right or you can tick the options show preview as own tab.

Christoph, I cannot move the preview further to the right. Setting the preview in its own tab puts it at the leftmost tab position. Is there a way to display it on the right side instead? There's also a tab called 'LaTeX Citations'. I've no idea what it's for; I have no need for whatever it does. Can this be removed? Putting the preview in its own tab resolves one of my issues. I can live with Alt-3 not opening the groups panel (another of my issues), but the inability to define the Emacs keyboard shortcuts instead of Microsoft's CUA keyboard shortcuts is a real stopper for me. I use emacs for ~90% of my writing, LyX, and the small editor, joe, for the rest. All three use the emacs keys and after 20+ years they are second nature for me. The only other issue, minor but annoying, is that the entry editor window for the first article in the database is always displayed with I invoke JabRef. It shouldn't be. Thanks for the advice on the preview. Stay well, Rich

[Siedlerchr]

You can drag the preview a bit more to the right at that line

@rs-aesi Unfortunately, it's not possible to change the tab order.
However, you can disable the Related Articles Tab and the Latex Citations tab under Options -> Entry editor.
The tab latex citations allows you to show where in a LaTeX document you have used your current reference.

Regarding the emacs keybindings. Well it might be an issue for you, but apparently many others are happy with the defaults. And the issue is still open. Maybe you can find someone who is interested in re-implementing it.

[JohanDelValleV]

Is this issue still open? I'm looking for OP projects to contribute @Siedlerchr

[Siedlerchr]

@JohanDelValleV Thanks your your interest! Yes, the issue is still available. And it would be really nice to have this issue fixed.
For getting started follow our contribution guide.
Code wise the layout is calculated by the code I posted above.

If you need any help, ask here or in our gitter channel

https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md

[Siedlerchr]

Thank you for reporting this issue. We think, that is already fixed in our development version and consequently the change will be included in the next release.

We would like to ask you to use a development build from https://builds.jabref.org/main and report back if it works for you. Please remember to make a backup of your library before trying-out this version.

Fixed by #8232