Configure a Paper Directory

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 6 views

Introduction

JabRef, a popular reference management tool, has been serving users for years. However, its current welcome page leaves new users to "play around" with the UI or read the user documentation. This article proposes a refined "Welcome Page" that offers guidance and simplifies the setup process for users. The goal is to create a seamless experience for both first-time and experienced users.

Current Challenges

JabRef's current welcome page does not provide a clear direction for new users. The user documentation is extensive, but it can be overwhelming for those who are new to the tool. The preferences are grouped by functionality, making it difficult for first-time users to identify the essential settings to change.

Proposed Solutions

To address these challenges, we propose the following guides and features for the refined welcome page:

Working with Files

Keep the current page introduced in pull request 12461.

First-Start Settings

Offer a quick possibility to set default settings for new users.
Group essential settings by importance for a first-time user, rather than by functionality.
Provide a clear and concise explanation of each setting to help users understand its purpose.

Example Libraries

Distribute the example library Chocolate.bib with JabRef.
Offer to open the example library directly from the welcome page.
Provide additional example libraries that showcase various features of JabRef.
Improve user documentation to include examples and use cases.

First-Time Settings

Offer buttons to configure settings for small and large libraries.
Disable time-consuming features for large libraries by default.
Provide a clear explanation of the differences between small and large library settings.

Configure a Paper Directory

Ask users to configure their main file directory at the first start.
Provide a dialog with options to configure the directory or skip the configuration.
Implement a feature to easily set up and manage the paper directory.

Configure Other Things

Auto-detect external programs for the push-to-application feature.
Consider adding more features to configure, such as external programs for other features.

Enable Online Services

List all online services available in JabRef.
Allow users to enable or disable each service.
Add a link to the user documentation for each service.
Include a link to the privacy policy.

Initial "Look and Feel"

Enable or disable the "Citation key" column by default.
Provide a clear explanation of the purpose of the column.

Related Work

Firefox: Mozilla's welcome page
VS Code: VS Code's welcome page
VSCode: VS Code's walkthrough for new users

Conclusion

Q: What is the current state of the welcome page in JabRef?

A: The current welcome page in JabRef leaves new users to "play around" with the UI or read the user documentation. This can be overwhelming for those who are new to the tool.

Q: What are the main challenges with the current welcome page?

A: The main challenges with the current welcome page are:

It does not provide a clear direction for new users.
The user documentation is extensive, but it can be overwhelming for those who are new to the tool.
The preferences are grouped by functionality, making it difficult for first-time users to identify the essential settings to change.

Q: What are the proposed solutions for the welcome page?

A: The proposed solutions for the welcome page include:

Working with Files

Keep the current page introduced in pull request 12461.
Provide a clear and concise explanation of each setting to help users understand its purpose.

First-Start Settings

Offer a quick possibility to set default settings for new users.
Group essential settings by importance for a first-time user, rather than by functionality.
Provide a clear and concise explanation of each setting to help users understand its purpose.

Example Libraries

Distribute the example library Chocolate.bib with JabRef.
Offer to open the example library directly from the welcome page.
Provide additional example libraries that showcase various features of JabRef.
Improve user documentation to include examples and use cases.

First-Time Settings

Offer buttons to configure settings for small and large libraries.
Disable time-consuming features for large libraries by default.
Provide a clear explanation of the differences between small and large library settings.

Configure a Paper Directory

Ask users to configure their main file directory at the first start.
Provide a dialog with options to configure the directory or skip the configuration.
Implement a feature to easily set up and manage the paper directory.

Configure Other Things

Auto-detect external programs for the push-to-application feature.
Consider adding more features to configure, such as external programs for other features.

Enable Online Services

List all online services available in JabRef.
Allow users to enable or disable each service.
Add a link to the user documentation for each service.
Include a link to the privacy policy.

Initial "Look and Feel"

Enable or disable the "Citation key" column by default.
Provide a clear explanation of the purpose of the column.

Q: What is the goal of the refined welcome page?

A: The goal of the refined welcome page is to provide a seamless experience for both first-time and experienced users of JabRef. By incorporating the proposed guides and features, we can simplify the setup process, improve user documentation, and enhance the overall user experience.

Q: What are the benefits of a refined welcome page?

A: The benefits of a refined welcome page include:

Improved user experience
Simplified setup process
Enhanced user documentation
Increased user satisfaction

Q: How can users contribute to the development of the refined welcome page?

A: Users can contribute to the development of the refined welcome page by:

Providing feedback on the current welcome page
Suggesting new features and guides
Helping to test and refine the new welcome page

Q: What is the timeline for the development of the refined welcome page?

A: The timeline for the development of the refined welcome page is not yet determined. However, we aim to complete the development of the new welcome page within the next few months.

Q: How will the refined welcome page be rolled out to users?

A: The refined welcome page will be rolled out to users through a series of updates and releases. We will provide clear instructions and guidance to users on how to access and use the new welcome page.