JabRef version

Other (please describe below)

6.0-alpha.403

Operating system

GNU / Linux

Details on version and operating system

ubuntu:22.04

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

1. Launch JabRef.
2. Create a new empty library (File → New library).
3. Add one new entry of type Misc.
4. Open the entry editor for the entry and switch to the BibTeX source tab.
5. Replace the source with two BibTeX entries (e.g., an @Article and an @book).

@article{einstein1905,
 author  = {Einstein, Albert},
 title   = {Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter K{\"o}rper},
 journal = {Annalen der Physik},
 year    = {1905}
}

@book{knuth1984,
 author    = {Knuth, Donald E.},
 title     = {The {\TeX}book},
 year      = {1984},
 publisher = {Addison-Wesley}
}

6. Close the entry editor window (this triggers parsing/applying the Source tab).

Expected Behavior

• An error dialog clearly indicates that the failure is caused by the content in the BibTeX/BibLaTeX source tab.
• The dialog provides helpful context, such as:
  • Parsing failed because more than one entry was found.
  • Guidance like checking the BibTeX syntax.
• The dialog title and icon are specific and consistent with a Source tab parsing error, rather than being overly generic.

Actual Behavior

• The dialog title changes from a specific Source-tab-related title (e.g., “Source tab error”) to a generic title (“Error Occurred”).
• The dialog icon changes from a warning triangle to a red error cross.
• Detailed message and contextual help are removed:
  - Instead of explaining that the user’s input in the BibTeX source tab caused the failure and showing relevant parsing details, the dialog only shows “More than one entry found.”
  - An additional blank content area is displayed.

Screenshot before

Screenshot after

Appendix

Additional examples

Move focus to another tab to trigger validation and error handling. In this case, generic prompt makes it harder for users to understand and debug the issue.

Screenshot before

Screenshot after