Cannot see file-renaming button in item pane

dstillman · 2026-02-23T17:28:03+00:00

This discussion was created from comments split from: Zotero 8 auto-renaming for linked files.

pawuu · 2026-02-23T17:26:53+00:00

I cannot see this button in the item pane. My case: Someone in my group added files to some entries, but did not use the correct file-name. Previously I would just bulk rename them by right click. The metadata did not actually change and the button never appears.

dstillman · 2026-02-23T17:30:10+00:00

(Please start new threads for new issues. I've moved this to a new thread.)

Can you provide a screenshot of where you're looking?

batpc · 2026-02-25T13:40:05+00:00

I have the same problem reported above.
In Zotero 7, I used to right‑click on the attachment and select “Rename File from Parent Metadata” to rename the PDF according to the item’s metadata. In Zotero 8, I can’t find this option anymore. The file on my computer also isn’t being renamed automatically, even though I expected it to.
Has this feature been moved, renamed, or removed in Zotero 8? Is there a new way to make sure attached PDFs are renamed based on the parent item’s metadata?

dstillman · 2026-02-25T13:45:54+00:00

@batpc: Files are renamed automatically when you add them to Zotero, and always have been.

Zotero 8 introduces continuous renaming that renames them as you continue to make edits to metadata, so "Rename File from Parent Metadata" (which was only needed for that one situation) is no longer necessary. A button will appear in the right-hand pane only if the current filename is different from what the automatic name would be (e.g., because you disabled renaming or you've changed the filename format).

See the Zotero 8 announcement for more information, and if you think you're seeing something different, provide some screenshots that show what you're seeing.

wayneholmes · 2026-02-25T14:46:40+00:00

I understand that files are named automatically when you add them to Zotero. However, if the parent item is incorrect at the time the file is added, how do you then change its name from the parent item?

The automatic renaming on adding works fine. I'm using [author] - [date] - [title].

You mention "a button will appear in the right-hand pane only if the the current filename is different from what the automatic name would be", but I can't see any such button. In the example given in the screen shots, the creator has been corrected to UNESCO (from blank). I now want to rename the file accordingly.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u37763/8nz3wsut0e0u1332og6r.png

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u37763/jhg5qdryhwaa9340oxa9.png

Thank you again for your amazing work on Zotero.

Best,

Wayne

digbyphonic · 2026-02-25T15:30:31+00:00

A good day to you,
I believe I have the same issue, but apologies if this message should be in a different thread.

The updated details of a Linked PDF have not been applied to the filename.

I can confirm the all boxes are ticked for automatic renaming of PDFs.
If I highlight the entry and open Settings it displays the filename as intended, according to the Filename Template.
However, that is not the current filename, and the 'Rename Files...' box is greyed out.

Do I need to unlink / re-link the PDF each time?
On two occasions after the update to Zotero 8 the 'Rename Files...' option was available, but not now. I would like the ability to force it to interrogate the file system and offer to rename, if desired.

Thank for you the excellent work.
Best wishes,
Jonathan

Zotero 8.0.3 (64-bit)
Windows 11 Pro

filename: `1321.02_Bk.pdf`

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u6999975/0d6hmksche0gzstq02c4.png

giammi56 · 2026-02-27T21:21:26+00:00

I agree that something incorrect is happening and a Rename File from Parent Metadata” should be reintroduced.
In my case, Zotero 8.0.3 deb on Ubuntu 25.10, I am adding a linked file (.mobi) and it is not automatically renamed. I can see the EXTREMELY SMALL icon in the right pane, but when I press it the file is renamed without its extension.

On another note, what would it be the procedure for renaming a batch of files?

prolietary · 2026-02-27T21:37:27+00:00

I think I found the button, it is now the little button on the right to the filename (see screenshot).

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u6539138/8fg75owajsk8gt6pvrwh.png

To be honest it was better when it was in the item menu. Files don't get renamed automatically when you manually create parent item for an added file. When you have a batch of files to rename it is inconvenient to go through all of them manually instead of selecting them and clicking one button in the item menu.

tim820 · 2026-02-28T01:37:48+00:00

@giammi56 regarding renaming the .mobi file type, the file types that Zotero can be set to automatically rename in the Settings dialog are of course the generic group categories shown there under Settings\General.

How those groups map to actual file extensions is somewhat obscure. But the file types you select under Settings are stored in the hidden preference (in Advanced\Config Editor):
extensions.zotero.autoRenameFiles.fileTypes

For example that preference for me looks like this:
application/pdf,application/epub+zip,image/,audio/,video/,text/html,application/zip

Most entries there are for the generic Zotero types (I have all set to ON in Settings). I added the last two types (text/html,application/zip) in the Config Editor myself, so that webpage snapshots and ZIP files get renamed. I will probably add others as they arise.

So I suspect you need a specific setting for .mobi if it is not covered by application/epub. According to google, the MIME type for .mobi files is application/x-mobipocket-ebook. But it also depends on whether Zotero recognizes that MIME type. Anyway try adding that to the end of the preference and report back if it does not work.