Chronological navigation in libraries

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Note that this project **does not** adhere to [Semantic Versioning](https://semv
 - We added a field for the latest ICORE conference ranking lookup on the General Tab. [#13476](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/13476)
 - We added BibLaTeX datamodel validation support in order to improve error message quality in entries' fields validation. [#13318](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/13318)
 - We added more supported formats of CAYW endpoint of HTTP server. [#13578](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/13578)
+- We added chronological navigation for entries in each library. [#6352](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/6352)
 
 ### Changed
 

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/JabRefGuiStateManager.java

@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ public class JabRefGuiStateManager implements StateManager {
     private final List<AiChatWindow> aiChatWindows = new ArrayList<>();
     private final BooleanProperty editorShowing = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
     private final OptionalObjectProperty<Walkthrough> activeWalkthrough = OptionalObjectProperty.empty();
+    private final BooleanProperty canGoBack = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
+    private final BooleanProperty canGoForward = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
 
     @Override
     public ObservableList<SidePaneType> getVisibleSidePaneComponents() {
@@ -307,4 +309,14 @@ public void setActiveWalkthrough(Walkthrough walkthrough) {
     public Optional<Walkthrough> getActiveWalkthrough() {
         return activeWalkthrough.get();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public BooleanProperty canGoBackProperty() {
+        return canGoBack;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public BooleanProperty canGoForwardProperty() {
+        return canGoForward;
+    }
 }

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/LibraryTab.java

@@ -118,6 +118,11 @@ public class LibraryTab extends Tab implements CommandSelectionTab {
     private final BibEntryTypesManager entryTypesManager;
     private final BooleanProperty changedProperty = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
     private final BooleanProperty nonUndoableChangeProperty = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
+    private final NavigationHistory navigationHistory = new NavigationHistory();
+    private final BooleanProperty canGoBackProperty = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
+    private final BooleanProperty canGoForwardProperty = new SimpleBooleanProperty(false);
+    private boolean backOrForwardNavigationActionTriggered = false;
+
 
     private BibDatabaseContext bibDatabaseContext;
 
@@ -490,6 +495,16 @@ private void createMainTable() {
         mainTable.addSelectionListener(event -> {
             List<BibEntry> entries = event.getList().stream().map(BibEntryTableViewModel::getEntry).toList();
             stateManager.setSelectedEntries(entries);
+
+            // track navigation history for single selections
+            if (entries.size() == 1) {
+                newEntryShowing(entries.getFirst());
+            } else if (entries.isEmpty()) {
+                // an empty selection isn't a navigational step, so we don't alter the history list
+                // this avoids adding a "null" entry to the back/forward stack
+                // we just refresh the UI button states to ensure they are consistent with the latest history.
+                updateNavigationState();
+            }
         });
     }
 
@@ -964,6 +979,48 @@ public void resetChangedProperties() {
         this.changedProperty.setValue(false);
     }
 
+    public void back() {
+        navigationHistory.back().ifPresent(this::navigateToEntry);
+    }
+
+    public void forward() {
+        navigationHistory.forward().ifPresent(this::navigateToEntry);
+    }
+
+    private void navigateToEntry(BibEntry entry) {
+        backOrForwardNavigationActionTriggered = true;
+        clearAndSelect(entry);
+        updateNavigationState();
+    }
+
+    public boolean canGoBack() {
+        return navigationHistory.canGoBack();
+    }
+
+    public boolean canGoForward() {
+        return navigationHistory.canGoForward();
+    }
+
+    private void newEntryShowing(BibEntry entry) {
+        // skip history updates if this is from a back/forward operation
+        if (backOrForwardNavigationActionTriggered) {
+            backOrForwardNavigationActionTriggered = false;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        navigationHistory.add(entry);
+        updateNavigationState();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Updates the StateManager with current navigation state
+     * Only update if this is the active tab
+     */
+    public void updateNavigationState() {
+        canGoBackProperty.set(canGoBack());
+        canGoForwardProperty.set(canGoForward());
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a new library tab. Contents are loaded by the {@code dataLoadingTask}. Most of the other parameters are required by {@code resetChangeMonitor()}.
      *
@@ -1034,6 +1091,14 @@ public static LibraryTab createLibraryTab(@NonNull BibDatabaseContext databaseCo
                 false);
     }
 
+    public BooleanProperty canGoBackProperty() {
+        return canGoBackProperty;
+    }
+
+    public BooleanProperty canGoForwardProperty() {
+        return canGoForwardProperty;
+    }
+
     private class GroupTreeListener {
 
         @Subscribe

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/NavigationHistory.java

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package org.jabref.gui;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Optional;
+
+import org.jabref.model.entry.BibEntry;
+
+/**
+ * Manages the navigation history of viewed entries using two stacks.
+ * This class encapsulates the logic of moving back and forward by maintaining a "back" stack for past entries
+ * and a "forward" stack for future entries.
+ */
+public class NavigationHistory {
+    private final List<BibEntry> previousEntries = new ArrayList<>();
+    private final List<BibEntry> nextEntries = new ArrayList<>();
+    private BibEntry currentEntry;
+
+    /**
+     * Sets a new entry as the current one, clearing the forward history.
+     * The previously current entry is moved to the back stack.
+     *
+     * @param entry The BibEntry to add to the history.
+     */
+    public void add(BibEntry entry) {
+        if (Objects.equals(currentEntry, entry)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // a new selection invalidates the forward history
+        nextEntries.clear();
+
+        if (currentEntry != null) {
+            previousEntries.add(currentEntry);
+        }
+        currentEntry = entry;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Moves to the previous entry in the history.
+     * The current entry is pushed to the forward stack, and the last entry from the back stack becomes current.
+     *
+     * @return An Optional containing the previous BibEntry, or an empty Optional if there's no history to go back to.
+     */
+    public Optional<BibEntry> back() {
+        if (canGoBack()) {
+            nextEntries.add(currentEntry);
+            currentEntry = previousEntries.removeLast();
+            return Optional.of(currentEntry);
+        }
+        return Optional.empty();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Moves to the next entry in the history.
+     * The current entry is pushed to the back stack, and the last entry from the forward stack becomes current.
+     *
+     * @return An Optional containing the next BibEntry, or an empty Optional if there is no "forward" history.
+     */
+    public Optional<BibEntry> forward() {
+        if (canGoForward()) {
+            previousEntries.add(currentEntry);
+            currentEntry = nextEntries.removeLast();
+            return Optional.of(currentEntry);
+        }
+        return Optional.empty();
+    }
+
+    public boolean canGoBack() {
+        return !previousEntries.isEmpty();
+    }
+
+    public boolean canGoForward() {
+        return !nextEntries.isEmpty();
+    }
+}

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/StateManager.java

@@ -108,4 +108,8 @@ public interface StateManager extends SrvStateManager {
     void setActiveWalkthrough(Walkthrough walkthrough);
 
     Optional<Walkthrough> getActiveWalkthrough();
+
+    BooleanProperty canGoBackProperty();
+
+    BooleanProperty canGoForwardProperty();
 }

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/actions/StandardActions.java

@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ public enum StandardActions implements Action {
     MANAGE_KEYWORDS(Localization.lang("Manage keywords")),
     MASS_SET_FIELDS(Localization.lang("Manage field names & content")),
 
+    BACK(Localization.lang("Back"), IconTheme.JabRefIcons.LEFT, KeyBinding.BACK),
+    FORWARD(Localization.lang("Forward"), Localization.lang("Forward"), IconTheme.JabRefIcons.RIGHT, KeyBinding.FORWARD),
+
     AUTOMATIC_FIELD_EDITOR(Localization.lang("Automatic field editor")),
     TOGGLE_GROUPS(Localization.lang("Groups"), IconTheme.JabRefIcons.TOGGLE_GROUPS, KeyBinding.TOGGLE_GROUPS_INTERFACE),
     TOGGLE_OO(Localization.lang("OpenOffice/LibreOffice"), IconTheme.JabRefIcons.FILE_OPENOFFICE, KeyBinding.OPEN_OPEN_OFFICE_LIBRE_OFFICE_CONNECTION),

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/frame/JabRefFrame.java

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import javafx.beans.InvalidationListener;
 import javafx.beans.binding.Bindings;
 import javafx.beans.property.ObjectProperty;
+import javafx.beans.property.SimpleBooleanProperty;
 import javafx.beans.property.SimpleObjectProperty;
 import javafx.beans.value.ObservableValue;
 import javafx.collections.ListChangeListener;
@@ -371,6 +372,14 @@ private void initKeyBindings() {
                     case NEW_INPROCEEDINGS:
                         new NewEntryAction(StandardEntryType.InProceedings, this::getCurrentLibraryTab, dialogService, preferences, stateManager).execute();
                         break;
+                    case BACK:
+                        Optional.ofNullable(getCurrentLibraryTab()).ifPresent(LibraryTab::back);
+                        event.consume();
+                        break;
+                    case FORWARD:
+                        Optional.ofNullable(getCurrentLibraryTab()).ifPresent(LibraryTab::forward);
+                        event.consume();
+                        break;
                     default:
                 }
             }
@@ -452,6 +461,22 @@ private void initBindings() {
         // Hide tab bar
         stateManager.getOpenDatabases().addListener((ListChangeListener<BibDatabaseContext>) _ -> updateTabBarVisible());
         EasyBind.subscribe(preferences.getWorkspacePreferences().hideTabBarProperty(), _ -> updateTabBarVisible());
+
+        stateManager.canGoBackProperty().bind(
+                stateManager.activeTabProperty().flatMap(
+                        optionalTab -> optionalTab
+                                .map(LibraryTab::canGoBackProperty)
+                                .orElse(new SimpleBooleanProperty(false))
+                )
+        );
+
+        stateManager.canGoForwardProperty().bind(
+                stateManager.activeTabProperty().flatMap(
+                        optionalTab -> optionalTab
+                                .map(LibraryTab::canGoForwardProperty)
+                                .orElse(new SimpleBooleanProperty(false))
+                )
+        );
     }
 
     private void updateTabBarVisible() {

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/frame/MainToolBar.java

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import org.jabref.gui.LibraryTabContainer;
 import org.jabref.gui.StateManager;
 import org.jabref.gui.actions.ActionFactory;
+import org.jabref.gui.actions.SimpleCommand;
 import org.jabref.gui.actions.StandardActions;
 import org.jabref.gui.citationkeypattern.GenerateCitationKeyAction;
 import org.jabref.gui.cleanup.CleanupAction;
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ public class MainToolBar extends ToolBar {
     private final TaskExecutor taskExecutor;
     private final BibEntryTypesManager entryTypesManager;
     private final ClipBoardManager clipBoardManager;
+    private SimpleCommand backCommand;
+    private SimpleCommand forwardCommand;
     private final CountingUndoManager undoManager;
 
     private PopOver entryFromIdPopOver;
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@ private void createToolBar() {
 
         final Button pushToApplicationButton = factory.createIconButton(pushToApplicationCommand.getAction(), pushToApplicationCommand);
         pushToApplicationCommand.registerReconfigurable(pushToApplicationButton);
+        initNavigationCommands();
 
         // Setup Toolbar
 
@@ -121,6 +125,12 @@ private void createToolBar() {
 
                 new Separator(Orientation.VERTICAL),
 
+                new HBox(
+                        factory.createIconButton(StandardActions.BACK, backCommand),
+                        factory.createIconButton(StandardActions.FORWARD, forwardCommand)),
+
+                new Separator(Orientation.VERTICAL),
+
                 new HBox(
                         factory.createIconButton(StandardActions.UNDO, new UndoAction(frame::getCurrentLibraryTab, undoManager, dialogService, stateManager)),
                         factory.createIconButton(StandardActions.REDO, new RedoAction(frame::getCurrentLibraryTab, undoManager, dialogService, stateManager)),
@@ -208,4 +218,32 @@ Group createTaskIndicator() {
 
         return new Group(indicator);
     }
+
+    private void initNavigationCommands() {
+        backCommand = new SimpleCommand() {
+            {
+                executable.bind(stateManager.canGoBackProperty());
+            }
+
+            @Override
+            public void execute() {
+                if (frame.getCurrentLibraryTab() != null) {
+                    frame.getCurrentLibraryTab().back();
+                }
+            }
+        };
+
+        forwardCommand = new SimpleCommand() {
+            {
+                executable.bind(stateManager.canGoForwardProperty());
+            }
+
+            @Override
+            public void execute() {
+                if (frame.getCurrentLibraryTab() != null) {
+                    frame.getCurrentLibraryTab().forward();
+                }
+            }
+        };
+    }
 }

jabgui/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/keyboard/KeyBinding.java

@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ public enum KeyBinding {
     IMPORT_INTO_NEW_DATABASE("Import into new library", Localization.lang("Import into new library"), "ctrl+alt+I", KeyBindingCategory.FILE),
     MERGE_ENTRIES("Merge entries", Localization.lang("Merge entries"), "ctrl+M", KeyBindingCategory.TOOLS),
 
+    BACK("Back", Localization.lang("Back"), "alt+LEFT", KeyBindingCategory.VIEW),
+    FORWARD("Forward", Localization.lang("Forward"), "alt+RIGHT", KeyBindingCategory.VIEW),
+
     ADD_ENTRY("Add entry", Localization.lang("Add entry"), "ctrl+N", KeyBindingCategory.BIBTEX),
     ADD_ENTRY_IDENTIFIER("Enter identifier", Localization.lang("Enter identifier"), "ctrl+alt+shift+N", KeyBindingCategory.BIBTEX),
     ADD_ENTRY_PLAINTEXT("Interpret citations", Localization.lang("Interpret citations"), "ctrl+shift+N", KeyBindingCategory.BIBTEX),

jablib/src/main/resources/l10n/JabRef_en.properties

@@ -3401,3 +3401,6 @@ Commit\ aborted\:\ Local\ repository\ has\ unresolved\ merge\ conflicts.=Commit
 Commit\ aborted\:\ Path\ is\ not\ inside\ a\ Git\ repository.=Commit aborted: Path is not inside a Git repository.
 Commit\ aborted\:\ The\ file\ is\ not\ under\ Git\ version\ control.=Commit aborted: The file is not under Git version control.
 Update\ references=Update references
+
+Back=Back
+Forward=Forward