Export to RefWorks

RefWorks is a web-based bibliography and database manager that allows you to create your own personal database by importing references from text files or online databases and other various sources. You can use these references in writing papers and automatically format the paper and the bibliography in seconds.

Some databases have a direct Export to RefWorks option where RefWorks will open automatically. Other databases require that you open RefWorks individually. To open RefWorks: On the main HBLL site, in the Databases and Journals box, click on “R”, and select RefWorks.

This tutorial will outline how to use RefWorks in conjunction with specific databases most used in the sciences. You may choose to learn about them individually or go through them all for a complete overview.

EBSCO

When you are searching in an EBSCO database, the steps to export will always be the same. This includes databases such as Medline, Agricola or CINAHL. 

After you have completed a search, you must add the items you want to export to the folder. Go to “Folder has items” on the right hand side of the page and click on the “View Folder” link. This is where your citations have been saved. Select each reference you would like to export, or use the select all button, then click on EXPORT, the icon with the paper and green arrow. Select the option for “Direct Export to RefWorks.” There is also a box that allows you to remove items from the folder after saving, make sure you have this selected or not depending on what you would like to do. Click SAVE which will bring a pop up window for RefWorks and will prompt you to log in OR register if you are a new user. You may need to turn off your browser’s popup blocker or create an exception for RefWorks. Once you are logged in to RefWorks it will show you that your references have been imported and you can view them by clicking on “View Last Imported Folder.”

PubMed

If you are searching in Medline (PUBMED), after you have found the results you need, check the boxes to the left of each article you wish to export. Next, you will need to select MEDLINE under the “DISPLAY” settings drop down menu. This action will put the citations in a “tagged format” that RefWorks will be able to read. You now have a page of text which you can highlight with your mouse and copy. Now you need to open RefWorks and Log in. 

Once in RefWorks, go to the “References” button at the far top left of the page and select IMPORT. For the Import Filter/Data Source select NLM Pubmed, this will automatically select Pubmed for the database. Next, select the option for “Import Data from Following Text” and paste your text in the space provided. Finally, select IMPORT. This action should bring up a page that says “Import Completed.” You can now click on “View Last Imported” folder to view your citations.

BIOSIS/Web of Science

If you choose to do your research in any of the ISI databases, the steps to export into RefWorks are the same. This includes BIOSIS Previews, Web of Science, Zoological Record as well as the ISI All Databases Search. After you have completed your searching, check the boxes to the left of the articles you wish to export. Then click on the “Save to RefWorks” button at the top of your search results. This will open up a new window with the RefWorks Log in page. Once you have logged in with your RefWorks account, your references will be automatically imported. You can now click on “View Last Imported” to view your citations.

CAB Direct

After completing your search in CAB Direct-CAB Abstracts/Global Health/Nutrition & Food Science, click on the stars next to the articles you wish to export. Then you will choose “Export Marked Citations” from the menu on the right. On the new screen choose “Citation Only” or “Citation + Abstract” and click Export to RefWorks here, as well as on the next screen. This will automatically open up a new tab for you to log in to RefWorks if it is not already open, or automatically import the records if you are already logged in. You can now click on “View Last Imported” to view your citations.

CSA

When searching in Materials Science (CSA), Select articles by clicking on the boxes to the left on results page. Click on the “RefWorks” button at the top of the search results page. Click on the export to RefWorks button. If your browser blocks pop ups, make sure you allow them when prompted. Then Log in to RefWorks and click on “View Last Imported” to view your citations.

Cochrane

After completing a search in Cochrane Library, check the boxes to the left of the articles you want to export. Then click on export selected citations at the bottom left of the results page.

Under the drop down menu for Export type, select either “Citation” or “Citation and Abstract” depending on if you would like to include the abstract or not in RefWorks. Under the drop down menu for File Type, select PC, Macintosh, or Unix/Linux according to what type of computer you are using. After you click on “Export Citation” a small window will come up asking if you would like to save or open the file. Choose to open the file, then under EDIT choose select all and copy the text. 

Next you will need to open up a new window or tab and log in to RefWorks.  Once in RefWorks, mouse over the “References” tab at the far top left of the page, and select import. For the Import Filter/Data Source, choose Cochrane Library. For the database, select Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. You may select a folder for the references to be imported into if you wish. Next, select the Option for “Import Data from the Following Text,” and paste the copied citations. Then select import and click on “View Last Imported” to view your  citations.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar will allow you to set preferences that provide a link to import your articles into RefWorks. To set this preference, go to Google Scholar and click on the Scholar Preferences to the right of the Scholar search box. Scroll to the bottom of the Scholar Preferences page. In the “Bibliography Manager” section, select the button next to “Show link to import citations into” and choose the RefWorks citation manager from the drop down list of citation managers and then click on “Save Preferences” button. A new link next to each result will allow you to export to RefWorks. 

When you click on the “Import into RefWorks” link you will be automatically taken to the RefWorks log in page. After logging in, you will be taken to an edit reference page. You should make sure all of the information is correct, and then click the “save reference” button. 

SciFinder

If SciFinder Scholar is your chosen database, click in the box to the left of your desired citations. Click on Save As which is located on the navigation bar. In the pop up window, select the C: drive and find a folder on your C: drive to save to, then select Tagged Format (*.txt) from the Save as type drop-down menu and click Save.

Next you will need to open up a new window or tab and log in to RefWorks.  Once in RefWorks, mouse over the “References” tab at the far top left of the page, and select import. For the Import Filter/Data Source, choose CAS SciFinder, for Database, choose “Multiple Databases”. You may select a folder for the reference to be imported into if you wish. Next, select the Option for “Import Data from the Following Text File,” click on BROWSE and find and select the saved citations. Then select import and click on “View Last Imported” to view your citations.

If you are using the web version of SciFinder, conduct a search in the Explore References section of the database and enter your key words into the search box. Click Search and then click in the box to the left of your Research Topic Candidate options and click Get References. Select the references you wish to export by clicking on the box next to the article's title. Click the Export hyperlink located in the upper right section of the navigation bar. In the pop up window, click the "Only Selected" radio button, name the file and then select Tagged Format (*.txt) from the File Type drop-down menu and click Export. In the next pop up window, select Save File and click OK to save.

Next you will need to open up a new window or tab and log in to RefWorks.  Once in RefWorks, mouse over the “References” tab at the far top left of the page, and select import. For the Import Filter/Data Source, choose CAS SciFinder, for Database, choose “Multiple Databases”. You may select a folder for the reference to be imported into if you wish. Next, select the Option for “Import Data from the Following Text File,” click on BROWSE and find and select the saved citations. Then select import and click on “View Last Imported” to view your citations.

Write-N-Cite

RefWorks has a companion program that can be integrated into Microsoft Word that will create your citations as you are typing your research paper. It first must be downloaded and installed on your computer. For detailed instructions on downloading you can review the information listed under “Tools” then “Write-N-Cite” in RefWorks. Once you have Write-N-Cite installed on your computer, you can begin using it to make your citations. In order for Write-N-Cite to work for an off-campus user, you will have to add the proxy URL to their computer. The directions are found on the library home page under Services & Info.  

After typing a sentence that needs to include a citation, access RefWorks Write-n-Cite under the “Add-Ins” tab at the top of your Word document. This will open up a new window where you will need to log in to RefWorks/Write-N-Cite. 

You will then see a list of all of your references. If you have created a special folder for the paper you are writing, you can mouse over the “View” tab at the top and choose your folder from there. Once you have located the source you need to cite, click on the “cite” link to the left and the citation information will be added where your cursor was. At this point it may not look like it is in the right format, but that will be corrected later on. 

When you are finished writing your research paper, you can properly format it within the Write-N-Cite window. Click on “bibliography” and choose the output style you are required to use. This will format all of your citations properly and create a Works Cited at the end of your document.