RefWorks

Alternative formats: PDF and MS Word    

RefWorks is a web-based bibliography and database manager that allows one to create a personal database by importing references from online databases or manually adding them. These references may be inserted into papers using Word and the Write-N-Cite plug-in, which will automatically format the paper and the bibliography using a wide variety of styles. Some editing may be required. This resource is available to all current CSB/SJU students, faculty and staff.

• Setting up an account
• Logging in
• RefWorks Tutorial
• Off-Campus access
• Creating folders
• Adding references from WorldCat Local
• Adding references from EBSCO's Academic Search Premier database
• Adding references from other library databases
• Adding manually created references
• Sharing folders
• Creating a bibliography
• Adding retrieval information for online full text sources
• RefWorks file backup

Setting up an account

• This step must be done from on-campus.
• Sign up for an Account at https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/newuser.asp.
• Fill out the form and then click on Register

Logging in

• http://www.refworks.com/refworks/

RefWorks Tutorial

• Highly recommended: self-paced tutorial at http://www.refworks.com/tutorial/.

Off-Campus access

• You might need the CSB/SJU group code for remote access. Visit the RefWorks Group Code page and supply your CSB/SJU network username and password to retrieve our group code.

Creating folders

• Click on Folders → Organize Folders.
• Select Create New Folder to add folders.

Adding references from WorldCat Local

• Perform your search in WorldCat Local (the search box on the library’s home page)
• From the Search Results list, click on the title of the book
• Under Citations you will see Export to RefWorks, click there
• You will be prompted to log into RefWorks
• Your exported record will be in the Last Imported folder

Adding references from EBSCO's Academic Search Premier database

• Click on the Add icon to choose citations. When finished adding, click on Folder has items.
• Click on Export → Direct Export to RefWorks

Adding references from other library databases

• Some databases support direct exporting and others require saving the citations to a text file.
• The mechanics of exporting varies - consult the following for help on a particular database:
  • http://library.csbsju.edu/refworks_help/
  • http://www.lib.umn.edu/refworks/import/

Adding manually created references

• Click on References → Add a New Reference.
• Specify the Folder, Reference Type, and fill out as much as you can about the reference.

Sharing folders

• Click on Folders → Share Folders.
• Locate the folder you want to share and click Share Folder.
• Select the options you want, then Save.
• Note the URL of the Shared Folder, so you can email it to others.

Creating a bibliography

• Click on the Bibliography button.
• Choose an Output Format (APA, MLA, etc.).
• Decide whether you want to
  • Format Paper and Bibliography
    • This requires you to insert references in a Word document within double curly braces, as such:
    • The document is sent to RefWorks, parsed, and output with completed references and a bibliography
  • Format a Bibliography from a List of References
    • Independent of a Word document, this option allows you to simply create a bibliography.
  • Use the Write-N-Cite Plug-In: (PC users only)
    • This should be installed on most campus computers. Otherwise, to install it, go to: http://www.refworks.com/Refworks/WNCDownload.asp.
    • While typing your paper, when you come to a point where you need to cite a reference, place your cursor where you want the citation to go.
    • Start the Write-N-Cite program and log in.
    • Select the source you want to cite by clicking on Cite (located on the far left).
    • In your document, a citation with double brackets will be where your cursor was.
    • Save your paper when finished as a .doc file, not a .docx file and bring up the Write-N-Cite tool again, click on Bibliography, and select an output (bibliographic) format.
    • The final paper will be produced in a file named Final - YourPaperName.doc. Keep your original YourPaperName.doc for revisions if necessary!
    • You may need to edit the final paper to ensure proper adherence to the standard you are following.

Adding retrieval information for online full text sources

When citing something you read online, APA, MLA & others require inclusion of:

• the date you retrieved (read) the full text (formatted as 19 January 2005 for MLA, January 19, 2005 for APA)
• the name of the database or website containing the full text,
• and perhaps other information, too (for example, MLA requires the name and location of the library providing access, and the URL of the database).

This information should be added to your RefWorks records so that, when you Create a Bibliography, this information will be automatically and correctly included in your citations as required.

When you read your online sources, have your RefWorks account open. As you access something, go to its record in your account and click on Edit. First, make sure that the Source Type (near the top) is Electronic, not Print. Then scroll down and fill in the fields for Retrieved Date, Database, etc.

For MLA, here's an example:

And, for APA:

This information can also be entered to several items at once by way of the Global Edit option.

RefWorks file backup

There are two ways to create a backup. Since these backups would be used under different circumstances, consider creating both varieties.

• From the RefWorks menu, choose References → Backup/Restore. Choose Backup → Perform Backup and a location for the backup file on a local drive. You would need to use the Restore function in RefWorks to restore the data from this backup.
• To create a backup that isn't RefWorks dependent, choose References → Export, a format such as RefWorks Tagged Format and then Export to Text File. RefWorks will now create a text file that you can save on a local drive. Since the data are visible in these text files, you would not need RefWorks to retrieve your citations. You would need to re-enter them into RefWorks, however.

Comments to Dave Wuolu.
Last updated: March 18, 2009. Links checked: February 6, 2006.