RefWorks - Online Personal Database and Bibliography Creator
Connect to RefWorks nowUse RefWorks to...
- Organize references
- Format bibliographies and manuscripts
- Create a personal database online of your own selected references
- Import references automatically from many library databases
- Attach full text files to references, up to 5MB each, or 100MB total
Getting Started
- RefWorks QuickStart for WPI
- RefWorks Tutorial
- Write-n-Cite plug-in - Write in MS Word while you add your citations
- WPI Mailing list alias - create one for project teams
- Import Instructions for Specific Databases (UIUC)
- RefWorks webinars
See Also
- Citation Resources You will still need to know how to cite properly.
- WPI Academic Honesty Policy
RefWorks is a web based tool that helps you to manage your many citations! WPI Information Technology Division has purchased this for use by all WPI students, faculty, and staff. It helps you keep track of the sources you are using for your research, including the ability to paste in sections of the text of the documents and your own notes about the sources.
RefWorks helps you to automatically generate in-text citations, footnotes, and your bibliography. Don't know how to cite a webpage in MLA style? Let RefWorks do it for you. It will also create bibliographies for you in the format you specify (APA, Chicago, IEEE, or hundreds of other styles).
Also, download an add-in which allows you to Write-n-Cite while create your paper. It interacts with Microsoft Word so that you can insert footnotes and your bibliography while you are writing.
RefWorks allows you to import references from many electronic databases available on the WPI Library web site. Conveniently compile a list of sources -- as you identify them -- and save them immediately into your own personal database.
How to Set Up Account
-
Click on our RefWorks link on the library web site or go
to www.refworks.com/refworks *
Click on Sign Up for an Individual Account.
Enter the appropriate information and click on Register.
* If you are connecting from off campus, use the Proxy to connect or login using your Group Code (send a request via our Ask a Librarian form to get the group code)
How to Build a Database of References
There are three methods:
- Direct Connection: databases such as the library catalog and PubMed are listed within RefWorks. Under Search, choose Online Catalog or Database. References are immediately pulled into your own RefWorks database.
- Export from Resource then Import to RefWorks: Export citation data from the electronic resource to a file on your computer, then import that file into RefWorks.
- Manual Entry: type (or copy and paste) the citation information directly into RefWorks.
Right Click; Open in New Window, in case you have to add more information to the RefWorks entry (such as URL).
Log in to RefWorks, choose Search
Mark records you wish to export, then choose database option to generate citations, many have an option to output to RefWorks format.
Google Scholar User? Go to Scholars' Preferences link to set up an export preference to send data from Google Scholar to your RefWorks account with the click of a button.
Right Click; Open in New Window, in case you have to add more information to the RefWorks entry (such as URL).
Creating a Bibliography
- Choose Bibliography.
- Choose an Output Style (APA, MLA, Turabian, etc.)
- At this point you have various options:
- Upload your paper to format
- Create your bibliography from a list of references (either within a specific folder, or a selected list) then output this group of references into a separate Word document
Best Practices
- Use Organize Folders to create different folders for your research projects.
- You will still need to be knowledgeable about the style manual you use. Sometimes, you have to edit the references to make sure all fields are complete. Check the listing of style manuals on the library web site under Help ? Self Help ? Citation Resources.
- Format authors with a semicolon separating: Smith, J. R.; Jones, Robert K.; Adams, Mary; etc. Full first names depend on the primary style you use (e.g. MLA requires full first names)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why doesn't the direct export work from the database I am using? I am getting this error: "Import aborted, missing server and/or file information."
A: Your Internet Explorer, Firefox, or browser settings may not be allowing this direct connection to occur. Try Tools-Internet Options-Security-click on the green Trusted sites ball-now click the Sites button. Add *.jstor.org (or the web address for the database you are importing from) to your list. Click OK, Apply, and OK. Try again.
Q: Is there a file size limit on Word documents processed through RefWorks?
A: At present there is no file size limit placed on documents being processed through RefWorks regardless of the point of origin being the RefWorks web site or Write-N-Cite. However, your personal database is limited to 1GB of data.
Q: I am trying to Direct Export citations from FirstSearch (or other library databases) using Internet Explorer 2007 and nothing seems to happen.
A: You need to set IE to allow pop-ups from FirstSearch, RefWorks, and other databases you have trouble exporting from. Within IE, go to: Tools, Pop-up Blocker, Pop-up Blocker Settings. Under "Allowed Sites", enter *.oclc.org and add *.refworks.com. NOTE: If your pop-up blocker is already turned off, you may have to go to Tools, Internet Options, click the Security Tab, then click on Trusted Sites to add these.
Make sure the "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone" is unchecked, otherwise you will get a warning "Sites added to this zone must use the https:// prefix. Click on close, then OK to exit the menu. Restart the browser and try your direct export again.
More Information
- Check the online tutorial
- Contact a librarian for help or check the Session Registration page for more info.
- Attend a RefWorks Webinar
Maintained by lib-webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: Apr 07, 2008, 09:11 EDT
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