Managing your references: ProQuest RefWorks (New RefWorks)

ProQuest RefWorks allows you to share your references with individuals or your institution. You have the ability to allow exporting, printing, generating a list of references and using custom output styles

Cite references and create bibliographies in Microsoft Word documents and Google Docs. There are a few plugins to choose from depending on which word processor you are using:

Write 'n' Cite: Word for Windows and versions of Word for Mac prior to 2016.

RefWorks Citation Manager: Word for Windows and Mac 2016/2017 onwards.

Cite in Google Docs: Google Docs.

For instructions on how to install Write-N-Cite, RefWorks Citation Manager or Cite in Google Docs, see our FAQs page.

To use the new version of RefWorks, register on the ProQuest RefWorks website (link below). This is recommended for users who are entirely new to RefWorks.

We advise registering with your University email address and password, rather than using your institutional credentials (Single Sign On). This is because if you wish to continue using RefWorks as alumni, you will still have access with an email address and password whilst your Single Sign On will expire upon leaving the University. You will need to register using your University email address but can change it to a personal email address in your account settings. If you have already created a RefWorks account with your Single Sign On, you can change your login to an email address. Se our FAQs for further information.

The Bodleian Libraries recommends that those using Legacy RefWorks (the previous version) delay moving to ProQuest RefWorks until you have finished working on documents where you are inserting citations from Legacy RefWorks. This is because of compatibility problems in Word documents which have already been edited in Legacy RefWorks. Find out more about migrating from Legacy RefWorks to ProQuest RefWorks:

Training in RefWorks

Below are tips on how to collect references and build up your RefWorks library.

Direct export

You can export or push references to RefWorks from many online databases, library catalogues such as SOLO and from Google Scholar.  

1. First run your search in the database or library catalogue.
2. On the results page look for options such as "Export", "Save",  "Push" or "Reference Management".
3. Once you have chosen Export (or Save, Push etc.)  you will often be given a choice of reference manager - choose RefWorks.
   
4. Once you have chosen to export to RefWorks (or push to RefWorks, save to RefWorks etc) you will be asked whether you wish to export to "Legacy RefWorks" or "ProQuest RefWorks". Choose "ProQuest RefWorks".

Indirect export

Some online databases do not have a direct export option. Where this is the case you can often save your results as "RIS" or plain text files. These can then be imported in to RefWorks.

1. Run your search in the database or library catalogue.
2. On the results page look for options  to "Export" or "Save". 
3. Once you have chosen Export (or Save)  choose "RIS", "TXT" or "RefWorks tagged format" and save the file to a location on your computer where you will be able to find it (e.g. c:/downloads).
4. Open RefWorks and choose Add followed by Import references.
5. You can either drag and drop the file into your browser or click Select a file from your computer and navigate to find the file that you saved (e.g. in c/downloads)
6. RefWorks should identify the 'import filter' from the file. If it correctly identiifed the import filter, simply click Import. If RefWorks does not identify the import filter, find the name of the database or library catalogue you used from the drop down menu. Failing that, choose RIS or RefWorks tagged format. Click Import.

The Import References function can also be used to pull in references from other reference managers such as Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero.

Capture with 'Save to RefWorks'

You can save references from web pages by installing the Save to RefWorks tool in your browser. To do this, open Refworks and choose Tools > Tools > Install Save to RefWorks.

Once you have installed the plug in, click on it when you want to add a web page to RefWorks.

Drag and drop PDF files

You can drag and drop PDFs into RefWorks. This does two things. Firstly, the PDF will be saved to your RefWorks account. Secondly, RefWorks will read the metadata from the PDF, extract the bibliographical details and automatically create a reference for you. Have RefWorks open in your browser and your documents window open next to it. Click and hold the PDF you want to add to RefWorks, drag it to RefWorks in your browser and a blue circle prompting you to drop your file should appear. Let go of the mouse and drop the file into RefWorks.

Manually

Choose Add > Create new reference. This will pull up a form for you to fill in.

Bodleian Libraries workshops

ProQuest RefWorks

Handouts and presentation slides from Referencing: RefWorks workshop

Handouts and presentation slides from Referencing: Choosing and using software workshop

For help with ProQuest RefWorks or questions about migration please consult our FAQs page or email reference-management@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Legacy RefWorks (old RefWorks)

For help with Legacy RefWorks please email reference-management@bodleian.ox.ac.uk