RefWorks at Princeton University Library

What is RefWorks?

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management service that allows you to import citations from online article indexes and databases, organize and manage these citations within folders, automatically format them within papers and create instant bibliographies in a variety of styles. For optimal performance, use of Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later is recommended.

Before you can get started...

You must set up your own RefWorks account. To do so, go to the RefWorks User Login page and sign up for an individual account. Once you have your individual account set up, you can start building and using your own citations database. Within RefWorks you can define and organize your own folders where citations are saved. To use RefWorks remotely (from outside the university network) you must also enter a user group code in addition to your Login name and password. Princeton's user group code is RWPrinceton.

How it works

You can use RefWorks to:

Using RefWorks with specific Princeton University Library databases

Importing Citations in RefWorks

After searching article indexes and databases and saving the relevant records, RefWorks uses import filters to help you bring the records into your RefWorks folders. To import references into RefWorks, follow this three-step process:

  1. Search an article index or database for relevant articles
  2. Save the relevant records as a text file
  3. Import the text file using the appropriate import filter

In some databases you can save records directly into RefWorks (look for the button or link). This simplifies the process, eliminating the third step.

  1. Search an article index or database for relevant articles

Use the list of databases available on the Library web site to select the appropriate databases to search.

IMPORTANT: When searching a database, remember to make note of the name of the database provider (i.e. Axiom is the name of the database provider for Compendex and INSPEC, ISI is the database provider for Web of Science, etc.) as well as of the name of the database you are searching.

  1. Save the relevant records as a Text File

Some databases and indexes offer the option Save to RefWorks . If this option is available, then records export directly to RefWorks and you do not need an import filter. If Save to RefWorks option is not available, then use the Save records feature of the database you are using and save the file to your Desktop, using the .txt extension (e.g., results.txt) and the type All Files (*.*)

  1. Import the saved Text File to RefWorks using the appropriate filter
  • Login to your RefWorks account
  • Click on the Import button at the top of the page
  • Select the appropriate database provider from the Import Filter/Data Source menu
  • Select the appropriate database from the Database menu
  • Select the Folder into which the references will be imported (the default is the Last Imported Folder)
  • Click on the Browse button and select the text file from your Desktop
  • Click on the Import button at the bottom of the form
  • Click on the View Last Imported Folder button to see your imported citations

    NOTE: No filter can accommodate all variations in citation formats. Be prepared to edit imported records so that they appear correctly in your citations and bibliographies.

Organizing the RefWorks citations database

RefWorks allows the user to define the folders where to save or add citations for better organization and easy searching. All imported citations are saved by default in the Last Imported folder, which is automatically cleared when a new Import is performed . Click on the Organize Folders button to Create a New Folder, Rename an existing one or to Delete a folder.

You can also manually add references by clicking on the button Add New Reference. Select the folder in which you want to place the reference. If you do not select a folder the reference will go in your main database (accessed by searching or by View All). Select the reference type you want to add by clicking on the arrow at the right of the Ref Type box. Each reference type has been assigned fields (e.g. Author and Periodical, Full name) that are appropriate for that particular type. The following Reference Types are available: Generic, Journal, Abstract, Book (Whole), Book (Chapter), Conference Proceeding, Patent, Report, Monograph, Dissertation, Web Page, Electronic Journal.

All citations imported in a RefWorks database are connected to the Find it@PUL linking service (you will see the Find it@PUL button displayed next to each citation in the RefWorks database). From each citation one can link to the corresponding menu of services available from Find it@PUL, including the full-text for the citations, if available through the library's subscriptions.

Creating and formatting Bibliographies

In RefWorks you can create a bibliography from a list of references, without creating a manuscript. The list may be your entire database or you can select a specific folder from which to create the bibliography. Click on the Bibliography button and select the appropriate Output Format from the drop down list. Be sure the Base Bibliography on Reference List button is selected. Select the file format you wish to create (Text, HTML, RTF (Rich Text), Word for Windows (97 or later), or Word for Mac (98 or later). Select either All References or a particular Folder and click on Create Bibliography. Follow your browser's instructions for viewing the file and be sure to save the document to your hard disk before closing.

Exporting citations from RefWorks

Citations from RefWorks can be exported to other bibliographic managers, such as EndNote or Procite, or they can be exported to Microsoft Excel and Access.

To export citations to an Excel or Access file you must choose the Tab Delimited format for exporting.

For detailed instructions on using RefWorks with the Main Catalog and with specific databases licensed at Princeton, see Using RefWorks at Princeton.

Please check RefWorks Help Topics for more detailed information on RefWorks and its features or view the online tutorials.

Updated March 11, 2004