Getting Ready for the New Semester
----by David Orenstein, Director of Library Services
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RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic software package that enables you to:
- Organize and share your research
- Import references directly from many data sources (databases, online catalogs, websites)
- Instantly generate your bibliography in a variety of citation styles, (including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Turabian)
- Include citations (parenthetical references or footnotes) while you write your paper
RefWorks is web-based, so there is no software to download and update. You can access your RefWorks account from any computer connected to the internet. (Off-campus users will be prompted to enter their 14-digit OneCard barcode #)
For help getting started, try the RefWorks online tutorial. For a quick intro to the basics of RefWorks, view the RefWorks in 15 Minutes PowerPoint.
RefWorks FAQ
Following are some common questions and answers about using RefWorks at Saint Peter's College. For help with a specific question or area of RefWorks, try the RefWorks online help screens, consult the FAQ below, or Ask a Librarian.
General Questions
Entering and Importing References to RefWorks
Creating bibliographies, footnotes, and in-text citations from a RefWorks Database
More RefWorks FAQs
General Questions
- What is RefWorks? What does it do?
- RefWorks is software that enables you to enter citations to books, articles, web pages, etc. into a database, and allows you to easily insert footnotes, parenthetical references, and bibliographies into your papers and manuscripts. RefWorks runs entirely over the Internet, so you don't need to install any software on your computer (though there are small plug-ins for Microsoft Word and OpenOffice that you can install if you choose to).
- Who can/should use RefWorks?
- RefWorks is available for all students, faculty, and staff of Saint Peter's. It will be most useful to those who need to keep track of a large number of citations and who have a little bit of time to learn how to use RefWorks.
- What kind of computer/web browser/word processor do I need to use RefWorks?
- RefWorks can be used with both Windows PCs and Macintosh computers. Any current version of Internet Explorer or Firefox will work, as will any current version of Microsoft Word. The Safari web browser is not officially supported, though it seems to work. RefWorks will not work with WordPerfect. The "Write-N-Cite" utility (for better integrating RefWorks and Microsoft Word) works with Microsoft Word 2000 and up and Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, and Vista; Write-N-Cite for the Macintosh requires Word 98 and up and OS X version 10.3 or later.
- Who can I talk to at Saint Peter's about using RefWorks?
- Stop by the Library Reference Desk during reference hours or contact reference librarian Daisy DeCoster to arrange for a one-on-one introduction to RefWorks.
- Where can I go online to get more information about using RefWorks?
- The RefWorks online help is uncommonly good. If you are just getting started and need an overview, try the RefWorks tutorial. If you have a more specific question you need answered, try the RefWorks help screens.
- If I use RefWorks, do I still have to proofread my bibliography or notes?
- Yes! While RefWorks should generally handle the formatting for you, there are still many places for errors to creep in. You are still responsible for your final product, and you will want to proofread for spelling, capitalization, and general formatting. Take a look at the style manual you are using and compare your bibliography and notes to the examples in the book. If you find problems, you can either fix them in the citation in your RefWorks database and regenerate your paper, or just make the changes in your final Word document before printing it.
- Can I create more than one RefWorks account?
- Yes. You may create multiple accounts. Students may wish to create a separate, shared login account when working on group projects. Likewise, faculty may wish to create citation lists for each course that they teach.
- Can RefWorks help with my annotated bibliography assignment?
- Yes. Put all your citations into your RefWorks database, and put your annotations in the "Notes" field (if there is already information in the notes field that you want to keep, but don't want in your annotated bibliography, you can cut and paste it into one of the "User1-User5" fields near the bottom of the reference). When you create your bibliography, use one of the annotated output formats: "Annotated Bibliography (Chicago/Turabian Style)," "Annotated Bibliography (MLA Style)" or "APA, Annotated with Abstracts."
Entering and Importing References to RefWorks
- What article databases and e-resources can I use to import information to RefWorks?
- The following Saint Peter's College subscribed databases will export directly to RefWorks:
- ABI/ Inform (Proquest)
- Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
- Alt-Health Watch (EBSCO)
- Art Fulltext (HW Wilson)
- ATLA Religion (EBSCO)
- Banking Information Source (Proquest)
- Biographies Plus Illustrated (HW Wilson)
- Biography Collection Complete (EBSCO)
- Book Index With Reviews (EBSCO)
- Business Source Corporate(EBSCO)
- Business Source Premier (EBSCO)
- Catholic Periodical & Literature Index (EBSCO)
- Cinahl (EBSCO)
- Criminal Justice Periodical Index (Proquest)
- Education Research Complete (EBSCO)
- ERIC (EBSCO)
- Ethnic News Watch (Proquest)
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- Gender Watch(Proquest)
- GreenFile (EBSCO)
- Health Source: Nursing (EBSCO)
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- Health Reference Center (Gale)
- History Reference Center (EBSCO)
- Hoover's Company Records (Proquest)
- Humanities International Complete (EBSCO)
- Lexis-Nexis Academic
- Literary Reference Center (EBSCO)
- Magill's Medical and Cancer Guide (Salem Health)
- McClatchy Tribune Collection (EBSCO)
- Medline (EBSCO)
- MLA International Bibliography (EBSCO)
- Newspaper Source (EBSCO)
- Nursing and Allied Health Collection (EBSCO)
- Proceedings of the NAS
- Proquest Nursing Journals
- PsycArticles (EBSCO)
- Regional Business News (EBSCO)
- Science Full-Text (HW Wilson)
- Science Reference Center (EBSCO)
- Socindex With Full-Text (EBSCO)
- Wall Street Journal (Proquest)
- WorldCat OCLC Online Union Catalog
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- Will RefWorks import citations flawlessly from the article databases?
- Not necessarily. Most of the time it will do a very good job. But sometimes, because of irregularities in the database citation, information is placed in the wrong field, (particularly the "Notes" field). In short, you need to proofread what goes into your RefWorks database.
- How do I save citations from the SPC Libraries Catalog to import to my RefWorks database?
- While searching in the SPC Libraries Catalog select multiple records (by checking the boxes to the left) or open any single record you wish to cite. Under "Record Options" at the bottom of the page, select "RefWorks Citation" as the download format. When you click "Format for Print/Save" the citation(s) will appear. You can save this file or copy the text. Then go to RefWorks and under the References menu, Import a Reference. Import your citations by attaching the text file you saved or pasting the copied text into the box provided. Choose "Saint Peter's College" as the import filter and "Saint Peter's Catalog" as the database. (Note: when importing book citations from the SPC catalog you must manually change the Source Type from "Electronic" to "Print.")
- How do I export citations from EBSCO databases?
- Note: direct export requires you to disable any pop-up blocking software on your computer. There are two ways to directly export citations from EBSCO databases. If you are viewing a single citation, you can click on the icon that looks like a white sheet of paper with a green arrow. The default option should be "Direct Export to RefWorks." When you click "save," your citation will automatically appear in your RefWorks database. If you are viewing a list of search results in an EBSCO database or if you wish to export multiple citations at once, click "Add to Folder" next to any citations you may wish to save as you search. When you are ready to export, access your folder by clicking the folder icon on the top menu bar. From your folder you will be able to select which of your saved citations you wish to export. Click the icon that looks like a white sheet of paper with a green arrow, and select "Direct Export to RefWorks" to send the selected citations to your RefWorks account.
- How do I export citations from Proquest databases?
- Note: direct export requires you to disable any pop-up blocking software on your computer. While in any Proquest database, put a mark in the checkbox next to the citations you may want to save. When you are ready to export your citations, click on the My Research Tab. Select the marked citations you wish to send to RefWorks, and click on "Export Citations." Select the top choice: "Export Directly to RefWorks." Your citations should be automatically added to your RefWorks database.
- What is RefGrab-It, and how do I install it?
- RefGrab-It is a bookmark tool that enables you to capture bibliographic data from websites and import it to RefWorks. To add it to your bookmarks or favorites, go to http://www.refworks.com/Refworks/BookMarklet.asp and follow the directions for your browser.
- What do "Import Filter/Data Source" and "Database" mean when I am importing?
- On the RefWorks import screen, there are two pull-down menus. One is labeled "Import Filter/Data Source" and the other is labeled "Database." In most cases you can leave the first one set for "Saint Peter's College," and just choose your database from the "Database" menu. Most of the other options under "Import Filter/Data Source" are for resources to which SPC does not subscribe.
- What if there isn't an import filter for the database I'm using?
- We are trying to get filters for all the databases to which Saint Peter's subscribes. Not all are available from RefWorks at this time. For these databases, you will likely have to enter the citation into your RefWorks database yourself using the "New Reference" button in RefWorks. You may be able to speed things along by copying and pasting the information from the article database or website into the proper fields in RefWorks.
Creating Bibliographies and Notes from a RefWorks Database
- How do I cite a specific page number in my note?
- Most citation styles demand that you cite a specific page number in your parenthetical citation or footnote. RefWorks doesn't know what page you are citing, so when you add the reference to your paper you have to type it in yourself , preceded by "/s" for "specific page." So if the RefWorks reference in your paper looks like this, "{{11 Smith 2003;}}" and you want to cite page 27, you need to change it to look like this: "{{1 Smith 2003/s27;}}" See the RefWorks Help page on "Output and Formatting; Overview" for more.
- What is Write-N-Cite III, and how do I download it?
- Write-N-Cite is the software program that connects your web-based RefWorks database to Microsoft Word (or other word processing software) to generate bibliographies. Write-N-Cite III is the latest version and should be the version of choice for all but those with MacIntosh computers or with older PCs (pre-XP, pre-Word 2003, etc.) Write-N-Cite III is compatible with Vista and XP operating systems and with MS Word 2007 and MS Word 2003. If you have a Vista OS, you must use version III. Download Write-N-Cite at http://www.refworks.com/refworks/WNCDownload.asp.
- What is the deal with all these "Output Formats"? Which one should I use?
- Of the many dozens of formats supplied by RefWorks, we have put the ones most likely to be used by Saint Peter's students at the top of the list. Your professor should tell you what style to use.
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