Export & Import Tips

While you can manually key in individual references to RefWorks, it's easier to add references in bulk. There are two methods of adding multiple references.

Most databases allow either method. If the database's direct export does not work (as it frequently does not), you can usually save a file and import it as an alternative.

Below are detailed export/import instructions for Library databases as well as for free online resources you may use in your research. Individual database names are cross-referenced to their platforms.

ACLS Humanities E-Book Project
ACLS does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references from ACLS, use the Add New Reference icon, and change the Reference Type to "Book, Edited," "Book, Whole," or "Book, Section," depending on what you will be citing. This generates a page that will help you input the proper data for citing a video. (Or, if you are referencing entire books, you could use WorldCat [see below] to collect and import data in bulk.)

Agricola
Although Agricola indicates it has an export function, it does not seem to work. However, RefWorks' own search functions allow you to import material from Agricola. When you are logged in to RefWorks, go to Search and choose "Online catalogs or databases." Scroll down the list to NAL Article Citation Database for journal articles, or NAL Catalog for books. RefWorks will scan the external collection, generating a temporary list for you (50 is the default number; you can display up to 1000 hits). Once it has loaded, select the items you want to keep, then click "IMPORT" to have the records added to your RefWorks account.

American History in Video
AHIV does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references from AHIV, use the Add New Reference icon, and change the Reference Type to "Video/DVD." This generates a page that will help you input the proper data for citing a video.

Annual Reviews
Annual Reviews only allows exporting from a browse list, but it does have a direct export tool. Check off the items you want to send to RefWorks, and click the "Download to Citation Manager" link, which is at the top of the results list. On the Direct Export page, choose the fields you want to extract, then click RefWorks.
If the Direct Export does not work, choose the RIS option. This will create a file for you to save. Then go to RefWorks and choose Reference/Import. Use "RIS Format" as your filter, and "RIS Format" as your database.

ASCE Research Library
At present NONE, of the download citation options in the ASCE Library are working. However, there is a two-step method you can use for transfering bibliographic references. You must first, however, register (for free) with Scitation to be able to use their MyScitation tool. Scitation can be used to search and collect references from articles published by many scientific organizations and association, not just ASCE.

When searching in ASCE, select citations you wish to import into RefWorks. Once you've made your selections, click "Add to MyArticles." This will load your ASCE selections into MyScitation. You will need to be logged in to MyScitation, but if you are not, you'll be prompted to do so. After you've loaded everything into MyScitation, select the relevant references again. Then, using the dropdown box at the top of the reference list, choose "Select Download to Refworks" and click the >> next to it.

A page will be created, displaying the tagged references. Save this page as .txt. Go to RefWorks, and select References/Import. Use "RefWorks Tagged Format" as the filter, and "Tagged Format" as the database.

BibTeX files
BibTeX is another form of bibliographic software coding that is commonly used in technical fields. If you are using a database that does not export to RefWorks or does not create tagged files, see if BibTeX is an option. If it is, allow the database to create a BibTeX file for you, then save it with a .TXT extension. Import it into RefWorks, using BibTeX as the import filter. If a specific database is not listed as an option, choose "multiple databases."

British Library
You can search the British Library from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select Library of Congress from the alphabetic list.

You can also search the Integrated Catalogue of the British Library directly. When you have selected the items you want to import, click on EMail/Print/Save. You may want to change the record from Summary to Full Format. Choose the save option. A plain text file will display on the screen. Instead of saving it, highlight the text, starting with "Record 1" and dragging to the bottom of the page. Save the highlighted area. Go to RefWorks, and choose References/Import. Choose the "From Text" option (the second option, not From Text File), using the British Library import filter. Paste in the text from the email and click Import.

BUCCAT Library Catalog
Log into RefWorks. Under Search choose "Search Online Catalog or Database." From the drop-down list, select Christian Brothers University. Utilizing this option allows you to preview and select from results before you complete the import. The default number of results is 50, but if you run a search and see that the library has more items, you can reset the results--up to 1000, then rerun the search to retrieve everything.

CAMIO
CAMIO does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references from CAMIO, use the Add New Reference icon, and change the Reference Type to "Artwork." This generates a page that will help you input the proper data for citing a work of art.

CQ Researcher
While you can export bibliographic data from CQ Researcher, you can only export one bibliographic record at a time. Open the article you are interested in. At the top of the article, click "CITE NOW."
A pop-up box appears with a sample citation in APA, MLA, Chicago, or Blue Book style. You may have to enlarge the pop-up box to see the export drop-down list. Choose Refworks to export the bibliographic record.

Credo Reference
DIRECT EXPORT: Conduct your search; then click SAVE by each item you wish to export. When you've made all your selections, go to "Saved Results." On this page, you'll have the option of choosing "Export to RefWorks;" click "GO" once you've done so.

EBSCO eBooks
Ebooks data can't be exported in bulk from EBSCO. If you open a book's record, you can use the "Export" option to send information on individual books one-at-a-time. Just choose "Direct Export to RefWorks" and click "SAVE."

EBSCOHost
Databases include Academic Search Premier, ATLA Religion Database, Business Source Premier, ERIC, Library Information Science & Technology Abstracts, MAS Ultra, Military & Government Collection, MLA International Bibliography, Philosopher’s Index, Primary Search, Points of View, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, Regional Business News.

DIRECT EXPORT: Select items by clicking the "add to folder" link at the bottom of each reference. When you have made all your selections, click "Go to: folder view." Select, for a second time, the items you want to export, and click the export icon (the page with the super-imposed arrow). Choose "Direct Export to RefWorks" and click "SAVE."

SAVE AND IMPORT: If the direct export does not work, choose "Citations in a format that can be uploaded to bibliographic management software." Save that file as a .TXT file.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use the EBSCOHost import filter. Specify the name of the database you are importing from.

NOTE: Use the EBSCOHost database PsycInfo filter for importing from the database, PsycArticles.

Energy Citations Database
The Energy Citations Database does not provide a method of saving citation data. You must enter these manually.

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC Open Access)
Be aware that there are 2 versions of ERIC. You must choose the filter corresponding to the version of ERIC that you use.
DIRECT EXPORT: There is no direct export in the open access version of ERIC.

SAVE AND IMPORT: From your results list, select items by clicking "Add." When you are done, click "View Clipboard" to review your selections.Once in the Clipboard, you have to again select items on the Clipboard before you can do anything with them. Then click "Export Records." Choose the citation manager file option and save it as "citation.ris."

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use the "Education Resources Information Center" import filter with the database name, "ERIC."

NOTE: Do not choose EBSCOHost's ERIC if you are using the open access version of ERIC.

ENDNOTE WEB: EndNote is a similar product to RefWorks. To move references from Endnote Web to RefWorks, choose export format "RefMan (RIS) Export" when in EndNote Web. Save file as txt file. Go to RefWorks and use the import format "BIBSYS (RIS import format)".

GALE Infotrac web
Databases include Academic OneFile, General Onefile (formerly Infotrac OneFile), InfoTrac PowerSearch, Computer Database, Expanded Academic, General Reference Center Gold, General Business File, Health Reference Center Academic, Military & Intelligence Database, Professional Collection, Religion & Philosophy Database.

DIRECT EXPORT: Finding the Direct Export tool in the Gale databases is difficult. Conduct your search and select the items you are interested in; then click the tab for the “Marked List.” If you do not work from the marked list, you will not see all the icons you will need to communicate with RefWorks. Once on the marked list page, you’ll see five icons at the upper right; click the one that looks like a black square with a “C” on it.

NOTE: You will have to turn your pop-up blocker off to enable RefWorks to launch from the Gale export page.

SAVE AND IMPORT: If the Direct Export does not work, you can save and import from a Gale database, but the tools to do so are not located where you think they would be. Although the marked list citation tools offer a plain text save, it actually saves as HTML. THIS WILL NOT WORK IN REFWORKS. Instead, you will want to download from the full results list. Check off the items you want, but this time, do not go to the marked list. Instead click the “Download” icon in the upper right and choose the option to save to “plain text with bibliographic tags.” The save box should automatically save the file as .TXT, which is what RefWorks requires for an import.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "Gale InfoTrac Web" as the import filter, and "Gale InfoTrac" as the database.

Gale Literature Resource Center
Conduct your search and select items. These will be saved to a Marked List. When you are ready to transfer the items to RefWorks, go to your Marked List and choose Citation Tools. DO NOT use the "export of 3rd party" option; it will not work. Instead, choose "save as plain text with bibliographic tags" and save the file generated.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import.

GOOGLE Books
Google Books does not have a direct-to-RefWorks export function, but you can use the BibTex option instead.

Find the book in Google Books, and go to the "About this Book" page. Scroll down to the bottom, where you will find the Export options. Click on BibTex. A file download window will open. Save the file, accepting the name--which is the title of the book, and the extension--which is .bibtex Document. Go to RefWorks and choose References/Import. Use "BibTex" for your filter and "multiple databases" for your database.

GOOGLE Scholar
DIRECT EXPORT: Set preferences in Google Scholar to allow direct export of records to RefWorks. To do this, select "Scholar Preferences" from Google Scholar's main page. Scroll down the page, until you see "Bibliography Manager." Press the radio button, "Show links to import citations to." From the drop down, choose RefWorks. Save your preferences, and you will be sent back to the main search page. Now, however, when you search, you will see "import into RefWorks" links below every hit on the hitlist. Clicking on one of these automatically transfers the bibliographic data to Refworks. There is no way to import en masse, but the single click entry makes this unnecessary. You do not have to worry about filters.

NOTE: exporting may not be working with the IE8 browser; it seems to work fine with Firefox.

Hein Online
Hein does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references from Hein, use the Add New Reference icon, and use one of the Journal Reference Types. This generates a page that will help you input the proper data for citing a journal article.

HeritageQuest
HeritageQuest does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references, use the Add New Reference icon, and change the Reference Type to a relevant option. Book and Journal Reference types will accommodate references from the Books and Persi sections of HeritageQuest; use the Generic Reference type for the scans from the historic Census, the Freedman's Bureau, and the Revolutionary War documents.

Highwire Press (free journals)
After searching the Highwire collection, select the items you wish to add to RefWorks. Click the radio button, "Download to citation manager." A new page will open listing your selections with abstracts; at the top is a second line of small type, reading "download citations to citation manager." Although this line does not appear to be linked, it is. Click on it to load the various citation manager options on your list.

At present neither RefWorks option (direct export or save/import) seem to work. However, you can still add material from Highwire using the Reference Manager option. When you click on Reference Manager, you'll be offered an .RIS file, named citmgr, to save. Do so. Then go to RefWorks and choose References/Import. Use "RIS format" as your import filter, and "RIS format" as your database.

JSTOR
JSTOR no longer requires you to register for a MyJSTOR account to export citation information. Be aware: you must export your selections from one page before moving to another.

DIRECT EXPORT: Search and select the items you want. Click the "export citations" link at the top of the results list; then on the next page, select the RefWorks option. You'll be prompted to login to RefWorks, if necessary, and the items will load.

SAVE AND IMPORT: If the direct export should ever fail to work, choose RIS format from the export options. Save the file (it will be named citation.ris) and go to RefWorks.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. For your import filter, choose "RIS format;" for your database, choose "RIS format" as well.

Knovel
Knovel does not work with RefWorks. If you want to include references from Knovel, use the Add New Reference icon, and change the Reference Type to "Book, Edited," "Book, Whole," or "Book, Section," depending on what you will be citing. This generates a page that will help you input the proper data for citing a chapter. (Or, if you are referencing entire books, you could also use one of the WorldCat options [below].)

DIRECT EXPORT: To export references, conduct your search in LexisNexis Academic and select the items you want. Click on the icon that looks like an open book; it is the icon at the extreme right at the top of the results list. If you hover the cursor over the icon, a text box will appear reading "Export Bibliographic References." As the only option is to export to RefWorks, select the number of references you want to export--all, tagged, or selected. Click the red export button. You'll be taken to the RefWorks log-in page; log in to complete the export.

Newspaper articles, cases, laws, and the other unusual items found in LexisNexis Academic all export in their proper forms.

Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts: See EBSCOHost Instructions

Library of Congress Catalog
You can search the Library of Congress from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select Library of Congress from the alphabetic list.

DIRECT EXPORT: Once you have found an entry that you want to use, look at the top of the record--whether citation or fulltext--for the link, "Download Citation." The link takes you to your options; choose "Export Directly to RefWorks." You may be prompted to log in to your account.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Should the direct export fail to work, choose "Download in a format compatible with ... RefWorks."

In RefWorks use the import filter, "RIS format," and for your database, choose "Literature Online (Chadwyck)."

IMPORTANT: Imported references may need editing for proper formatting in RefWorks. Book sections tend to import as whole books; just change the Ref Type field. Also look for missing dividers in lists of multiple authors; to fix that, just insert semi-colons between names in the Author field, like so: Findley,Timothy;Benson, Eugene. There are no spaces between authors in the RefWorks edit form.

LocatorPlus - National Library of Medidine
You can search LocatorPlus, the catalog of the National Library of Medicine, from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select LocatorPlus - National Library of Medicine from the alphabetic list.

NASA Astrophysics Data Service
Conduct a search a make your selections, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "retrieve selected records." The next page will appear with only your selections on it. Click "Select All" again, then at the bottom of that page change the Return drop box to display "Refworks format (UTF-8)" and "Load to RefWorks." Then click "Retrieve Selected." A window will appear, displaying your file; above it will be an "Export to RefWorks" button. Click this--you'll be prompted to log in to your account--and the references will load.

NCJRS Abstracts Database
To retrieve exportable results from NCJRS, you must use the Library Abstracts portion of the site. Click the tab; then select NCJRS Abstracts Database Search. Conduct a search, and check off the references you want to keep. After making your selections, click the "Download" icon.
NCJRS creates a page for you. Even though no tags are in evidence, save the page as .TXT. (NCJRS provides browser specific instuctions at the top of the page.)

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. For your import filter choose "NCJRS Abstracts database." NCJRS will automatically load as the database. (You could also choose the generic Christian Brothers University as import filter, and then choose NCJRS Abstracts from the list.)

NetLibrary
NetLibrary is now part of EBSCO. See EBSCO eBooks for instructions.

NewsBank
Conduct a search and make your selections; then go to "Saved Articles" (in the sidebar on the left). A list of references to the saved articles appears; you will have to select the items again, before you can export them. After selecting the tiems to export, click the export tab under "Bibliography/Export." Save the generated file in .ris format, which is the default; do not try to open the file as it will be unreadable.

In RefWorks, choose References/Import. Import the file using RIS format as both the filter and the database.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Conduct your search and select items from the results list. You can also export entire lists.
Use the drop-down list to change the display from "Summary" to "MEDLINE." The data will be converted into a tagged page for you to save. Use the Windows command, File Save As. Give the file a sensible name (the default is "query_fcgi) and change the save as type to "Text file (*.txt)."

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "NLM PubMed" as your import filter; the database, PubMed, will be automatically loaded in the database field.

An alternative: PubMed can be searched and automatically loaded from within RefWorks. Go to From Search and choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select PubMed, which is found at the top of the list. A Quick Search as well as more advanced search options (combinations of author, descriptor, and publication year) are available. Be aware: search results in PubMed can be large. You can set RefWorks to import 50, 100, 500 references and more from PubMed. Search options for PubMed are limited to subject, author, source, and year, in combination if you are using RefWorks, however. To use PubMed's full searching capabilities to retrieve more refined results, you must conduct your search in PubMed itself and then import the results to RefWorks.

OCLC Firstsearch
Databases include: ArticlesFirst, ClasePeriodica, ERIC, MEDLINE, PapersFirst, ProceedingsFirst, WorldCat.

DIRECT EXPORT: Select items by checking them off the results list. When you have made all your selections, click the Export icon above the list. The next screen shows radio-button options for items to export ("Records #-#" or "Marked records from this search"). Mark the appropriate one. Choose the Refworks option, and click "Export."

SAVE AND IMPORT: If the Direct Export does not work, choose "Text File" instead, and click "Export." This creates a file to save named "DirectExport.txt."

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "OCLC FirstSearch" as the import filter with the appropriate database name from the list.

Make sure your pop-up blocker is turned off, or is set to allow pop-ups from the OVID site.

DIRECT EXPORT: Conduct a search and select items. When you are done, click the "Export" link at the top of the results list. A work box opens with a number of options. Choose "RefWorks" from the Export drop-down list, then select the fields for display--citation only, citation + abstract, the complete reference. It is up to you, but generally the more information you can bring into RefWorks the better off you will be, so our recommendation is to choose more than the citation alone. You'll also have the option of including the URL and the external link resolver. Once you've made your choices, click "Export Citations." You may be prompted to log in to your account.

SAVE AND IMPORT: If the direct export does not work, choose "Reprint Medlars" from the Export drop-down. This creates a file which you should save as .txt.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "NLM Gateway" for the import filter and "Multiple databases" for the database.

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Note: Citations cannot be added en masse from PLoS. Conduct your search. For those items that you wish to add, first open the article, then click on "download citation." Save the file without changing anything or opening the folder.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Choose the filter, "RIS Format," and the database, "RIS Format."

BACKUP METHOD: If you have a RefWorks account at another institution and want to transfer it to CBU, first BACKUP your account at the previous institution. Then create a new, empty account through CBU, and RESTORE the first account into the CBU account. The new account must be empty or the RESTORE will overwrite anything in it.

EXPORT METHOD: If you have already created your CBU account and already started saving references to it, you won't be able to use the BACKUP METHOD. Instead you can export records from one account to another. Login to the first RefWorks account and select references--whether the entire database or a folder--for export. Go to References/Export, and select "RefWorks Tagged Format." Click Export to Text File and save the file as .txt. Then in the second RefWorks account, use References/Import and use "RefWorks Tagged Format" as the data source.

RePec: Research Papers in Economics
Databases include: IDEAS. There are many databases in RePec. IDEAS is the search tool you will use if you want to retrieve references, however.

DIRECT EXPORT: There is no direct export, and unfortunately the Save and Import method is labor-intensive.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Go into the IDEAS section of RePeC, and conduct your search. You must open each abstract one at a time to retrieve formatted references. In the abstract, find the section called "Publisher Information." Under "Download Reference," click RIS. A screen will open with the reference. If you want to import a single reference, save the screen as .txt. If you want to import multiple references, you can copy-and-paste the references into a word processing document. Leave a line between each reference.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Choose the import filter "RIS." Then choose RePec for your database.

Salem Press
Only one item at a time can be added to RefWorks from Salem Press. To do so, click the Article Citation tab on found on the sidebar of an open article. This opens a new page with the option of exporting a citation to bibliographic management softewar. Click the tab, "Download to Citation Manager." Save the file as "citation.ris."

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "RIS format" for your import filter as well as for your database.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Conduct your search and select items from the results list. BE AWARE: You must select and export items from a single page before you move to the next page. Once selected, click the "Export Checked Results" button.
A pop-up opens. Determine whether you want to export citations only or you want to include abstracts as well. Select RIS format, directing the system to save the file. Click Export. A Scirus########.ris file will be saved.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "RIS format" for your import filter and SCIRUS for your database.

Science.gov
Select the citations you want to add to RefWorks; then click the tab, "your selections." On the page listing your selections, click "citations." This generates a file to save; you need not make any changes to the file's extension.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. For your import filter, choose RIS Format; for your database, choose Science.gov

ScienceDirect
NOTE: Although CBU does not have access to the fulltext of articles in ScienceDirect, it can still be used to search for references. If you register with ScienceDirect, you can load your RefWorks username/password and CBU's group code into your profile. Then whenever you are logged into ScienceDirect, you can export to RefWorks with just a click of a button.

DIRECT EXPORT: If you do not want to register with ScienceDirect, use the following steps: Conduct a search in ScienceDirect, and check your selections (up to 1000). At the top of the list, click "Export citations." Choose "RefWorks Direct Export" and indicate if you want to include abstracts. Then click "Export." You may have to respond to security alert messages before the file will be sent to RefWorks.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Conduct your search and select your items from the results list. Click the "Export Citations" icon at the top of the list. Select RIS format, click export, and a file for importing will be created. You will probably want to change the default name as ScienceDirect assigns a long string of code as the name. Include .ris as the file extension, and then change the "save as type" to "All Files."

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use "ScienceDirect (RIS format)" as the import filter, and "ScienceDirect Navigator" as the database.

Smithsonian Institution
A number of Smithsonian catalogs are available for searching from within RefWorks. You can search the Library of Congress from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select one of the Smithsonian entries from the alphabetic list. Among your options are the Smithsonian Institution Archives Catalog, the Smithsonian Institution Art Inventories, the Smithsonian Institution Library Catalog, the Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum Directory of Airplanes, and the Smithsonian Institution Research Bibliography Catalog.

Toxnet
Databases include: Toxline, DART, plus several others, but only Toxline and DART have bibliographic records.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Select records, then click the "Save Checked Items" icon. Next, click "Display Saved items."
Click "Download" and a pop-up appears with a command line for downloading a the selected number of records. Choose the "tagged" format before completing the download. The file should open automatically. File/Save, being sure to save the file as .TXT.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Choose the TOXNET filter.

U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
You can search the NIH from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select U.S. National Institutes of Health from the alphabetic list.

U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
You can search NLM from within RefWorks, with results automatically loaded into your RefWorks' database. From the Search drop-down, choose "Online Catalog or Database," then select U.S. National Library of Medicine from the alphabetic list.

Wiley Online Library
Note: CBU has access to some of the full text material in the Wiley Online Library; these items will be marked with icons in results lists. You can, however, retrieve citations and abstracts for everything in the Library.

DIRECT EXPORT: Make your selections from the results list. (If you move to another page of results before exporting, you will loose your selections from the first page; so export before you page forward.) Click on the Export citation icon. For format, select RefWorks. Choose either "citation" or "citation with abstract" for an export type. Click Submit. You'll be taken to a RefWorks login, if you are not logged in. You may be asked for the group code--even when using an on-campus computer (we hope to correct this particular problem). You can avoid this problem by logging in to RefWorks before you go to Wiley.

SAVE AND IMPORT: Make your selection from the results list. Click on the Export citation icon. For format, select Plain Text. Choose either "citation" or "citation with abstract" for an export type. Click Submit. You'll be given a page to save for importing into RefWorks. If you have chosen multiple citations, you will see them all in this file, but even so, only one item will transfer into RefWorks.

In RefWorks: choose References/Import. Use the "RIS Format" import filter with "RIS Format UTF" format as the database. Then CHANGE the encoding to UTF-8. This should allow you to import multiple references. (The old Wiley Interscience filter no longer works.)

WorldCat (Firstsearch): See OCLC FirstSearch Instructions
Use if you want to load files including multiple references to books.

WorldCat.org
WorldCat.org sends only one reference to RefWorks at a time, but it is very easy to use. Search for an item. Click on the title to open the full record and click "Cite/Export." In the window that opens, click "Export to RefWorks." You may be prompted to login.

Zotero
In Zotero, click the wheel symbol, then Export. Save the file as Bibtex. Then go to RefWorks and use "Bibtex" as filter and "Multiple databases" as the database source.