RefWorks is citation management software, which allows you to organize and retrieve references used in writing projects, includinh citations for books, articles, and websites. Rather than laboriously copying out and formatting references, RefWorks downloads them directly from library databases and then formats them in a number of possible output styles, depending on what you need. The citation manager works with your word processing software to insert properly formatted footnotes or citations into a paper and create a properly formatted bibliography
RefWorks is entirely online: You can use RefWorks from any computer connected to the Internet - your online database is stored on a central server. New changes to RefWorks allow you to download a copy of your citation library to your computer if you want to work on it offline. You can then upload any changes you make later.
You can log into Refworks at http://refworks.cornell.edu/ or via the main library gateway page. Click on Citation Tools then Quick Link to RefWorks.
The first thing to do after logging in is to set up an account. It's free.
A QuickStart Guide is available for download in PDF.
General Instructions
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To download records from various engineering databases, first connect to the appropriate database, see the
Databases by Discipline. Mark the records by clicking on the boxes. Click on Download (or, depending on the database, it may be called Save, Submit Marked Records, or Export). Then choose RefWorks Direct Import.
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If you also have your RefWorks account already open, the import will automatically begin. If not, then you will be prompted to the RefWorks login page; after you login, the import will automatically begin.
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When the import is complete, select View Last Imported Folder to review the imported records.
You can create folders, if you wish to store different sets of references separately.
Specific Instructions by Database
Some databases have different search interfaces, and vary in how to download records. Below are some specific instructions for common databases used in science and engineering.
INSPEC, Compendex, and NTIS all have the same interface (Engineering Village 2) and can even be searched simultaneously, so instructions are the same for all 3 databases.
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Perform a search. Select the records you want by clicking on the rectangular boxes.
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Click on Download, then RefWorks Direct Import, then download.
Georef
1.) Connect to the database; the URL is on Databases by Discipline.
2.) Perform the search to find the records you want; select the records you want by clicking on the check-boxes.
3.) Click on Export, then select RefWorks and then Export again.
Web of Science
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Perform a search. Select the records you want by clicking on the rectangular boxes.
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Click on Submit Marks, then Marked List, then RefWorks, then Export.
If you have an ISI ResearchSoft product (Reference Manager, EndNote or ProCite) installed on your computer the references will export to Endnote. An ISI Helper application may have been installed on your computer that is automatically called when you select the Export button in ScienceDirect. If you aim is to use RefWorks, you can convert them to RefWorks (see QuickStart instructions) or remove the Endnote product from your machine.
SciFinder Scholar
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Perform a search. Select the records you want by clicking on the rectangular boxes.
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Click on Save As, choose tagged format, give the file a name.
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Open RefWorks. Go to References/Import. Make sure SciFinder is the database selected. Import the file you saved above.
Cornell University Library Catalog
To import records from the library catalog, start from within RefWorks.
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From a top menu, click on Search/Online Database/Cornell University
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Perform a search. Click on the boxes to select records. Click Import.
For instruction on importing text files, formating references, creating bibliographies, converting references from Endnote, and more, see the QuickStart instructions.It also has frequently-asked questions. For additional information, see the library guide to Citation Tools at Cornell.
For questions or problems with RefWorks, contact CiteManage-L@cornell.edu.
Please send
your feedback on this handout. Prepared by jhp1, July, 2005.
