Frequently Asked Questions
RefWorks Q & A
General questionsGeneral questions
Q: What is RefWorks?
A: RefWorks is web-based bibliographic software package that enables you to:
- Organize your research
- Include citations while you write your paper
- Build a bibliography in a variety of formats
- Import references from many data sources
- Create bibliographies in different document formats (Word, RTF, HTML, etc.)
- Access your personal account from any computer connected to the internet.
Q: How do I access RefWorks?
A: Current UWS staff and students may access Refworks and download 'Write and Cite' software onto your personal computer directly from the Refworks web page.
When you first visit RefWorks, you will be prompted to set up your personal bibliographic database with a personal RefWorks username and password. Just select 'Refworks', click on 'OK' if Secruity Alert mesages appear and from the UWS Refworks login page, select 'Sign up for an individual account' and follow the onscreen instructions. Please record the personal username and password your set up as you will need to enter them whenever you wish to access RefWorks.
Q: I?m working on a group project. Can we share a RefWorks account?
A: Yes. RefWorks does not limit the number of accounts you create. Every account can have two types of access ? full and read-only. Full access requires everyone to log in with the same login name and password. Read-only requries users to log in with the login name and a read-only password that has been established. Read-only access allows people to search, export and print bibliographies, but not add, edit or delete references.
Q: How can I import results of searches into RefWorks?
A: RefWorks uses filters to import records into your personal database. After you perform a search in an online data source, you would save the results as a text file (.txt). Many of the online data vendors can be imported into RefWorks. For a complete list of the import filters in RefWorks, click here: http://www.refworks.com/Refworks/importdbs.asp
Q: What is Write-n-Cite and what does it do?
A: Write-n-Cite is a feature which allows you to access your references in RefWorks while working within Microsoft Word. Write-n-Cite allows you to insert citation placeholders and when you are ready to add a bibliography to the end of the document, Write-n-Cite will create a bibliography and properly format your in-text citations based upon only those references that have been inserted into your Word document.
Q: I prefer to write my paper off line. Can I print out a list of references with RefIDs and how do I manually insert the citations in the text?
A: Yes. You first need to create a folder and add all of the references you require for the paper to this folder. Next, click on Export and select the folder you want to print. Select Citation List. Click Export to Text File. When the file displays print it using the browser's Print function.
Your printout or file will provide you with the RefIDs which you need to use in your document as citation placeholders. To manually insert citations in the text where you want to cite the reference, use two open curly brackets "{{" followed by the Reference ID number followed by two closed curly brackets "}}". For multiple citations in the same location separate the Ref ID number with semicolons: {{34;45;23}}. You will need to go back online to generate the bibliography or reference list by going to the Bibliography area and browsing to find your file.
Q: How do I import references from my EndNote database?
A: Below are two sets of conversion instructions ? one for EndNote version 8 or higher users and the other is for version 7 or lower users.
Converting EndNote databases (version 8 or higher):
- Log into your RefWorks account.
- Select References, Import EndNote V8 Database
- Click the Browse button and locate your EndNote .enl file
- Specify a folder to import the references to (optional ? your references will automatically appear in the Last Imported Folder)
- Click the Import button.
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From the list of output styles select RefMan (RIS) Export select it.
Note: If you do not see this format, open the Style Manager and check the RefMan format. Close the Style Manager and repeat steps 1 and 2. - Select the references you want to export.
- Under the Reference menu select Show Selected (or Show All if you wish to export the entire database).
- Under the File menu select Export.
- A dialog box appears for you to select the location where you want to save the file. Type a file name and select a location for importing into RefWorks. Select Text as your Save As type and click Save.
- Go into RefWorks and from the References menu select Import.
- Select Desktop Biblio. Mgt. Software as your Import Filter and EndNote as your Database. Browse for and select the file you just created from EndNote.
- Click Import.
Q: How do I access Write-N-Cite when off-campus or in the computer Labs?
A: To be authenticated as a UWS user you must load the WNC Proxy Configuration Utility
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Windows users:
- From the Start Menu select Programs and then RefWorks
- Select the WNC Proxy Configuration Utility
- Enter the following: http://ezproxy.uws.edu.au/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/?WNC=true
- Click OK
For Mac users:
- Open Write-N-Cite and select the Preferences menu option from the Write-N-Cite menu
- Click the proxy tab and enter the following: http://ezproxy.uws.edu.au/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/?WNC=true
- Click OK
Restart Write-N-Cite for this proxy configuration to take effect.
After running the utility, you will then be directed to login via UWS homepage rather than going to RefWorks homepage.
Q: RefWorks is asking for a Group Code - what is this?
A: You must access RefWorks here so that you can be authenticated as a UWS user.
The Group Code is also detailed in the confirmation e-mail you received at RefWorks registration.
Note if using the direct export function from library databases; please ensure you are logged into your RefWorks account first.
