RefWorks

The Baylor Libraries currently support three reference management services: EndNote, RefWorks, and Zotero. To better steward our resources, we will discontinue RefWorks effective June 30, 2025. If you would like to preserve your RefWorks references, you need to export them from RefWorks before June 30, 2025.

Fortunately, you can migrate your data from RefWorks to either EndNote or Zotero. You can register for online workshops, taught by Ellen Filgo, that introduce Zotero to RefWorks users:

• Friday, May 9, 10 am - 11 am
• Tuesday, May 13, 11 am - 12 pm
• Wednesday, May 21, 3 pm - 4 pm
• Friday, May 23, 12 pm - 1 pm
• Tuesday, May 27, 10 am - 11 am
• Thursday, May 29 12 pm - 1 pm

You can also contact your library liaison for assistance or contact Ellen Filgo for assistance if you have around 1,000 references or more in RefWorks.

Information on exporting records from RefWorks and importing them into either EndNote or Zotero is provided in the sections below. For any questions, contact Billie Peterson-Lugo

• Login to your RefWorks Account.
• Note, if you have used a folder structure in your RefWork account, you will need to export references by folder and store them on your computer by folder in order to maintain that arrangement in the reference manager you choose to use.
• Click on a folder to export; those references should display in the middle panel.
• Select Export References from the Share menu.
  • From: The default will be All references in the selected folder
  • Format: RIS Format
  • ID Output: RefWorks default
• Click the Export button.
• Depending on how your browser functions, a text file named export.ris will be available for download.
• Open this file in a text editor such as NotePad.
• Use the Save As function to save this file in the appropriate folder on your computer.
• Repeat this process for each folder in your RefWorks account.

• Open your Zotero application.
• Select Import from the File menu.
  • Make sure A file (Bib TeX, RIS, Zotero RDF, etc.) is selected.
  • Click the Next button.
• Navigate to the folder where you have saved the citations and select the file.
• Use the Place imported Collections and items into new collection option. Note: if this is the first time you have placed any citations in Zotero, this will not be an option. Your file will import into a collection named export; right click on the collection name to rename it.
• Click the Next button; and when the import is complete, click the Finish button.
• The collection will display in your Zotero library named export; right click on the file to rename it.

See this video of the entire process (export from RefWorks and import to Zotero): https://app.screencast.com/DsEQw58Y2yjXy.

• Open your EndNote application
• Select Import à File from the File menu
• Browse to the location of the saved file and select the following parameters and click the Import button when ready:
  • Input Option: Reference Manager (RIS)
  • Duplicates: Import All
  • Text Translations: No Translation
• They should appear in the Imported References location; select all of them (on a PC click on the first citation, hold down the Shift key and click on the last citation).
• Right click and select Add References to à Create Custom Group. (in EndNote Groups = Folders)
• Right click on New Group in left sidebar, and select Rename Group to assign the name to the group

See this video of the import to EndNote process: https://app.screencast.com/UqEaUxYs7lfn9.

• Login to your RefWorks Account.
• Note, if you have used a folder structure in your RefWork account, you will need to export attachments by folder and store them on your computer by folder in order to maintain that arrangement in the reference manager you choose to use.
• Click on the folder that contains citations that also have attachments (most likely PDFs of articles).
• Select Export Attachments from the Share menu.
  • From: All references in ‘Folder Name’
  • Click the Export button
• A window will display indicating an e-mail will be sent to your e-mail address once the export is complete. Click the OK button.
• Look for a message from RefWorks in your e-mail (check your junk folder if it doesn’t appear).
• Click on the link in the e-mail message which will access your browser to enable the download of a ZIP file with the attachments.
• Use your browser’s download function to download and open that ZIP file.
• Click on the Extract All button associated with the ZIP file.
• Browse to the folder on your computer where you want to store the attachments and click on the Select Folder button.
• Then click on the Extract button to place those files in that folder.
• Once they have been transferred, you should be able to use Drag and Drop to attach them to citations in the new reference manager.

See this video on the export attachments process: https://app.screencast.com/JYZV2viRx26MT.

RefWorks is a cloud-based tool (comparable to and compatible with EndNote and Zotero) that builds and organizes a personal database of citations found through research by importing the citations from online resources including:  online library systems (OneSearch), online resources to which the Baylor Libraries subscribe, PDFs, and web pages. Citations can be collected from online resources or added manually, organized in folders, incorporated into research papers, and automatically formatted for end notes or footnotes or bibliographies using specified styles (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).

RefWorks uses a rich database structure which gives users the ability to add detailed notes and other information to individual citations and PDFs.  Because this information is stored in a database, a researcher's RefWorks account becomes her personal research database, which can be searched for needed information. 

Additionally, all or part of a RefWorks account can be shared with others -- including individuals not affiliated with Baylor University -- with whom a researcher may be collaborating.

To get started with the most current version of RefWorks, all you need to do is set up an account or migrate your existing account.

In the future, you can login to RefWorks using your Baylor e-mail address and the password you just created.

If you have an existing RefWorks account, easily migrate your account to new RefWorks by doing the following:

1. Login to your legacy RefWorks account.
2. Click on the "Move to the newest version of RefWorks from ProQuest." link located in the top left side of the display.
3. Login to new RefWorks using the same credentials you use with your legacy RefWorks account.
4. After you've completed the login, all of the data from your legacy RefWorks account will be migrated to new RefWorks, including the folder structure..
5. Login to your new RefWorks account using: http://refworks.proquest.com.

You can continue to use/access your legacy RefWorks account by logging in to http://www.refworks.com/refworks.  Note; Any changes you make in your legacy account will not be transferred to your new account; nor will changes you make in your new account be transferred to your legacy account.

Below is a key to the main RefWorks menu.

By adding the "Save to RefWorks" button to your browser(s), you can capture information from any web page -- in some instances including the full text of articles. You will also be able to add/change the metadata before or after you save the citation(s) to your RefWorks library. By using the information on this page (you'll need to login to your RefWorks account), you can drag and drop the "Save to RefWorks" button on your browser's "Favorites" bar. Note: The "Favorites" bar needs to be visible and unlocked in order to complete this action.  Consult the "Help" information for the browser you use for more information if the "Favorites" bar doesn't display. Additionally, your browser may not support the drag and drop option. This documentation will provide information on adding "Save to RefWorks" to your browser manually.

Setting up different projects in your RefWorks account enables you to work collaboratively with others on specific research activities. Note, don't substitute projects for "folders". If there's no need to work collaboratively with other researchers, there may be little value for you to create separate projects. The video below provides more details.