Kay Cunningham, Library DirectorPlough Memorial Library

Christian Brothers UniversityFall 2010

Getting Started with RefWorks at CBU:

Registering for an Account and Setting up Database

RefWorks is…

Bibliographic Citation Manager

Web-basedUseful for

Collecting referencesOrganizing researchCreating bibliographiesCollaborating with others

Available to CBUStudentsFacultyStaffAlumni For help signing up, click the RefWorks link on

the Library homepage

Registering for an account

CBU has a campus subscription, but individual users must register for their own personal accounts.

Set up an account from the Refworks Login page, under “New to RefWorks?” on the RefWorks login page.

New Users

All users specify what they want to use for login names and passwords.Let us know your focus area (Arts, Sciences, etc.) and if you are student, faculty, staff, etc. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your login information.

Registered UsersLogin to your RefWorks Account* Other Login options

Go to http://www.refworks.com

Click LoginUse the Group Code* to

direct RefWorks to CBU’s section of their servers

Login with your username and password

*Using the link from the CBU web page

*The Group Code is included in the confirmation email you receive with registration. If you did not keep the email, contact Plough Library (901-321-3432).

Getting Started

Registering with RefWorks gets you an empty interface

To make it work for you, you must first load references into it

There are several ways to do this, but most of them begin OUTSIDE of the RefWorks Interface—

At the Library’s Databases list - click on Academic Search Premier and search for a topic

Academic Search Premier is an EBSCOHost database, one of several EBSCOHost products subscribed to by the Library; you’ll be able to apply the Export/Import instructions for Academic Search Premier to other EBSCOHost resources

Three MethodsImporting & Saving

Most complex but worksAll but a few databases allow this method

Direct ExportingEasiest but does not always workSome databases have created direct export tools

Manual loadingMost labor-intensiveOnly necessary with unusual references

References for most books and journal articles can be loaded by the Import & Save or the Direct Export methods.

Importing and SavingSelect references from the search results that interest you; once you’ve made your selections, click the Export icon

Use “Generic bibliographic management software” to create a file to import into RefWorks

File/Save As

A file will be generated for you to save. Use the File/Save As command, and save the file with a text (.txt) extension.

Go back to RefWorksChoose References/ImportFor your Import filter,

choose EBSCOHost from the first drop-down (the one that displays Christian Brothers)

For your database, choose the name of the database you used from the second drop-down list

Browse for the .txt file you saved from your search

Click IMPORT

Last Imported File

Click “View Last Imported” to confirm that your file loaded properly.Items loaded this way are automatically saved.References will remain in the “Last Imported” folder until you load something else; they will permanently reside in your “All References” list as well as in any folders you assign them to.

Using Direct Exports

Back at EBSCOHost, click on the Direct Export Icon, and select “Direct Export to RefWorks.” EBSCOHost will the connect itself to RefWorks (you may or may not be prompted to login again) and load the bibliographic data.

NOTE: the EBSCOHost Direct Export has NOT been working on campus.

NOTE: some databases’ Direct Export tools attempt to open RefWorks in a PopUp box. If you have your PopUps blocked, you will have problems.

But How Do I Remember…

Don’t worry, the Library’s Export & Import Tips (http://sun.cbu.edu/cbu/Library/instruct/help/refworks/exportimporttips/index.htm) page has RefWorks-related instructions for all CBU’s subscribed databases as well as for many free resources.

You can also reach these instructions by clicking “Additional Information” at the top of any RefWorks page.

Export/Import Help

Databases are cross-referenced to their instructions.

Looking up Academic Search Premier points you to EBSCOHost.

Manual loads

Click the New Reference tab, or choose References/Add New to activate an edit screen for adding material manually.

Choose the Ref Type from the dropdown list. In addition to books and journal articles, RefWorks can accommodate references to Artwork, Computer Programs, Grants, Maps, and more. The edit screen adjusts itself to match the RefType.

Edit Screen

You won’t use every field on the edit screen, but there are a variety of them available, including fifteen user-defined fields that you can customize however you want.

2.0 (beta) vs. Classic

RefWorks is in the process of upgrading to a RefWorks 2.0 interface

CBU’s account defaults to RefWorks 2.0The rollover should be complete within the yearThe chief change is in the design; all functionality

remains the sameSome aspects (RefShare, for example) still use the

Classic interfaceThere is a link to Classic RefWorks available; it will

remain available so long as RefWorks 2.0 is in BetaOnce RefWorks 2.0 comes out of Beta, the Classic

interface will be retired

Existing UsersIf you have an existing account through

another institution and you wish to transfer your database to the CBU subscriptionLogin to your other accountBackup your RefWorks database using the

Tools/Backup & Restore function [Backup]Register for an account through CBULogin to your new accountLoad your old RefWorks database into your CBU

account using the Tools/Backup & Restore function [Restore]

EndNotes UsersEndNotes is a competing product to RefWorksYou can move your database from EndNotes to

RefWorks and vice versaUse the Export function in EndNotes to extract

your database using the RefMan (RIS) Export style

In Refworks, use the Import/from EndNotes database command to load the database

For more details see RefWorks own help page on “Converting from Other Bibliographic Management Programs”

Getting Started with RefWorks at CBU: Registering for an Account and Setting Up a Database

See other handouts on

Collaborating with RefShareCustomizing Your AccountMaking BibliographiesSearching with RefWorksWorking with FoldersWrite N Cite