Skip to Main Content

RefWorks: Convert to RefWorks

RefWorks helps you to collect and organise your references and automatically create bibliographies and reference lists. It comes with a Write-N-Cite add-on to help with your in-text citations.

Converting to RefWorks

It is usually fairly straight forward to convert from one referencing software to another.  Here are some instructions from the RefWorks for common systems but you will find more on the RefWorks Help pages.

Reference Manager

Note: When importing large amounts of references, it is recommended to import no more than 2500 records (or 3MB of files) at a single time. This will ensure a successful import.

  1. From Reference Manager, select the references you want to export.

  2. Under the File menu select Export. (If Export is not listed under File, it will be under References).

  3. Next to the File name box, click the button (with 3 dots) to choose where the file will be saved, choose the location and enter a filename for your exported references. Under Output format select the RIS format and the appropriate References Option.

  4. Click Export

  5. Go into RefWorks and from the References menu select Import.

  6. Select Desktop Biblio. Mgt. Software as your Import Filter and Reference Manager ( RIS Format) as your Database. Browse for and select the file you just created from Reference Manager. In the Import into Folder box, select the folder you want the records to be imported into.

  7. Click on Import at the bottom of the Import window. The import can take a few minutes. RefWorks will display a message when the import is complete. Once the import is finished click View the Imported References.

  8. Your records should automatically appear in the Refworks folder you imported them into.

ProCite

To import records into RefWorks from ProCite it is necessary to obtain an output filter from ISI ResearchSoft Technical Support. Download the filter here. This filter, RIS.pos, will be used to export your data in the RIS format. After obtaining the filter, place it in ProCite's Styles folder. This folder's default location is C:/Program Files/Procite5/Styles.

Note
: When importing large amounts of references, it is recommended to import no more than 2500 records (or 3MB of files) at a single time. This will ensure a successful import.

  1. From within ProCite select Print Bibliography from the File menu.

  2. Select the RIS output style (be sure to configure the RIS output to include all desired fields).

  3. Select Save, and Text Only as your file type.

  4. Give the file a name and select a location.

  5. Go into RefWorks and from the References menu select Import.

  6. Select Desktop Biblio. Mgt. Software as your Import Filter.

  7. Select ProCite ( RIS Format) as your Database.

  8. Browse for and select the file you just created from ProCite.

  9. Click on Import at the bottom of the Import window. The progress in importing is measured by * for each reference imported. RefWorks will notify you when the import is complete. View the Imported References.

10. Your records should automatically appear in the Last Imported folder.

EndNote 8 and Later Versions

  1. Go into RefWorks and from the References menu select Import.

  2. Expand the From EndNote Database section.

  3. Browse for and select your EndNote library (.enl). Note: Only EndNote version 8 and higher databases can be imported. Currently there is a 25 MB import limit on the size your EndNote library. Also ensure that the .enl file is not open on your computer.

  4. Specify a folder to import your records into (optional)

  5. Click Import at the bottom of the Import window. The progress in importing is measured by * for each reference imported. RefWorks will notify you when the import is complete.

  6. Your records should automatically appear in the Last Imported folder.

Mendeley

If you have previously used Mendeley to manage your references you can transfer them to RefWorks.

In Mendeley Desktop:

  1. Select the references you would like to transfer
  2. Click on the File menu and choose: Export
  3. In the "Export Selected Documents" window which opens, change the Save as type from BibTeX (*.bib) to  RIS- Research Information Systems (*.ris)
  4. Save your file

In RefWorks:

  1. From the References menu select the Import option
  2. In the Import References window, choose the mport Filter / Data Source:
  3. Select the Database: RIS Format [RIS Format]
  4. Click on the Browse button and select your saved text file so that it appears in the "Select Text File" box
  5. Click on the Import button
  6. Click on the View Last Imported Folder button to see your references