Importing references from library databases using a text file

Accessing RefWorks

Importing references from library databases

• From a text file
• From email
• Using Direct Export

Importing references from NUcat

• Searching NUcat through RefWorks
• Importing NUcat search results

Entering references manually

Organizing your references

Creating and formatting bibliographies and reference lists

RefWorks-compatible databases available at Northwestern

Login to RefWorks

RefWorks Online Tutorial

RefWorks Quick Start Guide

RefWorks allows you to import references from a large number of library databases. The exact methods for importing, however, can vary for different families of databases. Usually, you will be able to save your search results as a text file and bring them into RefWorks using the Import feature. For some, however, you will need to email your search results and copy them to RefWorks Import screen. Finally, some databases have a built in feature that allows you to send your references directly to RefWorks, bypassing the Import function altogether.

Importing a text file from Academic Search Elite

Academic Search Elite provides a good example of the basic steps for saving your search results as a text file and then importing that file into RefWorks. The steps will be similar for many other library resources.

1. Connect to Academic Search Elite and conduct your search.
2. Select the article references that you want to save by clicking the “Add” icon next to a citation in the results list. This adds your entries to your folder, which makes them available to save, print or email.
3. Click on the link marked “Folder has items” near the upper left corner of your browser window to see the list of citations you’ve added.
4. Click on “Save to disk” to save the citations as a text file that RefWorks can import.
5. The next screen you’ll see is the Save Manager. Click the tab marked “Bibliographic Manager.”
6. Make sure the radio button is selected for “Save citations in a format that can be uploaded to bibliographic management software” and click the Save button. (Unfortunately, the Direct Export feature offered does not work with RefWorks.)
7. Your citations are redisplayed as text only on a new web page. Choose Save As… from your browser’s File menu. Name the file and make sure the Save as type: pull-down menu is set to “Text File (*.txt).” Click the Save button. Be sure to note where you’ve saved your text file.
8. Log into RefWorks, if you haven’t already, and click the Import button near the top of the screen.
9. The Import Filter/Data Source menu should be set to “Northwestern University.” If it is not, open the pull-down menu and locate “Northwestern University”—it should be at the top of the list.
10. Select “Academic Search Elite [EBSCOhost]” from the Database menu.
11. Make sure the radio button marked “Import Data from the following Text File” is selected, and then use the Browse button to locate the text file you saved from Academic Search Elite.
12. Click the Import button near the bottom of the screen. (Do not click the Import button at the top of the screen! That will reset the page you’re currently looking at.)
13. The import process begins. When it is finished, you’ll see a message like “Import completed - 4 references imported” (or however many were on your list). Click “View Last Imported Folder” to see your new references.