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RefWorks Transition Guide

Export citations from Proquest RefWorks

Clicking the folder icon on the sidebar menu and selecting a folder

  • Your folders are listed here. For each folder, select the folder, then export references by clicking the Share & Export icon and selecting Export references:

Clicking the Share & Export icon on the library_controls navigation menu shows an option to export references of the selected folder

  • Select RIS Format. RIS is a commonly used reference format which you can import to Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.
    Selecting from all references (step 3) and RIS Format (step 4) in the Export references menu
  • Rename and save each file with the original folder name so you can keep it organized when you import it into your new citation manager. For example, save citations exported from a folder called Biology Manuscript as "Biology Manuscript".​ Repeat steps 3-6 for each folder you have.

Your references are now ready to import into a new citation manager!

  • Log into your RefWorks account.
  • Select the All Documents icon at the top left then select Export & Share: Beginning to export RefWorks references by clicking All Documents on sidebar and then Export & Share on the library_controls navigation bar
  • Choose whether you want to export from All references in 'All Documents' or Selected references.
  • Select a RIS Format. RIS is a commonly used reference format which you can import to Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.
    Selecting from all references (step 3) and RIS Format (step 4) in the Export references menu
  • Name and save the file.

Your references are now ready to import into a new citation manager!

Import citations to new citation manager

  • Create a free EndNote Online account (select EndNote from the tools menu) and log in.
  • Select Collect and then Import References

Selecting Collect and Import References

  • Choose File to browse for the file you exported from RefWorks, select RefMan RIS as Import Option, select New group from To, and click on Import. All done!

    Importing references

  1. Create an account, download Zotero 5.0, and open it.
Ctrl+Shift+I to import

  1. In the Zotero installed on your computer, select File from the top bar, then Import. When the Where do you want to import from? box appears, select a file type (BibTeX, RIS, Zotero RDF, etc.).
  2. Select the file that you exported from RefWorks and select Open. All done!
Note: When using Zotero Desktop on a public computer be sure to sign in and out of your account in Edit > Preferences > Sync.
  1. Create a Mendeley account then download and open Mendeley Desktop
  1. Select File, then Import, then the RIS - Research Information Systems (*.ris) option.

Importing by selecting File, Import, and RIS

  1. Find the RIS (*.ris) file that RefWorks exported, then select Open. All done!

 

  1. Create a paid EndNote Desktop account (student and upgrade discounts for EndNote x9 available here) and log in.
  2. Select File, then Import, then File:
    Selecting File then Import then File in Endnote to import citations from RefWorks
  3. Select Choose to browse for the file you exported from RefWorks, select the Import Option for your exported file, and then select Import. All done!
    Selecting Reference Manager (RIS) import option in Endnote to import your references from RefWorksIf you are a Mac user, you may be unable to import RefWorks citations directly into EndNote Desktop. You can import citations to EndNote Online (see the tab above) and then sync your accounts so that the citations also appear in EndNote Desktop.