RefWorks: Introduction

RefWorks is a web-based reference manager that allows you to create your own personal database by importing references from online databases and other sources. You can use these references in writing papers and automatically format the paper and the bibliography in seconds, in a preferred citation style such as APA or Chicago.

Why use a reference manager?

RefWorks is a reference manager, like EndNote, Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley and others. These programs are useful for, among others:

• Pulling references automatically
  You can add reference manually to a reference manager, but also pull them directly (often in bulk) from many academic databases with a few easy clicks.
• Managing of references
  With a reference manager you keep the overview over the literature you've found. You can organize the titles in folders, add keywords and other information. In some programs you can also add PDF-files to the references, so you have the literature near at hand as well.
• Adding references and creating a bibliography
  Reference managers help you make literature lists in an output style (like APA or Chicago) and often make citations in a text. The reference manager automatically applies the rules of the different styles.

Why use RefWorks?

Some benefits of RefWorks are:

• RefWorks is web-based. The references are saved on a server so you can access them from any computer with an internet connection.
• Import filters, necessary to import references from a certain database in the correct way into RefWorks, and output styles (like APA and Chicago) are automatically updated.
• Many databases have a Direct Export function, making the import of references in RefWorks easy.
• EUR-students and -staff can use RefWorks without additional costs.
• RefWorks can connect to your papers in Word, Google Docs or Hangul via add-ons (Write-N-Cite or RCM) to add in-text references.

Please note: All reference managers are tools: remain critical and double-check the results, reference list, and/or references in the text!

Write-N-Cite (Wnc) is becoming outdated and support will be phased out in the course of 2024. By April 2025, Write-N-Cite will no longer be supported by RefWorks and WnC authentication will no longer work. Everyone should upgrade to RefWorks Citation Manager (RCM). before April 2025. Make sure to also upgrade your documents that are using WnC. Read more about migrating from WnC to RCM here.

An updated version of the Write-n-Cite Add-on for Word (ProQuest Write N Cite 4.6.284) is still available in the Software Center, but only using RCM is strongly recommended. 

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