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RefWorks: Importing your existing references

Need Help?

Have questions regarding the new RefWorks or need some technical support? Contact our Support Team for help.

E-mail us or telephone us +1- 800-521-0600Contact Information ext. 74440 or +1-734-997-4440

Support hours are:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Eastern Time

In addition, the new RefWorks Support Pages are available at any time.

More information about upgrading to the new RefWorks can be found at: http://www.proquest.com/go/upgrade-refworks

Getting your Existing References into RefWorks

To get your existing references into the New RefWorks, look up your current reference manager below and follow the steps described.

RefWorks

RefWorks users have two option for moving existing references into the New RefWorks.

If you have an institutional RefWorks accounts (your school or organization provides access to you), you may see an option within your RefWorks account to “Move to the newest version of RefWorks”. 
RefWorks (Blue) Logo
 
Or you can bring your RefWorks data into the New RefWorks from within your New RefWorks account via Import references. 
RefWorks Instructions

ReadCube
  1. From the library view select the article or articles and right click to bring up Export Options.
  2. Select Export to RefMan (RIS) file and save the file.
  3. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon , then select Import References
  4. Drag and drop the saved file into RefWorks into the box, or use the link to “select a file from your computer” and upload it. 
 
EndNote
  1. You can easily import your EndNote into your RefWorks account:In EndNote, go to Edit > Output Styles > Open Style Manager
  2. Check “RefMan (RIS) Export”.
  3. In your EndNote library, select the references you would like to export.
  4. Go to File > Export and save the file, making sure the output styles field is set to “RefMan (RIS) Export”.
  5. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon , then select Import References
  6. Drag and drop the saved file into RefWorks into the box, or use the link to “select a file from your computer” and upload it. 
 
Mendeley

​You can automatically import your Mendeley database in just a few clicks from within your RefWorks account.  
 
You can also manually move your Mendeley database.  Here’s how:
  1. From Mendeley Desktop, select record(s) and right click. Select Export, Research Information Systems (*ris).
  2. A dialog box appears for you to select the location where you want to save the file. Type a file name and select a location to save the file.
  3. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon Add reference icon, then select Import References
  4. Drag and drop the saved file into RefWorks into the box, or use the link to “select a file from your computer” and upload it. 
 
Zotero
  1. Select references. 
  2. Right-click and choose Export Selected Items. Choose RIS. Save the file.
  3. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon Add a reference icon, then select Import References
  4. Drag and drop the saved file into RefWorks into the box, or use the link to “select a file from your computer” and upload it. 
 
Papers
  1. In your Papers library, highlight the references you want to export.
  2. Under the File menu, choose 'Export...' and choose the Refman RIS option. Save the file.
  3. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon Add a reference icon, then select Import References
  4. Drag and drop the saved file into RefWorks into the box, or use the link to “select a file from your computer” and upload it.