Troubleshooting common RefWorks problems

1. When I attempt to create a RefWorks account, I receive an error message stating that my net ID and password are invalid.
2. I am getting error messages when I try to login.  
3. I can’t log out of RefWorks.
4. I can't export references from Google Scholar into my RefWorks account.
5. I am having difficulty exporting references from database XX.
6. I am having difficulty exporting references from EBSCO databases (Academic Search Premier, MLA).
7. I am having difficulty exporting references from Web of Science.
8. I use EndNote.  How do I transfer my references from EndNote to RefWorks? 
9. I'd like to share my RefWorks citations and have multiple users access my account simultaneously -- is that possible?
10. RefWorks is not creating my bibliography correctly -- I get an error message or long list of characters.
11. Records I export from databases do not appear in my Last Imported Folder.
12. I’m a Mac user -- will Write N Cite work with my computer? 
13. I am leaving Duke -- how can I save my RefWorks library?
14. My question isn't answered here -- how may I learn more?

When I attempt to create a RefWorks account I receive an error message stating that my net ID and password are invalid.

Contact OIT, or consider creating a RefWorks account with a unique login and password.  NOTE: This new account will not be accessible by net ID and password, so you will need to contact Michael Peper for a GroupCode in order to access your RefWorks account from off campus.

I am getting error messages when I try to login.

Try logging in again in a few hours.  Contact Michael Peper or RefWorks Tech Support if you continue to have difficulty.

I can’t log out of RefWorks.

Close your web browser. 

I can't export references from Google Scholar into my RefWorks account.

Select the "Scholar Preferences" link at the top of the Google Scholar results screen.  Scroll down to "Bibliography Manager."  Select "Show links to import citations into..." and choose "RefWorks" from the dropdown menu.  Select "Save Preferences."  You should now see an "Import into RefWorks" link after each citation.  Use this to export an individual citation to RefWorks (unfortunately, you may not export multiple citations from RefWorks). 

I am having difficulty exporting references from a database.  What should I do?

Check RefWorks' help documentation.  Under the heading "Getting References Into Your Account" in the contents menu, select "Importing from Online Data vendors."  Search the list for your database, and follow the detailed instructions.  Be sure that your pop-up blocker is off and that RefWorks and the databases you use are "trusted sites" in your browser.  

I am having difficulty exporting references from EBSCO databases (Academic Search Premier, MLA).

Unfortunately, RefWorks can be a bit buggy in EBSCO Host databases.  Consider working in Firefox instead of Internet Explorer.  Consider logging out of RefWorks, logging back in and trying to export citations again.  If you are in a class setting and many students are exporting at the same time, consider staggering your exports to avoid overloading the EBSCO system.  EBSCO is aware of this problem and is working to resolve the issue.   

I am having difficulty exporting references from Web of Science.

In order to export directly from Web of Science, you must first log in to RefWorks.  Once you're logged in to your RefWorks account, check the citations you'd like to export and then click "Save to RefWorks" in Web of Science.

I use EndNote.  How do I transfer my references from EndNote to RefWorks? 

It is fairly easy to switch to RefWorks from other bibliographic management programs like EndNote.  Check RefWorks' specific instructions for importing citations from EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager or other tools.

I'd like to share my RefWorks citations and have multiple users access my account simultaneously -- is that possible? 

Yes.  Every account has two types of access:  full and read-only.  Full access requires every user to log in with the same login name and password.  Read-only requires users to log in with the login name and an established read-only password.  Read-only access allows people to search, export and print bibliographies, but not add, edit or delete references.  In addition, each record in a database has fifteen empty fields ("User Defined 1 thru 15") that may be used to record comments from group members. 

Multiple users may access RefWorks accounts simultaneously.

RefWorks is not creating my bibliography correctly -- I get an error message or long list of characters. 

First, make sure that the information in your RefWorks citation are correct.  If there is extra punctuation in the citations, for instance, the references will transfer incorrectly into Word.  

If  you are using Word 2007, save your docx file as a doc file, and re-run the Bib function. 

If this doesn’t work OR if you are using Word 2003, do the following:
Open your document and log in to Write N Cite. After you have logged in, click on Tools > Revert to WNC V.2 Document and revert the document. Then save the document. After saving, from within Write N Cite, click on Tools > Convert to WNC III Document > Convert. After the document is converted, save the document. Then try creating your bibliography again.

Records I export from databases do not appear in my Last Imported Folder.

Be sure that the pop-up blocker is disabled in your web browser (In Firefox, choose Tools > Options > Content, and uncheck "Block pop-up windows"; in Internet Explorer, choose Tools > Internet Options > Privacty Options, and uncheck "Turn on pop-up blockers.")

I’m a Mac user -- will Write N Cite work with my computer? 

Yes, there is a version of Write-N-Cite specifically for the Mac.  You need to be running Mac OS 10.X version 3 or higher Word for Mac 98 or higher.

I am leaving Duke -- how can I save my RefWorks library?

You may back up your citations on your computer by using the Backup/Restore feature. Select Tools, then Backup/Restore. You’ll then be presented with the option to Include References and/or Include Output Styles. Click on the Perform Backup button. All folders with citations are automatically included.  A copy of your database will be downloaded to your computer in a zipped file that may only be used in the Restore feature of RefWorks.  When you restore your RefWorks database, it overwrites all information currently stored in your account. 

If you move to an organization that subscribes to RefWorks, you will be able to Import your references into your new account.  To do this, select Tools, Backup/Restore and use the restore option to add the .zip or .rwb file to your new account.  You can also export your reference data in several formats using one of RefWorks Export options.

If your institution does not have RefWorks, you may purchase an individual subscription to RefWorks.

My question isn't answered here -- how may I learn more?

Check RefWorks FAQs or RefWorks Help for more info, or contact RefWorks Tech Support/Customer Service directly.