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The University of Bolton Library

RefWorks

Importing your existing references into RefWorks

If you've used another reference management tool in the past, you can import your existing references to New RefWorks. Look up the relevant reference manager below and follow the steps described.

RefWorks (the older version aka "Legacy RefWorks")

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

If you have an institutional RefWorks account (your school or organization provides access to you), you may see an option within your legacy RefWorks account to “Move to the newest version of RefWorks”.
Legacy RefWorks image showing Move to Newest Version in upper left corner
 
Or you can bring your RefWorks data into the New RefWorks from within your New RefWorks account via Import references. Read more here.
 
New RefWorks showing Add a Reference Icon with Import References selected
 

​EndNote

You can easily import your EndNote into your RefWorks account:In EndNote, go to Edit > Output Styles > Open Style Manager.

  1. Check “RefMan (RIS) Export”.
  2. In your EndNote library, select the references you would like to export.
  3. Go to File > Export and save the file, making sure the output styles field is set to “RefMan (RIS) Export”.
  4. In RefWorks, click the Add a reference icon , then select Import References
  5. 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
  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 , 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 , 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 , 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.