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Migrating from RefWorks to a Replacement: New RefWorks Export


IMPORTANT: When migrating from RefWorks to your new reference manager, you have the option of exporting your references all at once or one folder at a time. Doing so one folder at a time is a more time-consuming process, but is probably more practical to most users.

Separate instructions for each method are listed below.

Exporting from New RefWorks (one folder at a time)

If you want to maintain the same folder structure in your new reference manager, you should export your citations from RefWorks one folder at a time.

It's recommended that you save each export file created below with the name of the folder, so each is easily identifiable when importing to your new reference manager.

  1. Login to your New RefWorks account.
  2. Click My Folders (from the left navigation pane) and select a folder for export from the list.
  3. Check the Select All box (just above your list of references) and click the Share icon. 
  4. Choose Export References.
  5. Choose the following options:
    • From:
      All references in 'Folder Name'
    • Format:
      BibTeX (if migrating to Mendeley or Zotero)
      RIS Format (if migrating to EndNote)
    • Click Export
  6. Make note of where you export/save the file, because you'll need it to import into your new reference manager.
  7. Repeat these steps for each folder, then follow the import instructions for your new reference manager.

Exporting from New RefWorks (all at once)

If you don't need to maintain the same folder structure in your new reference manager, exporting your citations all at once is a much quicker option.

  1. Login to your New RefWorks account.
  2. Click All Documents (upper left of screen), check the Select All box (just above your list of references) and click the Share icon. 
  3. Choose Export References.
  4. Choose the following options:
    • From:
      All references in 'All Documents'
    • Format:
      BibTeX (if migrating to Mendeley or Zotero)
      RIS Format (if migrating to EndNote)
    • Click Export
  5. Make note of where you export/save the file, because you'll need it to import into your new reference manager.