About RefWorks

RefWorks is a web-based citation management and formatting program that is free for UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, staff and students.

Getting Started with RefWorks

Step 1: Creating your account

Step 2: Access and use off-campus

Step 3: Creating your database

Step 4: Creating & formatting a paper and bibliography

Troubleshooting Write-N-Cite

More information and help with RefWorks

Step 1: Creating your account

Sign up for an Individual Account
Create an account to begin using RefWorks.

Step 2: Access and use off campus

• always access RefWorks from links on our library web pages
• create a bookmark or shortcut to the following address:
  http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/

Frequently Asked Questions

Step 3: Creating your database

There are a number of ways to add citations to your RefWorks account:

• Use the direct export feature found in many databases
• Import from saved text files
• Add references manually
• Convert to RefWorks from other bibliographic formatting programs including: EndNote, Reference Manager, Pro Cite, Papyrus

Export instructions for specific databases (i.e. PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science)

Downloading from PubMed into RefWorks

Step 4: Creating and formatting a paper and bibliography

There are four ways to create output in RefWorks. You can:

• Use Write-N-Cite to format your paper from within Word


• Use the One Line/Cite View to cite references


• Create a Reference List


Use RefWorks to format your paper

Additional 'Help' can be found within RefWorks under 'Output and Formatting'

Using Write-N-Cite

Most people prefer using Write-N-Cite for creating formatted references and bibliographies. There are a few preliminary steps to take to use this part of the RefWorks program

1. Download Write-N-Cite
2. Install Write-N-Cite

Important tip: Using Write-N-Cite off-campus

Off-campus Write-N-Cite (WNC) users need to make one quick change after downloading and installing WNC:

For Windows:

1. Select the Start Button-->Programs-->RefWorks-->WNC Configuration Utility
2. Paste in the following URL:
   http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/?WNC=true
3. Click OK
4. WNC should now be configured. You will be prompted for your Onyen and password when WNC starts

For Macs:

1. Open Write-N-Cite--> From the toolbar at the top of the screen, select the Write-N-Cite menu (toolbar maybe hidden by the WNC window)-->Preferences--> Select Proxy
2. Paste in the following URL:
   http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.refworks.com/Refworks/?WNC=true
3. Restart Write-N-Cite
4. WNC should now be configured. You will be prompted for your Onyen and password when WNC starts

Troubleshooting Write-N-Cite problems

Off Campus Access

If you are using a Mac or Word 2007, follow the directions below to set up Write-N-Cite (WNC) for off campus access.

Group Code:
You can get the Group Code by following this link . Enter it as prompted by WNC. This option is recommended for Mac users, Word 2007 users, for those using beta versions of WNC, and for anyone experiencing access problems. Access to the Group Code is limited to current UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates.

Write-N-Cite and Word 2007 problems

There are compatibility issues with Write-N-Cite and Word 2007.

Solution: Write-N-Cite is compatible with Word 2007 for Windows, as long as you select the Word 97-2003 format (*.doc) instead of the Word 2007 (*.docx) format when saving your documents.

Alternatively users can choose to download the Write-N-Cite III (Beta Version).

More information and help with RefWorks:

• Ask-A-Librarian
• RefWorks help from Academic Affairs libraries
• Web site: http://www.refworks.com/
• Phone: 775/327-4105
• Email: Info@refworks.com