Frequently Asked Questions - RefWorks

• At this time using a proxy configuration with Write-N-Cite on a Mac may cause errors. If this happens, an alternative is to access it via group code.
• First time users of Write-N-Cite (WNC):
  • when you download and run WNC, it will ask you for a group code. You got his group code in your RefWorks welcome email, but if you don't have a record of it, you can get it mailed to you
• Previous WNC users who are encountering errors:
  • un-install your proxy configuration:
    • start up WNC
    • when Word opens, click on the WNC window again
    • from the main WNC menu bar, select Preferences > Proxy, and delete the proxy server url
  • quit and restart WNC
  • you will prompted for a group code.You got his group code in your RefWorks welcome email, but if you don't have a record of it, you can get it mailed to you
     

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Method 1: Set Google Scholar Preferences

To set up the import to RefWorks feature in Google Scholar:

1. go to Google Scholar using this proxied URL: http://libaccess.mcmaster.ca/login?url=http://scholar.google.com/
2. log in using your MAC ID or LibAccess credentials
3. click on "Scholar Preferences" from the menu displayed when the cog/wheel icon is selected in the upper right of the screen
4. scroll down to "Bibliography Manager"
5. select "RefWorks" from the drop-down menu
   
6. click the "Save Preferences" button 
   
7. an "Import into RefWorks" link should appear below each citation in your Google Scholar search results
8. click the "Import into RefWorks" link
   
9. if you are logged into RefWorks, a pop up page will confirm the import; if you are not already logged into RefWorks, you will be prompted to enter your RefWorks username and password

Method 2: Get it @ Mac Links

If your reference has a get it @ mac or a find it @ mac link you can use it to import to RefWorks:

1. click on the get it @ mac link (to the right of the reference) or find it @ mac link (below the reference)
2. at the bottom of the pop-up, new window, or new tab, click "More Options"
3. click "Add this citation to RefWorks (brief citation only)"

Method 3: RefGrab-it

• you can use the RefGrab-It tool if no other direct export option exists, but this will work only under certain circumstances (i.e. if there is an ISBN, PubMed ID, or doi number on the web page)
• to install RefGrab-It log in to RefWorks and look under Tools > RefGrab-It

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• log in to RefWorks
• from the Search menu select Online Catalog or Database
• under Online Catalog or Database to Search, select McMaster University
• select the maximum number of references you want to download
• type your search strategy in the Quick Search box or in the Advanced Search lines and click Search

Viewing search results

• the progress of the search displays with each reference represented by a # mark
• the progress of the import displays in a RefWorks temporary window – each reference represented by an asterisk *
• the results of your search are shown in a RefWorks search results window; this window functions much like the reference view window in RefWorks, however these records are not in your database until you choose to import them
• to view the details of a reference, click the View link next to the reference
• keep in mind that the search results window is a temporary window, and the references appearing here are lost when you close the RefWorks program or you perform another online search

Importing references

• to permanently import references into your database, select the references you want to import
• either click the Import button or select a folder from the list
• references are always placed in the Last Imported folder as they are when you import from the main program
• if you have designated your default source type as electronic in the Tools, Customize area, the Electronic Source Related Fields will appear for you to update

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If you get the error message "Unauthorized, please verify your login information." when you log in to RefMobile, check that:

1. you are logging in to http://refworks.scholarsportal.info/mobile/, not refworks.com
2. you are using upper and lowercase letters for the McMaster group code; since the code is case sensitive, the capital and small letters must be typed correctly
    

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RefWorks is a web-based citation management tool that allows you to:

• create your own personal database of references imported from text files or online databases
• create footnotes, in-text references and bibliographies in the style you choose, in seconds (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.)
• access your references any time, from any computer with an Internet connection

RefWorks is freely available to all currently registered McMaster students, and all staff and faculty.

Resources

• Quick Start Guide
• Online Tutorial
• RefWorks Fact Sheet
• RefWorks Help Files
• FAQ
• Library Presentation Slides
• Health Sciences Library RefWorks Training

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• RefGrab-It is a feature within RefWorks that allows users to capture data from web sites and seamlessly add them to RefWorks with a single click
• there are two versions of RefGrab-It: a bookmarklet version, and a plug-in version 
• these are available for both Internet Explorer and Firefox

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• you will be able to access your McMaster RefWorks account until your MAC ID expires
• while you still have access to your McMaster RefWorks account, you can export your reference data to another citation manager (e.g. Reference Manager, Endnote, etc.) using one of RefWorks' Export options
• alternatively, while you still have access to your McMaster account, you can convert your McMaster RefWorks account to an individual subscription, or if you have access to a new organizational RefWorks subscription, you can move your account
• more information about purchasing an individual subscription is available at the RefWorks corporate website
  
• to move your account, select Tools, Backup/Restore and make a backup of your database.  You will be prompted to save a .zip or .rwb file to your computer.  In your new account, select Tools, Backup/Restore and use the restore option to add the .zip or .rwb file to your new account. 

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Firewalls, pop-up blockers and third-party toolbars may interfere with your ability to use RefWorks and/or Write-N-Cite.

• make sure any internet security or firewall software is specifically configured to allow both RefWorks and Write-N-Cite, which appears as a separate program from RefWorks
• either disable pop-up blockers OR tell your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups from RefWorks
• clearing your browser cache and cookies may also be necessary
   

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Your browser or personal firewall or security software may be blocking pop-ups.  Pop-up blockers can interfere with several areas of RefWorks. You have 3 options. You can:

• disable pop-up blockers
• tell your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups from RefWorks
• save your references as text a text file (.txt) and import into RefWorks 

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1. Go to the library homepage and on the left side of the screen under "Popular Links", click on RefWorks, and log in using your MAC ID or your LibAccess logon.
2. You should now be able to get to the RefWorks login page without using the group code.
3. Once you're at that page, simply click on "Forgot your log-in?", and RefWorks will immediately email your RefWorks password and the McMaster group code to the email address you supplied when you set up your RefWorks account.
4. You now have the group code to use when needed.

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This is due to IE's Phishing Filter (a new feature to IE7) that evaluates web page contents. Microsoft has a downloadable patch that can rectify this. You can download the patch here.

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