K-State Libraries: RefWorks

Errors with Write-n-Cite 2.5 for Mac

I've heard from a couple of people who upgraded to the newer Write-n-Cite for Mac and now can't get Write-n-Cite to actually insert the citations from the Write-n-Cite screen to their Word for Mac document.  This seems to be happening with older versions of Word for Mac.  RefWorks is aware of the problem and working to de-bug it.

If this has happened to you, please contact RefWorks (support@refworks.com) and explain the problem.  I understand that they may be able to send you the file to download the older version of Write-n-Cite for Mac.  If they're still identifying the exact nature of the bug, they may also be interested in knowing what version of Word for Mac you are using.

**Corrected**Current Awareness with RefAware

Registered users of RefWorks now have access to RefAware, a web-based current awareness service that, according to RefWorks, covers 8,000 peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed sources.  This is a new resource so we're working at learning it.  But it's a free addition to our RefWorks subscription, so it can't hurt to try it!

Sorry, RefAware is not a free add on.  However, we do have a trial running from today (June 27) and ending July 10th.  If you are a K-Stater and set up a trial account, it will go away sometime on July 11th.

Below is information from RefWorks about creating an account and getting started. Please let us know if you would find this service valuable.  You can post a comment to this post, contact me or contact your subject librarian.

Creating an Account:

               1.  Go to:   http://www.refaware.com 

(Note:  In order to sign-up for an Account, a first-time user must do so with an email address of the organization’s domain name.)

2.  Click on Create a New Account.

3.  Enter user information and create password. 

4.  Click on the Create Account button to finalize. 

5.  An email will be sent confirming registration.

 

Setting up User Profile:

 

Once the registered user has created an account, they can customize their “Account Preferences” under the User Profile area within the program.  The preferences include the ability to: 

 

• Change Password and Login Information
• Set-Up  Email Alert Frequency
• Select Discipline Specific Coverage
• Link RefAware to a RefWorks Account. 
• Change User Default Settings

 

The user is now ready to create their search strategies.

 

Creating Search Strategies:

· Click on Create Search Strategies, and then type in the Strategy Name. 

· Select the first criterion (Term, Author or Journal) that you want to include in your strategy by clicking on the Search Criteria drop-down box.  Enter the information in the text box. 

· Click on Add Search Criteria.  Your criteria will be displayed in the Criteria List. Add additional criteria by making a new selection in the Search Criteria drop-down box. Each line is separated by a logical “OR”; in other words, the results of your Strategy will include all articles that meet ANY of the criteria on individual lines of your strategy.

· Once you have completed your strategy, click the Save or Save & View Results button.

Further assistance on establishing search strategies can be found via online Help. 

Update your Write-n-Cite

RefWorks has updated Write-n-Cite for both Mac and PCs. 

According to Refworks, Write-n-Cite III for PCs includes the following features:

• MS Vista and Word 2007 compatability
• Also compatible with XP and Word 2003
• Single document formatting
• Faster formatting for large documents
• Includes Ability to Write and Format Papers Offline

and Write-n-Cite 2.5 for Macs includes:

• Microsoft Word for Mac 98 and up (including Word 2008) compatible
• Mac OS X version 10.3 or later (including Leopard)

You can download Write-n-Cite and learn more about the upgrades at:
http://www.refworks.com/Refworks/WNCDownload.asp

The computing labs on campus will have Write-n-Cite III as part of the summer upgrades.

RefWorks and Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac

Did you just buy a new computer or upgrade to Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac?  And now nothing happens when you click on Cite in Write-n-Cite?

Shoot me an email (skearns at ksu.edu).  I have a patch from RefWorks that is in beta and may help.

Compendex, Engineering Village and RefWorks

Here are brief instructions and a video tutorial for export references out of Compendex and into RefWorks.

1.  Mark the box next to the records I want
2.  Click on the Download button (it's one of the blue buttons at the top of the search results screen)
3. Choose RefWorks direct import (this will come up as a pop-up screen)
4. If you aren't already logged in to RefWorks, another window will pop-up or open and request your log in information
5. Once you are logged in, RefWorks will automatically import the citations

Video--there is sound (me, talking) on this video.  Depending on your preferences, you'll want to either turn on the sound on your computer or turn it down--the volume is sometimes a little excessive.

Write-n-Cite Runtime Error **fixed**

We've just started seeing a runtime error with all versions of Write-n-Cite, on personal laptops and in the computer labs.  Read the post on Talking in the Library for more information.

Update--March 3, 2008--this seems to be fixed.

Creating a reading list in K-State Online

This rough tutorial demonstrates how to create a reading list in RefWorks and post it in a K-State Online class.  This takes advantage of the Get It! button and the attachment feature in RefWorks.  The tutorial runs 5 minutes and you'll want to have your speakers on (unless my voice annoys you.)

This works best with citations in a folder.

1. From your RefWorks account, click on Tools/Share References
2. Select the folder you want to share by clicking on the Share Folder box to the right of it.
3. The next screen offers a load of options for what your students can see or do with the references.  I strongly recommend clicking on Show Attachments in References if you have attached pdfs or other documents to any of the references you're sharing.
4. Hit the Save button at the bottom of the page.
5. Copy the URL of the Shared Folder.
6. In K-State Online, decide where you want the link to live.  My example was in the announcements, but there are probably more effective places to locate it.

Basically, when your students click on the link, they'll see a page that looks like RefWorks.  This page lists the citations.  To the right of every citation is the Get It button.  Clicking on that will lead them to the article if we have it online through one of our databases.

If you are including something that isn't available through our databases or ejournals, but you've scanned it and attached it to the reference in RefWorks, they should see a paperclip.  Clicking on View will permit students to access the scanned article.

Errors with Write-n-Cite

Very, very occasionally, a Write-n-Cite will be unable to process your Word document.  The usual error you might see with Write-n-Cite is that it is unable to find cites in your document or that it has already been run through Write-n-Cite.

However, another error can occur when your file size is too big, usually because of graphics.  Basically, the size of the file makes it stall out.  One solution is to strip out the graphics, run the file through Write-n-Cite, and then load the graphics again.

As I said, this happens very rarely, but is a possible reason for your Write-n-Cite error message.

Searching and importing records from K-State Libraries catalog when in RefWorks

To search and import records from the catalog when in RefWorks:

1. Click the Search tab
2. Choose Online Catalog or Database
3. From the new search screen, select Kansas State University as the catalog or database to search
4. You may search one of several ways: Quick Search tends to search for keywords, but if you have an author or title, you can search by those fields
5. Click Search (hitting the Enter key won't do anything)
6. RefWorks usually opens a new window at this point with a list of search results
7. Review the search results and click the check box next to each title you want to import (if you want all of them, you can also select the Page or All in List button)
8. [Optional] If you want the references to go into a specific folder, use the Import to Folder drop down to select the folder
9. Click Import
10. RefWorks will import the citations into your account.  When I do it, RefWorks goes back to my first RefWorks screen/tab and gives me the Import Completed message there.  If you cannot find that page, simply click on View/Folders/Last Imported.

Quick Tutorials

I'm trying something new today.  I recently learned about the software Jing.  With Jing, I can create short tutorials (up to five minutes). I did a little experimenting with RefWorks and created a couple of short tutorials based on my frequently asked questions.  I'll forewarn you that I made them quick and dirty and didn't polish them up.

I am speaking on these, so you'll want to have your speakers on, otherwise they won't make too much sense.   

If they don't play properly for you, you may need to download Adobe Flash Player (it's free).

Create a Refworks Account
Basics of Write-n-Cite

Future scintillating tutorials may include: what to do if you've forgotten your password, what's a Group Code?, using RefWorks with "x" database, and others.  I'm open to suggestions for others, too.

On an ADA/accessibility note, I do plan to write up the step-by-step instructions offered in the tutorials or link to pre-existing instructions.