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Citation Management

Citation Manager FAQs

Get PubMed References into a Citation Management Software

Follow these steps to export records from PubMed:

  1. Select a record in PubMed
  2. Select the option to 'Save'
  3. Select the appropriate option for the selection of results.
  4. Under 'Format' select 'PubMed'
  5. Select 'Create File'
  6. Save the file as .txt
  7. Open citation management software (Ex: EndNote, RefWorks, or Zotero)
  8. Select 'File Import'
  9. Choose the saved PubMed .txt file
  10. From the import option pull down menu, select the 'PubMed NLM import' filter
  11. Select 'Import'

Watch Video: Importing Records from PubMed into EndNote  

Choose a citation manager that best meets your requirements. EndNote, RefWorks, Mendeley, and Zotero each come with respective strengths and weaknesses, but all offer the same basic features:

  • Export a batch of references from a database
  • Organize references in folders 
  • Share citations with research groups
  • Create a bibliography of citations in a variety of styles
  • Add a Microsoft Word plug-in that allows citation while you write on the document

Compare Citation Managers

Johns Hopkins affiliates get discounted access to RefWorks and EndNote.

RefWorks (free to Hopkins affiliates)

Visit RefWorks and select "Johns Hopkins Institutions" to get started.

EndNote Desktop (Discount for Faculty and Staff)

Visit Johns Hopkins Information Technology Services and search "EndNote" for current pricing information.

EndNote Desktop (Discount for Students)

Visit https://onthehub.com and navigate to the Johns Hopkins University profile to view current EndNote pricing information.

Citation Management Questions

Contact Ivy Linwood Garner, Senior Reference Specialist, with questions at (410) 955-3410 or ilg@jhmi.edu.

The OpenURL (Resolver) for finding full-text at Johns Hopkins is https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/discovery/openurl?institution=01JHU_INST&vid=01JHU_INST:JHU

The authentication URL for finding full-text at Johns Hopkins is http://proxy.library.jhu.edu/

RefWorks FAQs

RefWorks Citation Manager (RCM) is an add-on for Microsoft Word that enables you to run a simplified version of RefWorks inside Word. RCM is a newer, more modern version of Write-n-Cite.

RCM is available through the Microsoft Store and can be installed directly from Microsoft Word. By default, Office automatically updates RCM whenever a new version becomes available.

RefWorks for Google Docs is an add-on for Google Docs that enables you to run a simplified version of RefWorks inside of Google Docs. RefWorks for Google Docs enables you to access and cite your references while working in Google Docs. For more information about installing and using RefWorks for Google Docs, please see: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/RefWorks/Product_Documentation/RefWorks_User_Guide/0500_RefWorks_Add-ons%3A_Connecting_Your_Browser%2C_Microsoft_Word%2C_and_Google_Docs_to_RefWorks/003_RefWorks_for_Google_Docs

Follow these steps to import citations from Legacy RefWorks into current version of RefWorks:

  1. In RefWorks, click on the + sign, and click Import References from the drop down menu.
  2. On the Import references page, click the Legacy RefWorks box, and then click Authorize when prompted.
  3. At the login screen, log in using RefWorks credentials to complete the import.

The import could take as long as a few minutes.

Export EndNote references to RefWorks by following these steps:

  1. In EndNote, select 'File Menu,' then 'Output Styles'
  2. Select 'RefMan (RIS) Export' for the output style (Note: if the RIS format is not found, open the Style Manager and check the 'RefMan' format. Close the Style Manager and repeat the step.)
  3. Select the references to export
  4. Select the 'Reference' menu, choose 'Show Selected' (or 'Show All' to export the entire database)
  5. Select the 'File' menu, choose 'Export' 
  6. When the dialog box appears, select a location to save the exported file
  7. Type a file name, then select a location for importing into RefWorks
  8. Save the file in the .txt format and choose 'Save'
  9. Open RefWorks, and click the Add icon in the top menu
  10. Choose Import References from the drop-down menu
  11. Drag or select the file to be imported
  12. The file import format will be RIS Format. Select either EndNote Macintosh OR EndNote Windows (depending on your computer) from the drop-down box
  13. Choose 'Import' at the bottom of the import window
  14. The records should automatically appear in the Last Imported folder

For general questions, contact Johns Hopkins RefWorks Support at refworks@jhmi.edu.

Requests for classes, demonstrations, individual instruction, or questions and problems can be directed to Ivy Linwood Garner, Senior Reference Specialist, at (410) 955-3410 or ilg@jhmi.edu, or Donna Hesson, Public Health Informationist, at (410) 955-3028 or dhesson@jhmi.edu.

Contact RefWorks directly at (800) 889-3358 or support@refworks.com or chat at https://support.proquest.com/s/chat?language=en_US

Getting started with RefWorks

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management tool that allows the creation of personal bibliographic reference databases. References are automatically imported from database searches but can also be entered manually.

RefWorks is licensed for staff, students, and faculty by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. Activate a RefWorks account by authenticating using JHED credentials.

Get Help with RefWorks Tutorials

View the LibGuides RefWorks Videos for help. Topics include:

  1. Getting Started with RefWorks
  2. Advanced RefWorks features

RefWorks Legacy will be discontinued on June 30, 2023. As it is an older version of RefWorks, it is not as compatible with newer computers and newer versions of word processing software. Additionally, new users cannot sign up for accounts using this version of RefWorks. Given these factors, Welch Library staff have decided to remove the link to RefWorks Legacy from the library’s website homepage. Current users of RefWorks Legacy are urged to convert to RefWorks as soon as they can, and definitely before June 30, 2023.

Technical support for RefWorks Legacy is still available online.

Active JHED users can access RefWorks.

Institutions that maintain a current subscription to RefWorks will be able to extend continued access to alumni.

Use RefWorks as an Alumnus

BEFORE graduation, update the RefWorks account to an Alumni Role

  1. While in RefWorks, click on your username in the upper right corner of the page
  2. Select "Settings.”
  3. Go to the Role menu and select Alumni
  4. In the email box at the bottom of the page update the email address
  5. Click the “Save” button at the bottom of the page