How to Export Citations from RefWorks to Zotero
Are you currently a RefWorks user and want to transition your citation library to Zotero? Watch the short video below, or follow the step-by-step instructions on how to easily transfer your RefWorks library to Zotero.
1. Open RefWorks. If you want to keep your citations in their folders, you will want to export them to Zotero one folder at a time. Otherwise, you can export them all at once by selecting “All References.”
2. Select “Share.”
3. Select “Export References.”
4. In the pop-up screen, (depending on which option you decided on in Step 2) select either “All References" or All References In ‘Your Folder Name’.
5. Select “RIS Format” and click Export.
6. If you have the Zotero app on your computer, when you click “Open File” in the Downloads folder, the Zotero app will automatically open and ask “Do you want to import the file ‘filename.ris’?” Click OK. It may take a few seconds, but your items will appear in your library on the left.
OR
You can save the downloaded file to your Desktop and proceed with Step 10.
7. Once you have a folder saved to your Desktop, go to Zotero, and click File, Import.
8. In the popup screen, select “A File (BibTeX, RIS, Zotero RDF, etc.).” Click Next.
9. Choose the file from your Desktop.
10. From the pop-up screen, choose the default selections:
a. “Place imported collections and items into a new collection.”
b. “Copy files to the Zotero storage folder.”
c. Click Next.
11. The folder will appear in the Zotero library with the same file name you named it.
NOTE: These steps will NOT export any PDFs you have saved in your RefWorks account. You can download them to your desktop, then drag and drop them into your Zotero citation to add them back in.
If you have questions on how to complete these steps, please contact a librarian via chat or email and we will be happy to assist.