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Citation Management Tools: Zotero

This guide will help you use Zotero to manage your references and create bibliographies in any citation style

Exporting your references from RefWork to Zotero

Moving your RefWorks Citations to Zotero

To move your RefWorks citations to Zotero, you will export them from RefWorks and then import them to Zotero. If you have the Zotero Connector (a browser extension), you will export your citations directly to your Zotero Library. If you don't have Zotero Connector, you will export your references to your local computer, and then import them to Zotero. 

What transfers automatically and what doesn't

Most elements of your citations will automatically transfer when you export and import your citations from RefWorks to Zotero, but some do not: you can still transfer these elements if you need them, but you will have to do so manually. Review the table and the steps for moving citations for more information.  

Citation elements: automatic or manual transfer
Citation element Transfer method Transfer Method Details
Attachments (i.e. full-text article PDFs) Manual  In RefWorks, click Share > Export attachments; you will receive an email with a link to download a Zip file of all of your attachments. Next, add each one to the corresponding citation in your Zotero library

Citation information (i.e. title, author, DOI, etc.)

 Automatic No extra steps needed
Folder structure Manual  Instead of exporting your RefWorks citations all at once, export one folder at a time and then import each export file to the corresponding folder in your Zotero library
Notes you added to citations (e.g. items) Automatic No extra steps needed
Tags you added to citations (e.g. items) Automatic No extra steps needed

Steps for moving citations from your RefWorks Library to your Zotero Library

Follow the steps below to get your citations, notes, and attachments (if you select include attachments) from RefWorks to Zotero.

1. If you haven't already, download Zotero and Zotero Connector to your computer, and create a free Zotero account. Instructions for setting up Zotero are in this research guide: click the Zotero tab on the left, and then click the sub-tab Getting Started and Installation. If you need help, contact a librarian. 

2. Go to RefWorks.proquest.com  and sign in using your Macalester email and the password you created for RefWorks

3. In your RefWorks library, select the references (i.e. items/citations) you want to add to your Zotero library

  • If you do not need to retain folder structure, you can check the Select All box at the top or you can choose All References later (see Step 4)
  • If you would like to retain the folder structure you used in RefWorks, you can do this manually by creating a corresponding folder in Zotero (called a Collection) and exporting and importing references from one folder at a time. 

4. Click the Share button (top tool bar), and when the dropdown menu appears, select Export References

5. In the window that appears, select the following options:

  • For From, select Selected References or All References
  • For Format, select RIS format
  • For ID Output, select RefWorks Default

6. Click the Export button. If you have Zotero Connector installed in your browser, another window will appear asking if you'd like to automatically import the items from RefWorks straight to your Zotero library. It should say "Zotero Connector: Import items from refworks.proquest.com into Zotero?" If you see this window, click the Ok button. Check your Zotero library to make sure everything has been imported, and then you're done!

7. If you didn't see this second window and your RefWorks citations are not yet in your Zotero Library, you will need to find them on your local computer. Navigate to your downloads folder on your local computer, and click the RIS file that you just downloaded. Zotero should open up and the files should import automatically.