Bibliographic software enables you to store and manage your references electronically and automatically generate bibliographies in a variety of styles. The Open University supports the following reference managers:
This page provides information about both applications and some other free software which has similar functionality. It also contains information about setting up the Papers system for Macs to access resources through the Open University subscriptions.
For more general guidance on referencing see Referencing and plagiarism.
MyReferences
The Open University MyReferences tool aims to improve referencing skills and prevent plagiarism. MyReferences will help you to organise your references and create a bibliography in an approved citation style. MyReferences' simple interface is ideal if you are new to referencing and would like to use an automated tool. If you would like to use additional functionality, you can easily progress from MyReferences to RefWorks. References saved to MyReferences are automatically stored in RefWorks. MyReferences includes a link to your own RefWorks account where you can view and edit your references and create a bibliography.
This short animation introduces MyReferences:
Transcript for Library Shorts: Introducing MyReferences
You can use MyReferences to:
- Add references manually or from database searches
- Select a referencing style and create a bibliography enabling you to insert citations and bibliographies/reference lists into assignments.
- Export references to other bibliographic software and share your references in your Open University blog postings, forums and wikis.
For guidance on how to add, import, view, delete and edit references, how to manage folders, how to create a bibliography and how to export and share references using MyReferences, please see the MyReferences section in the Computing Guide.
RefWorks
RefWorks is a web-based bibliography manager that allows you to
- import references from online databases
- automatically add references to webpages using the RefGrab-It tool
- create a bibliography in Open University (Harvard) reference style. The 'Open University (Harvard)' style is included with other referencing styles available in RefWorks (choose 'Bibliography' and select 'Output Style Manager')
You can also use RefWorks to store files within a reference (up to 5mb each, with a 100mb limit per user). Refworks is based in the
How do I access RefWorks and create an account?
RefWorks is freely available to current Open University students and staff. You will be invited to create an account the first time you access RefWorks (you may be asked for your Open University computer username and password at a 'Sign into the OU website' page).
- If you have not used RefWorks before, RefWorks will open at a 'Login to your RefWorks Account' page displaying a 'Create an account at Open University' window
- Add your email address at 'Step 1: Account Information' and select 'Next'
- At 'Step 2: User Information' add your name, choose the most appropriate options from the 'Area of Focus' and 'Type of User' menus, and select 'Create Account'
- You will receive an email from RefWorks to confirm your registration
- Should you need to update your email address or name after you have created your RefWorks account, select the Update Profile option within RefWorks to revise your registration details (please do not amend the information in the 'Login Name' box).
How do I find out how RefWorks works?
RefWorks has produced a variety of support material to help you get started and learn about advanced features available from RefWorks:
- RefWorks Fundamentals Tutorial
Some databases will let you directly save selected references to RefWorks. This collection of short tutorials shows how to use this and other options to add content to RefWorks. It also shows how to create a quick bibliography. Choose 'Help' within RefWorks and select 'Tutorial'.
The RefWorks imports pages shows which databases will let you directly save references to RefWorks. - RefWorks 2.0 Quick Start Guide
This step-by-step guide includes instructions showing how to attach a file to a reference. It also shows how to use RefWorks to add citations and references to a Word document using the One Line/Cite View and Write-N-Cite options. - Introduction to RefWorks
This guidance includes step-by-step instructions and videos showing how to save content to RefWorks, create and organise folders to manage your references and produce a bibliography in a selected referencing style. - RefWorks YouTube channel
This collection of short tutorials includes a RefWorks Advanced video, showing how to set up an RSS feed within RefWorks and save relevant references. It also shows how to search RefWorks and use the ‘My List’ option to create a bibliography from references saved to different folders. - RefWorks Help File
Further information is available from the Help File within RefWorks. - How to use RefWorks
This online training session is available from the Library.
RefWorks 'Classic' interface
The RefWorks interface has been redesigned and now has a new look. The new interface, 'RefWorks 2.0', is the view you will now see when you login to RefWorks. The original RefWorks interface, 'RefWorks Classic', has been closed and the option to switch to this view has been removed from RefWorks. Some people may encounter problems using the Output Style Manager in RefWorks. For example, Mozilla Firefox web browser users might be unable to move an output style from the 'List of Output Styles' menu to their collection of 'Favorites'. Switching to an alternative web browser for this process should remedy the problem.
Write-N-Cite
RefWorks has released a new version of Write-N-Cite for Mac computers. This version will work with Word 2008 and 2011. It is available to download from the RefWorks 'Tools' menu. Use the 'Login Code' provided to access Write-N-Cite. A new version of Write-N-Cite for Windows computers will be available soon. Alternatively, the RefWorks 'One Line/Cite View' option will let you add citations and references to a Word document. This option is available from the RefWorks 'Change View' menu.
Some users have reported problems using the versions of Write-N-Cite currently available for Windows computers with Word 2007. It is also possible that security software installed on your computer may prevent Write-N-Cite from downloading or running correctly. Further information is available on our Help and Support page.
How can I access my references after I've finished my module?
When you finish your module access to all electronic library resources, including RefWorks, will be withdrawn due to licence agreements with suppliers. If you wish to keep your references choose from one of the options below. Make sure you do this before the end of your studies
- You can pay to subscribe to the service as an individual from the RefWorks website and then backup all your references from your OU account and restore them into your new personal account.
- Export your references from Refworks as either a BibText or RIS file and import them into another package. Some examples are given below, but note that they may not offer the same level of functionality as RefWorks.
EndNote
EndNote will enable you to:
- organise, store and manage your references
- create bibliographies automatically
- directly import references from databases (e.g Web of Science) and library catalogues
Update required for EndNote X2
Endnote X2 does not import references with the year 2010 correctly i.e. it leaves out the year 2010. To correct this you can download some updates. Instructions on how to do this can be found at http://www.endnote.com/support/ENX201_winMac_updater.asp
How do I get the software?
The software is available for on-campus users and those based at the OU regional centres through the Information Technology service. To access the software visit the Training and Desktop Support Team's elective software page.
OU students not based on campus who would still like to use EndNote are able to purchase it at a discount from Adept Scientific.
- Click on to 'return to login in home'.
- Click on 'my institution is still a member of Athens'
- Type 'open' in the search box and select 'The Open University (Athens)'
- Click on 'general resources to athens resources'
- You will then be redirected to the purchase page.
How do I find out how EndNote works?
- View the online tutorials or attend a webinar, provided by EndNote.
- For advice on how to use EndNote in conjunction with Library databases and output styles visit the EndNote files and filters page.
- The latest user guide is available as a PDF file.
- View the EndNote training channel's videos on YouTube
Using Papers
Papers is a bibliographic management software available for Mac that can search a number of databases from within it. We do not support users of this program, but provide the following advice on setting it up to access resources through the OU Library subscriptions:
- From Papers Preferences choose the Sources tab
- Set the authentication url to http://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/
- Set the Library proxy to http://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=%@
- Close preferences and restart Papers.
This will allow you to use most of the search options in Papers, but to use Web of Science you need to modify a support file called gatewayurl.txt which is found in the following path:
Users/username/Library/Application Support/Papers/PlugIns/SearchEngines/WOSSearchEngine.searchengine/Contents/Resources/
Open this file and replace the single text line with this one (make sure there are no line breaks in the string):
http://wok-ws.isiknowledge.com.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/esti/soap/SearchRetrieve
We have no licence for Papers, so if you wish to use it you will need to purchase it from the link above.
Other bibliographic management software:
There are a number of free services which offer similar functionality to those above:
- Zotero - a free bibliographic software extension for users of the Firefox browser. Features include automatic capture of information from websites, formatted citation export, integration with Microsoft Word.
- CiteULike - a free social bookmarking service to help academics to share, store, and organise the academic papers they are reading. It specialises in academic papers.
- Connotea - free reference management service designed specifically for scientists and clinicians. Features include import and exports in RIS format some automatic data capture - works best with scientific sites.
- BibSonomy - is a free social bookmarking service enabling exporting in a variety of formats and feeds.
- JabRef - is an open source bibliography reference manager that interfaces with bibsonomy but can also be used stand-alone.
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