Citation Management
Citation Management
Citation Management
Citation Management Software
Citation* management software, also known as reference management software or personal bibliographic management software, helps you manage your citations and write and format your paper.
There are a number of citation management tools in current use, but EndNote and RefWorks are the two most popular ones at UCSF. The UCSF Library therefore primarily provides training and support for these two applications.
*A citation can be broadly defined as a reference to a published or unpublished source.
EndNote or RefWorks: Which Software is Best for Me?
The table below highlights major differences between RefWorks and EndNote. Both applications provide you with the capability to electronically collect and manage bibliographic resources from hundreds of databases and to output these resources into formatted bibliographies, footnotes and in-text citations.
The most significant differences are that RefWorks is web-based, easy to learn, and free to the UCSF community. EndNote must be purchased and loaded onto a computer. EndNote is more flexible, customizable, and sophisticated; however, for most users it requires a significant investment of time to learn to use well.
Comparison of EndNote with RefWorks
| EndNote | RefWorks | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Endnote must be installed on your computer. However, users have access to a stripped down online version called EndNote Web | Web-based, making it fully "portable" |
| Ease of use | Slightly more difficult to use than RefWorks. One also needs to learn where and how to update some utility files for filters, styles, and connections | Simpler than EndNote and easier to learn |
| Cost | Individual purchase from UCSF BearBuy. | Free to UCSF students, staff and faculty. Create an account here. After graduation, UCSF alumni can retain account. |
| Windows/Mac versions | Different programs for Mac and Windows | Same for both Mac and Windows, though there are different versions of the Write-n-Cite Word plugin |
| Links references to full-text via UC-eLinks | Yes, but user must configure sofware | Yes. Automatically linked |
| Capable of automatically retrieving full-text | Yes, with version X2 or higher | No |
| Stores and cites images | Yes | Stores images only |
| Create a formatted list of figures, charts, etc. | Yes | No |
| Support for mobile devices | EN X2 forward includes application for Palm OS® handheld devices | RefMobile for mobile and smart phones, and PDAs |
| Collaboration tools | Limited, using a Travelling Library and EndNote Web | Yes. Share database (or folders) with members of own institution and globally with any researcher using RefShare. |
Other Citation Management Programs
- A comparison of Zotero, Mendeley, and Papers
- Detailed comparison of all widely used citation management applications (Wikipedia)