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RefWorks

NU Library's preferred research management tool.

Storing Documents in RefWorks

Did you know that you can treat RefWorks as an online cloud storage system to save your PDFs and research documents? 

You can attach files when adding a new reference manually or editing an existing reference record. Attachments can be any type of computer file that you want to associate with the bibliographic information you store in your RefWorks database.

  • Adding attachments to a reference is different from the existing links or URLS because the actual file(s) you attach are stored on RefWorks servers.
  • In order to view or play the file attachments, you will need the appropriate software for that object type on the computer you are accessing the file from.
  • There is no limit to the number of files you can attach to your reference, but there are file size limits. NOTE: The maximum size of any individual attachment is 20 MB. You will receive a message alerting you if you exceed either the file size limit or the limit set for your individual account.
  • A paper clip icon is displayed indicating a file attachment.
  • Attachment file names are searchable from the quick Search box or by searching the Attachment field in Advanced Search.

To add a PDF or file to an existing reference in RefWorks, follow the steps below:

  1. Find the resource in the NU Library, or on the Web, and save the file to your computer. For help finding a specific article within the NU Library, see our Library FAQ on Finding Specific Articles.
  2. Login to RefWorks, and locate the reference for which you would like to add the full-text document file. Click on the reference to display the details on the right-hand side of the screen.
  3. Click on the Edit pencil icon as shown below.RefWorks screenshot showing the Edit icon.
  4. Scroll to the Attachment field in the reference record and select Add an Attachment. Choose the selected document from your computer to upload. Click Save.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Add attachments to a reference record in RefWorks
  5. It may take a few moments to upload and analyze the complete file. Once your full-text has been uploaded, you will see the Read button and the first page of the article as shown below.RefWorks screenshot with the Read button highlighted.

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