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Referencing software options
- Go to UQ Library EndNote
- Go to UQ Library RefWorks - register and use RefWorks
- Go to UQ Library EndNote Web - register and use EndNote Web
- Which software should I use?
Referencing Software (sometimes referred to as Bibliographic Management Software) is designed to help you store the references which you have located, and then cite those references in the essay, paper, thesis or book which you are writing.
The UQ Library has negotiated site licences for three Referencing Software products. UQ students and staff can use any of these products. The following quick guide should help you find the product that will be most suitable for your needs.
The products are:
You should also read the notes for users in specific disciplines.
There are many free bibliographic software products available.
- Zotero is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension. It provides good online tutorials and support.
Mendeley is free. It provides good online tutorials and support
Macintosh users may be aware of the software Papers. There are some online tutorials and a forum.
For a comparison of software products the following are good examples. There are many more available.
- University of Wisconsin - Madison Libraries RefWorks/EndNote/Zotero Features Comparison by Bev Phillips, last modified: August 07, 2009
- MIT Libraries Comparison of Bibliographic Software at MIT updated on Thursday, 16-Jul-2009.
- Princeton University Library EndNote vs. RefWorks vs. Zotero - A Comparison of Options for Managing Citations Last update: Aug 21, 2009
Brief description: EndNote is probably the most sophisticated referencing product available today. It can perform a wide range of referencing tasks, and there are extensive possibilities for the advanced user to customise the software to individual needs.
Availability: EndNote must be installed on your own computer (Windows or Macintosh). The software is available from the UQ Library as a download. EndNote is also available on most computers in the Library.
Word processor compatibility: EndNote is compatible with recent versions of Microsoft Word (Windows and Macintosh). It will install an add-in for easy integration with your word processing software.
Support and training: The UQ Library runs training classes on EndNote and is able to provide assistance if you encounter problems. Online training and support is also available at the EndNote website.
Learning curve: The wide range of features in EndNote can make it a bit overwhelming to the new user. However the basic referencing features can be learnt fairly quickly. There is an introductory video tutorial on the EndNote website.
Further information: For more information, see the UQ Library EndNote website.
Brief description: RefWorks can perform most common referencing tasks. It offers only limited possibilities for customising to meet individual needs.
Availability: RefWorks is accessible via the web. You do not need to install any software. You can access it from your home computer (if you have an Internet connection) and you can access it from most computers in the Library.
Word processor compatibility: RefWorks is compatible with recent versions of Microsoft Word (Windows and Macintosh). You have the option of downloading and installing a plugin which provides easier integration of RefWorks with Word. This plugin is available on computers in the UQ Library.
Support and training: The UQ Library runs training classes on RefWorks and is able to provide assistance if you encounter problems. Online training and support is also available at the RefWorks website.
Learning curve: The web interface makes it easy to get started with RefWorks, but there is still a lot to learn. The online video tutorials are recommended.
Upgrading: If you decide that you need a more sophisticated product, it requires some effort to convert your documents to EndNote format. See our guide for more details.
Further information: For more information, see UQ Library RefWorks website
Brief description: EndNote Web is a simplified version of the full desktop EndNote product. It has only recently been released and is still under development, but it can perform many common referencing tasks. There is very little facility to customise it to individual needs.
Availability: EndNote Web is accessible via the web, but you must download and install a plugin to use it with Microsoft Word. You can access EndNote Web from your home computer (if you have an Internet connection) and you can access it from most computers in the Library.
Word processor compatibility: EndNote Web is compatible with recent versions of Microsoft Word (Windows and Macintosh). You must download and install a plugin to enable EndNote Web to work with Word. This plugin is available on computers in the UQ Library.
Support and training: The UQ Library does not provide training in EndNote Web but can provide basic assistance to users. Online training and support is available at the EndNote Web site.
Learning curve: The web interface and the limited features make it fairly easy to get started with EndNote Web. The online video tutorials are recommended.
Upgrading: If you decide that you need a more sophisticated product, it is easy to upgrade to EndNote. See our guide for more details.
Further information: For more information, see our guide to Getting Started with EndNote Web.
Notes for Users in Specific Disciplines
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Many researchers in the biological and biomedical sciences encounter problems with abbreviated journal titles. Databases such as Pubmed contain references with abbreviated journal titles, and some journal editors insist on use of abbreviated journal titles in papers submitted to those journals. EndNote is the only product that can provide assistance in dealing with abbreviated journal titles.
For more information, see our guide to Journal Title Abbreviations and EndNote.
Law
There is no general referencing software product that is capable of dealing with the complexities of legal citation.
EndNote is the only product that can be sufficiently customised to provide at least limited assistance to students and researchers in law.
For more information, go to our EndNote Styles page, and click on a link to one of our guides on using EndNote with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC).
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
The products listed here can be used with Microsoft Word and other text editors which use Rich Text Format (*.rtf). They cannot be used in conjunction with mathematical text editors like LaTeX. Those who use LaTeX normally employ that product's BibTex function for referencing purposes.
