If you have conducted a literature review using a bibliographical application like RefWorks – you can export the data from the application as an XML file and import it into NVivo.  The records are added as sources in your project and the bibliographical details are stored as ‘source classifications’ and attribute values.

Source classifications

You can also record bibliographical information by ‘classifying’ your sources in NVivo – when you are ready to write up your findings, you can export this data to your reference management tool and use its features to insert citations and format the references.

Import  bibliographical data from RefWorks

You can export references from RefWorks to an RIS  format file, which you can then import into NVivo. When you export your  references from RefWorks, make sure you select the export format ‘Bibliographical  Software’.

To import the RIS file into NVivo:

1. On the External Data tab, in the Import group, click From Other Sources, and then click From RefWorks.

2. Locate and select the RIS file you want to import, and then click Open.

The Import from  RefWorks dialog box opens.

3. Review the default import options and make any required changes—refer to Import Bibliographical Data for more information on using this dialog box.
4. (Optional) Click Advanced to modify your import options for specific references.
5. Click Import.

NOTE

• The source description can only store 512 characters, so the abstract may be truncated—if the abstract is important to you, you should select to create memos from abstract, keywords and notes, so that the full abstract is imported into a memo. Storing the abstract in a memo is also a good idea, if you want to code and query the text of the abstract.
• Notes are imported when you select to create memos from abstract, keywords and notes—if you do not select this option, they are not available in NVivo.  However, notes or comments stored in the custom user fields (for example, User 1 Field) are not imported into NVivo.
• If you want to import files associated with your references (for example, where the file URL is recorded in the Links or URL fields), make sure that the files are accessible—you might need to be connected to your network.
• Files attached using the RefWorks ‘attachment feature’ (available with institutional licenses only) cannot be exported from RefWorks via the RIS file, so they cannot be imported into NVivo.
• References without file attachments, URLs or figures are imported into NVivo as external sources. References with associated files can be imported as internal sources—refer to Understand how files associated with references are handled for more information.

For more information about using Refworks at York St John, go to ‘Ten Days of RefWorks’

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