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Fairly straightforward Web-based program - set up an account name and password for
yourself on the
RefWorks web site.
Perhaps more suitable for undergraduates. |
A powerful, highly customizable program, which much must be downloaded onto your
computer's hard drive from CUIT.
Perhaps more suitable for graduate students and faculty. |
A program which must be downloaded onto your computer's hard drive from
www.zotero.org. Can only be used with the Firefox browser. |
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References are stored on the RefWorks
server and are accessible from any computer with an Internet
connection. Lists of references are called "folders."
Users who work on their references at many
computers often find RefWorks more convenient. |
The references you download are stored in files on your computer's hard
drive. Lists of references are called "libraries." They can be
saved as files on a flash drive or a disk and can only be accessed on
a computer which has EndNote installed. |
References are stored on your computer's hard drive.
The Zotero interface is visible at the bottom of the
Firefox screen. |
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Since RefWorks is Web-based, your references are not accessible without an
active Internet connection. |
Since references are stored on your computer's hard drive, they are
available whether or not that computer is connected to the Internet. |
In order to transfer your Zotero references to another computer you need to
export the library and save it as a file on a flash drive or a disk and access
it on
a computer which has Firefox and Zotero installed. |
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To insert references into a paper using RefWorks, you must download
Write-N-Cite, a small utility program,
to your computer. Write-N-Cite does not always work very smoothly. |
Cite While You Write is downloaded along with EndNote, and inserts a
menu of commands into Microsoft Word. Cite While You Write works very
smoothly once you have set it up correctly. |
To use Zotero with Word or with OpenOffice, download a separate small plugin
to your computer. |
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RefWorks keeps import filters and connection files up to date. |
The user must keep EndNote filters and connection files up to date and download them
when necessary. |
The Zotero developers are always working on increasing the number of
databases and websites with which Zotero is compatible. |
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Low customizability. |
Great customizability of reference types, import filters, connection files,
and the way references are displayed in the list view. |
Good customizability. |
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No application for PDAs. |
Includes an additional application for Palm OS, allowing you to download and
access your libraries of references on your handheld computer. |
Currently, no application for use with PDAs. |
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Quicker to learn because there are fewer features. |
May take longer to learn how to use effectively. |
Not too difficult to learn. |
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When you leave Columbia, your RefWorks account will be inaccessible. |
When you leave Columbia, Endnote will still be on your computer (but
upgrades must be purchased). |
Free - no Columbia ID required. |
RefWorks is available by signing up for an individual account on the RefWorks
web site.