Capturing Web Page Data With RefGrab-It

RefGrab-It works with your browser to capture bibliographic information from web pages giving you the option to import that data into your RefWorks account.

Here's how it works -- after you install RefGrab-It (as a bookmarklet in your browser OR as a plug-in, depending in which option you prefer)  when you click on the RefGrab-it Link or Icon, it will look for information on the webpage.  If an ISBN number, PubMed ID, DOI (digital object identifier) or COinS (ContextObjects in Spans -- special coding embedded in the web page that RefWorks will read) are on the web page, RefGrab-It will automatically take that information search various web resources (behind the scenes) to get supplemental information that may be of interest to you that you can also import.  RefWorks may even locate RSS feeds related to that web page that you can invoke and import information from.

When you use RefGrab-It on a web page, it automatically opens a "temporary results page" in a new window.  You can view the information and additional resources first, then decide if you want to import the data.

There are two versions of RefGrab-It -- bookmarklet versions (for IE and Firefox) and plug-in version (for IE and Firefox). The plug-in version has some additional features:

• RefWorks Association – You can associate your RefWorks account with RefGrab-It. Doing so will give RefGrab-It the ability to identify and flag references it finds that already exist in your RefWorks account as well as enable a direct export from RefGrab-It to an account.   A RefWorks icon with a green checkmark  displays in the RefGrab-It results list indicating the reference is already in your RefWorks account.

• Embedded Mode – RefGrab-It has two different modes. Embedded mode makes the RefGrab-It window pop up inside the current webpage. RefGrab-It will float on top of the current webpage and allow you to see both the webpage and data it is displaying. If this box is unchecked, RefGrab-It will pop up in a new browser window or tab, depending on your browser settings.

• Export RIS Format Files – This feature allows users who have the EndNote helper application on their computers to use a direct export to EndNote option from a data vendor and re-direct the export into their RefWorks account.

 

Installing and Using RefGrab-It as a Bookmarklet:

Note:  The instructions below allow you to place the RefGrab-It icon in your browser's toolbar.  If you do not wish to have the RefGrab-It icon always visible, you can simply add RefGrab-It to your bookmarks or favorites list and select it there.

Important:  If you access RefWorks via proxy server for off-site access, please install RefGrab-It AFTER logging in to RefWorks through your proxy server.

Windows Users

Internet Explorer Users:

1. Enable the Links toolbar in IE by selecting the View menu option, then Toolbars.  If Lock the Toolbars is checked, click on it to de-select it.  Then, from View, Toolbars click on Links.  A checkmark will appear next to Links indicating that this feature is active.  The Links toolbar should now be visible at the top right of your browser (it may appear in a slightly different position).

2. Navigate to www.refworks.com/refworks and log in to your account.

3. Go to Tools, RefGrab-It and right-click on RefGrab-It bookmarklet link. A menu will appear.

4. Select Add to Favorites. You may get a security challenge telling you that you may be adding something that is unsafe.  Please say "yes".

5. The Add Favorite box opens and RefGrab-It should appear in the name box.  Click the Create-In button to the right of the name box.

6. The Add Favorite box expands and you should see the Links folder.  Click on Links, then click on OK.  A RefGrab-It button will appear in your Links area of the IE toolbar.

Note:  If you do not want the RefGrab-It link in your toolbar, you can simply hide the Links area of the toolbar -- select View, Toolbars and de-select Links.

Firefox Users:

1. Enable the Links toolbar in Firefox by selecting the View menu option, then Toolbars.  Click on Bookmarks Toolbar.  A checkmark will appear next to Bookmarks Toolbar indicating that this feature is active.  The Bookmarks toolbar should now be visible.

2. Go to Tools, RefGrab-It and right-click on RefGrab-It bookmarklet link. A menu will appear.

3. Right-click on the RefGrab-It bookmarklet link. A menu will appear.  

4. Click on Bookmark This Link.

5. The Add Bookmark box opens and RefGrab-It should appear in the name box.  Click the Create-In drop-down to expand the list.  Click on Bookmarks Toolbar.  A RefGrab-It button will appear in your Bookmarks area of the Firefox toolbar.

6. Drag and drop the RefGrab-It link to your personal toolbar.

Netscape Users:  

Unfortunately, RefGrab-It is not currently compatible with this browser.  

Mac Users

Firefox and Netscape Users:

 

To use the RefGrab-It Bookmarklet:

1. Navigate to any website.

2. Click on the RefGrab-It bookmarklet link/button.

3. The RefGrab-It window will open with references it has found.

4. You can expand or collapse the results by clicking on the plus or minus icon.

5. To view the full reference, click on the Show Details link.

6. To export a single reference, select the record and click on the export to RefWorks icon  .

7. To export multiple references, select the records (or the Select All in Section option(s) or the All option at the top of the list to include all references on the page regardless of the section) and click the Import to RefWorks button at the top of the page.

8. If you are already logged into RefWorks, your references will appear in the Last Imported Folder.  Otherwise you will be prompted to log in and your references will then import.

 

Installing and Using RefGrab-It as a Plug-In

To Install RefGrab-It as a Firefox Plug-in:

1. Navigate to www.refworks.com/refworks and log in to your account.  

2. Go to Tools, RefGrab-It and click on RefGrab-It Firefox Plug-In link.

3. Click the Save button to save a file named Install.xpi to your computer.

4. Drag the file into an open Firefox window; Firefox will install the plug-in for you.  Firefox may also install the plug-in when you begin downloading it, depending on your Firefox setup. You may be prompted to restart your browser.

5. After you re-start your browser, the Firefox Add-on box will appear with RefGrab-It listed.  If you click on the Options button, you can enter your RefWorks login information for direct export of references you wish to import into your RefWorks account.  You can also enable an option to export RIS formatted files into RefWorks.  By enabling this option (disabled by default) RIS format files which are downloaded will be automatically imported into RefWorks.  Click here for information on setting the Options.

6 Installing the Add-on will add a RefGrab-It icon in the bottom-right corner of the browser (on the right side of the status bar).

Customizing the RefGrab-It Firefox Plug-in:

You can customize the RefGrab-It Firefox Plug-in to import information directly into your RefWorks account.  You can also configure RefGrab-It to notify you if references displayed in the results list already exist in your RefWorks account.   

There is also an option to change display modes.  By default, RefGrab-It will display your results as a window on top of the web page you are viewing.  You can disable this embedded mode option and have the RefGrab-It results display in a new window or tab (depending on your browser settings).

You can enable an import RIS files directly into RefWorks (for website that have a direct export option that produces only a .RIS file).

1. Log in to your RefWorks account using Firefox as your browser.

2. Open another tab in Firefox and navigate to any web page.

3. Right mouse-click on the RefWorks icon in your browser’s lower right-hand corner and select Preferences or click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the RefGrab-It results window.

4. Select the Associate RefGrab-It with my RefWorks Account option to automatically export selected references into your RefWorks account and enable RefGrab-It to identify references that are already in your RefWorks account.  A RefWorks icon with a green checkmark   will display in the RefGrab-It results list indicating the reference is already in your RefWorks account.

5. By default, the Embedded Mode option is selected. You can disable the Embedded Mode option that displays your RefGrab-It results within the same window as the original website.  If you disable this option, your RefGrab-It results will open in a new window or tab.

6. Select Export RIS Format Files to RefWorks if you want to automatically import .RIS format files from data vendor websites.  

7. Click the close button to close the window.  Your entries have been saved.

Using the RefGrab-It FireFox Plug-in:

1. Navigate to a web site

2. Left-click on the RefWorks icon in the bottom right-hand corner to capture the data.

Note:  You can also right-click on the RefGrab-It icon and select Grab References.

3. RefGrab-It will begin searching the current page for reference data.

4. A new browser window will open and in the main window, RefGrab-It will display what it identifies as the main reference first.  Additional information found by RefGrab-It will be categorized and displayed below the main reference.  

5. To view the details of the main reference, click on the Show Details link.  To import the reference into your RefWorks account, click on the   icon.  

6. Additional results are displayed in collapsed groups below.  Expand the group you wish to view the results of and view and select references like as directed above in #5.  If you wish to import all the references in a group, click on the Select All in Section link or the All option at the top of the page.  

7. Click the Import to RefWorks button from the top of the page.

To Install RefGrab-It as an Internet Explorer Plug-In:

1. Navigate to www.refworks.com/refworks and log in to your account.  

2. Go to Tools, RefGrab-It and click on RefGrab-It Internet Explorer Plug-In link.

3. Click the Save button to save a file named Setup.msi to your computer.

4. Click on the Setup icon on your computer and follow the installation prompts.

Customizing the RefGrab-It Internet Explorer Plug-In:

You can customize the RefGrab-It Internet Explorer Plug-in to import information directly into your RefWorks account.  

There is also an option to change display modes.  By default, RefGrab-It will display your results as a window on top of the web page you are viewing.  You can disable this embedded mode option and have the RefGrab-It results display in a new window or tab (depending on your browser settings).

You can enable an import RIS formatted files directly into RefWorks (for website that have a direct export option that produces only a .RIS file).

To Customize the RefGrab-It Internet Explorer Plug-In:

1. Log in to your RefWorks account using Internet Explorer as your browser.

2. Open another tab in Internet Explorer and navigate to any web page.

3. In the IE menu bar, select Tools, RefGrab-It Preferences.  

4. Select the Associate RefGrab-It with my RefWorks Account option to automatically export selected references into your RefWorks account and enable RefGrab-It to identify references that are already in your RefWorks account.  A RefWorks icon with a green checkmark  will display in the RefGrab-It results list indicating the reference is already in your RefWorks account.

5. By default, the Embedded Mode option is selected. You can disable the Embedded Mode option that displays your RefGrab-It results within the same window as the original website.  If you disable this option, your RefGrab-It results will open in a new window or tab.

6. Select Export RIS Format Files to RefWorks if you want to automatically import .RIS format files from data vendor websites.  

7. Click the X button to close the window.  Your entries have been saved.

Using the RefGrab-It Internet Explorer Plug-In:

1. Navigate to a web site.

2. Right-click with your mouse and select the RefGrab-It link.

3. RefGrab-It will begin searching the current page for reference data.

4. A new browser window will open and in the main window, RefGrab-It will display what it identifies as the main reference first.  Additional information found by RefGrab-It will be categorized and displayed below the main reference.  

5. To view the details of the main reference, click on the Show Details link.  To import the reference into your RefWorks account, click on the icon.  

6. Additional results are displayed in collapsed groups below.  Expand the group you wish to view the results of and view and select references like as directed above in #5.  If you wish to import all the references in a group, click on the Select All in Section link or the All option at the top of the page.  

7. Click the Import to RefWorks button from the top of the page.