| RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Cost | Free to Mount students, staff, faculty, and alumni | Free to everyone |
| Operating System | Web-based; operating system-independent | Specific versions of Firefox; use on a single computer or removable storage device. Synchronization of Zotero libraries via Zotero server. Zotero is not recommended for computers shared by more than one person. |
| Database/Record Structure | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Export/Share data among other citation management programs | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum # of records per library or folder | Unlimited | Zotero does not post any maximum limits though. The support forum indicates that you shouldn't notice a slowdown up to about 5,000–10,000 items |
| Maximum record size | Notes and Abstract fields limited to 1 gigabyte. PDF attachments limited to 100mb (unlessyou have contacted the Systems Librarian to increase size). | Zotero does not post any record size limits though. The support forum indicates that your entire library can be as large as 20 or 30 GB PDF: Each Zotero user is given 100 MB of free Zotero File Storage, with larger storage plans available for purchase from Zotero. |
| Maximum # of fields (e.g. author, title) | Pre-defined: 51 Custom fields: 15 | ? |
| Maximum # of reference types (e.g. journal, book) | Pre-defined: 31 User-defined: None | Pre-defined: 33 User-defined: None |
| Read Only capability | Yes. | Yes |
| Editing/Entry of Information | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Search and Replace | Yes. | No. |
| Global edit | Can globally add/replace terms | No. |
| Auto completion of data | Yes, for author(s), keyword(s), and journal title | Yes, for author(s), journal title, tags |
| Spell Check | No. | Yes. Use the Firefox built-in spell checker from within Zotero |
| Duplicate detection | Yes. | When synching libraries, not within a library |
| Authority lists | Yes, authors, keywords, and journal titles automatically generated | Yes, authors, journal titles, and tags automatically generated |
| Automatic journal abbreviation lists | None. | None. |
| Support of special characters | Unicode compliant. | Unicode compliant. |
| Link to PDFs or other materials | - OpenURL compliant. Automatically uses the Mount Library Find It links.
- Attach files to records. Max. 20MB/attachment. Default attachment storage of 100MB/account. (contact the Systems Librarian to increase size).
- "Links field" for files via manual entry of absolute path.
| - OpenURL compliant. Must configure Zotero to use the Mount Library Find It links.
- Add attachments and/or Web snapshots
- Each Zotero user is given 100 MB of free Zotero File Storage, with larger storage plans available for purchase from Zotero.
|
| Retrieve PDF citation data | | Queries Google Scholar database for matches. Mixed success |
| Full Text PDF search | | Yes, with third-party software |
| Searching | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Sort capabilites | Selected fields. Results of a search are automatically ranked by relevance | Any information category |
| Boolean AND, OR, NOT | Yes. | Is, Is Not, Contains, Does Not Contain. |
| Field Search | Yes, by selected fields | Yes, by any field |
| Advanced Search | Yes. Includes embedded truncation (excluding Descriptor field terms) | Yes. All fields |
| Direct Search of Online Catalogs/Databases | Yes. | Automatic capture |
| Search Across Multiple Folders/Groups | Yes. | Yes. |
| Authority list browse | Author, Keyword, Journal Title | Yes. Author, Publication,Tags |
| Save search strategies | Yes. | Yes. |
| Importing Data | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Filters for importing from online databases | Yes. List of database vendors. Others available on request. | - Imports wikis, websites, and databases
- Web snapshot retains the presentation of a particular web page
|
| Edit or create filters | No. | No. |
| Use of Direct Export Feature | Yes. List | Yes. List |
| Word Processor Compatibility | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Work within a word processor to create formatted bibliographies, in-text citations, and footnotes. | - Write N Cite plug-in for MS WORD. See MS WORD and browser compatibility,
- LaTex through BibTex
- On-line/Cite View for all platforms, browsers, and word processors.
| - Word, Open Office, Google Docs
- LaTex through BibTex
|
| Can you insert references manually and then automatically generate formatted bibliographies, in-text citations, and footnotes? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Creating Bibliographies | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Automatically create a formatted bibliography, footnotes, and in-text citation. | Yes. Styles List | Yes. Styles List |
| Edit or create styles | Yes. | Yes, if you know Citation Style Language (CSL) Convert EndNote styles |
| Create a bibliography as a file within citation manager | - Word for Windows 2000 or later
- Word for Mac 98 or later
- HTML
- Rich Text Format (RTF)
- Plain Text
- XML
- Open Office
| - HTML
- Rich Text Format (RTF)
- Open Office
- Plain text
|
| Create a Subject Bibliography (Create a list of references grouped by subject or other data field) | No. | No. |
| Create a formatted list of figures, charts, etc. | No. | No. |
| Special Features | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|
| Collaboration features | RefWorks account: - Multi-user access
- Simultaneous editing of an account
- Offers read-only access of the same data.
RefShare: - Share their database (or folders) with members of their own institution and globally with any researcher having Internet access.
| - Create public and private groups
- Automatic synchronization of collections among multiple computers.
|
| Mobile Device Application | RefMobile - for mobile and smart phones, PDAs. | Store your collection on the Zotero server. Use your browser to view your collection |
| Export | Export records to: - Refworks format
- RIS
- Backup/Restore feature for sharing library, folders, and custom output styles
| Export records to: - Zotero format
- RIS
- BibTeX
- Refer/BibIX
|
| RSS Feeds | - Integrated RSS feed reader
- Create RSS feeds from a folder or database of references and published via RefShare.
| Yes. |