Use RefWorks to Track & Remove Duplicates: External Duplicate Checking

Did you review the basic guidelines?  If not, do that before checking for external duplicates!

Did you check for internal duplicates first?  If not, do that before checking for external duplicates!

1. In RefWorks, on the tool bar, go to View▼ Duplicates ▼ Exact Duplicates.

2. The boxes next to duplicate items that were imported last will be checked.

• How do you know which items were imported last?
• They are in the Last Imported folder in addition to their data folder;
• Their Ref ID numbers are larger than items previous imported.
• The rule is last in, first to delete!  This will prevent you from deleting any items that you may have screened already.

3.  As you review citations on a page, use the Page Down key to move through the citations rather than using the scroll bar to move through the citations.

4.  If it’s not a duplicate, don’t delete!  Uncheck the box next to any item that is truly not a duplicate.  And be on the lookout for it each time you check for duplicates-- it will pop up repeatedly!

5.  Before deleting, be sure Selected is marked, not All in List.

6.  After reviewing each page, click the X button to remove the duplicates.

7.  A message will pop up indicating how many items you are about to delete.  Click X Delete References.

In the Excel Workbook

1.  Record the number deleted in the Excel workbook in the appropriate cell AFTER EVERY PAGE.

2.  The duplicates in this case were found in PubMed so the data goes in the PubMed tab.

3.  Once you have completed looking for exact external duplicates, do the same for close duplicates.

1. In RefWorks, on the tool bar, go to View▼ Duplicates ▼ Close Duplicates.

 

2. The boxes next to duplicate items that were imported last will be checked.

3.  As you review citations on a page, use the Page Down key to move through the citations rather than using the scroll bar to move through the citations.

4.  If it’s not a duplicate, don’t delete!  Uncheck the box next to any item that is truly not a duplicate.  And be on the lookout for it as you go through the pages-- it will pop up repeatedly!

5.  Before deleting, be sure Selected is marked, not All in List.

6.  After reviewing each page, click the X button to remove the duplicates.

7.  A message will pop up indicating how many items you are about to delete.  Click X Delete References.

In the Excel Workbook

1.  Record the number deleted in the Excel workbook in the appropriate cell AFTER EVERY PAGE.

2.  The duplicates in this case were found in PubMed so the data goes in the PubMed tab.

3.  Make certain the number of new items (in this case 24) matches what is in your RefWorks database folder.