RefWorks guide: Solutions to typical problems

Problem

References can't be transferred to RefWorks, because the browser in use has disabled popups.

Solution

If the browser has disabled popup windows, references can't be transferred to RefWorks.

If you can't allow all popups for security reasons, you can manually select to allow them just from a certain database. When you transfer a reference from a database for the first time, your browser should ask for a permission to allow popups for just the page you're on at the moment.

If you're using Firefox

1. Go to menu and select Options (or Tools) > Options > Content 
2. Remove the check from Block pop-up windows

If you're using Internet Explorer

1. Click the white bar that appears on the top of the screen and select Temporarily allow Pop-ups (or go to Tools > Internet options  > Privacy)
2. Remove the check on Turn on Pop up Blocker 

Problem

RefWorks -tab doesn't show in Word

Solution

Activate Write-N-Cite (WNC) Add-ins in Word with following steps:

1. Go to File > Options > Add-Ins ja Manage
2. Select Go and Disabled items 
3. Click WNC and then Enable

Word should be restarted for the changes to apply and RefWorks -tab to appear.

Problem 1

You get a notification of missing references:

The following Errors were found while processing your document:
Reference XX was not found in your database.

Solution 1

You have probably deleted the reference from RefWorks (might have been a duplicate). Deleted references will be kept in RefWorks 30 days after the deletion, you can view them in View > Deleted References. If the missing reference is there, you can restore it. You can also just remove or replace the reference from your text.

If this doesn't solve the problem, see also the solution to problem 2!

 

Problem 2

You get the following notification:

The following Errors were found while processing your document:

Invalid at the top level of the document. 1 Error getting RFGetRefsByArray

Problem is usually caused by deleting references from the Word document with just the Delete-button instead of the Write-N-Cite's edit citation -option. Even if you can't no longer see the reference in your text, it still exists as a "ghost" in the code of the text.

Solution 2

In Write-N-Cite go to Tools and select Revert to WNC v.2 Document. This will convert your text into a form that shows the ID-tags for all the references. You can now search for the "ghost references" in the text.

As you find them, you can now delete the "ghosts" with the Delete-button. Be sure to save the document when you're done.

After that, go to Write-N-Cite and select Tools and Convert to Write-N-Cite III Document. This will convert the text back to normal and you can now create the bibliography.

 

Problem 3

You get the following notification:

The following Errors were found while processing your document:

'length' is null or not an object

Solution 3

You have probably removed some references from the Word document and left some empty { } -behind. Check the text for any empty curly brackets and delete them with Delete-button and remember to save the document after you're done.

If this doesn't solve the problem, try also the solution 2 for finding and deleting any faulty references!

 

Problem 4

You get the following message:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Solution 4

Have you chosen a Style for the reference in Write-N-Cite 4?

If you can't select a style for a reference, log out and restart Write-N-Cite. After the restart try to select the style again.