The RefWorks Focus: Write-N-Cite 4

[RefWorks Community]

The recent release of Write-N-Cite 4 from RefWorks has stirred up conversation amongst users – some have lauded the enhancements (many of which were suggested by users themselves) and others have struggled, at times, to adopt  the new version.  All the customer feedback that has been received is invaluable to the RefWorks team as we continually strive to make Write-N-Cite more user friendly and to improve the features within the tool.

As with any new product or service that brings significant change there are bound to be bumps in the road. Just look at how many people had problems with the iPhone 5, the latest in a long line of products that can seemingly do anything. While we flatter ourselves by comparing Apple to RefWorks, we share a common trait.  Both groups have a knowledgeable, loyal customer-base that are rightfully vocal every time something new is not extremely intuitive or there are bugs that need to be fixed. Listen carefully and you can already hear the moaning and groaning in the not-so-distant future when the iPhone 6 will be released – it’s inevitable. In other words, change offers solutions to existing problems, but simultaneously opens the door to a set of (hopefully fewer) new problems. So goes the process as we try to perfect Write-N-Cite and provide the best possible version.

We’ve heard from both new and longtime users, and we take all the feedback seriously; what’s at stake is the quality of your work, and if our product isn’t helping you to be more efficient, then we aren’t doing our job.  Although our support team continuously helps numerous users, we don’t want to take our foot off the gas when it comes to helping our customers.

There are some common questions that have arisen about WNC 4, and this blog series will be one more source to help you find answers. Over the next few weeks we’ll also take a look at some typical roadblocks that people have encountered with WNC 4 and how they can be resolved or avoided.  Let’s take a look at a couple of basic issues right now.

What you don’t know can hurt you. Did you know the new version of WNC is now compatible with Macs?! If you haven’t already heard the great news, we’re here to make sure you’re informed. This was one of the biggest requests from users, so we took the advice and made WNC 4 compatible with all Macs and Lion operating systems. If you’re a Mac user, you can now take full advantage of all the benefits WNC has to offer, such as working completely offline with the exact same compatibility as Windows users.

Which version do I download? The 32 or 64 bit versions of WNC are for the 32 or 64 bit versions of Word. The majority of Windows users will need the 32 bit version of WNC; however, some users could have a system that requires the 64 bit version of the product.  In order to be sure which version you are running follow the directions below…

Microsoft Office

1. Open an Office application.
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click My Office.
   The version is listed with the platform, similar to this:
   15.0.0000.0000 (32-bit)

Microsoft Office 2010

1. Open an Office program.
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click Help.
   Under Microsoft <Program>, the version is listed with the platform, similar to this:
   Version: 14.0.0000.0000 (32-bit)

In Synch. WNC 4 is desktop software – so you’ll only need to log in the first time you use Write-N-Cite to download your references to your desktop, and subsequently only when you want to download any changes in RefWorks to either your references or output styles.

In addition, the synch speed is now significantly enhanced; during internal testing the RefWorks Product Manager noted that initial synching speed was nearly 15 minutes with subsequent synchs almost as slow, but these are now matched by initial synchs under 40 seconds and subsequent synchs of under 4 seconds. Downloading the latest version of WNC will dramatically improve the synch time, simplifying the installation process.

What Else is New? In addition to improved synch time, several other enhancements were recently made to WNC4 for both Windows and Mac users:  

1. Removal of the 2000 citation limit
2. Improved User Interface for insert/edit citation.
3. Re-location of the “Reapply Output Style” from the Preferences area to the main toolbar.
4. Auto-updating messaging improved and updated.

The new versions are available from the WNC download page and all users will receive messages to upgrade to the latest version

We encourage you to check back regularly as we cover various issues to help ease your transition to WNC 4, avoid common pitfalls, and make better use of WNC 4’s full potential. In the meantime, if you have any problems or need assistance feel free to contact the RefWorks Support Team at [e-mail].  

To learn more about the newest version of Write-N-Cite visit here.