Reference management programmes
Other reference management programmes
Literature management and knowledge organisation are central components of the scientific work process. There is now a whole range of useful software available to support and make these processes more effective. These programmes help you, among other things for:
collection and structuring of sources;
correct citation and creation of literature references and lists according to specified guidelines (citation styles);
research in library catalogues and databases;
collection, structuring and visualisation of your own thoughts;
organising and working with full texts (especially PDFs);
idea generation and task planning;
collaboration and networking with other academics.
Alternative programs (instead of Citavi):
Depending on the subject area, application scenario and operating system as well as personal criteria or requirements and wishes in general, a completely different (free) program or a web service for (collaborative) literature management and knowledge organisation can also be considered.
The software Citavi supports students and researchers in all
Citavi-DE-Logo-250x82 ©Citavi steps of working with scientific literature. It is currently the most widely used (Windows) product in the German-speaking world, combining literature management with knowledge organisation and task planning functions.
The University Library of the EUV has purchased a campus licence for Citavi Team for all students and staff until 30 June 2028. For this programme, the Viadrina offers special services for use, especially institution-related. For more information on free access, tips on starting the programme, using the specific settings file and much more
For more information, see this site below.
Software project of George Mason University
Centrepiece: browser plugin (focus: Firefox; connectors for Chrome, Opera and Safari)
optional desktop client for Win, Mac and Linux
optional web service
offers extensive citation style selectionZotero logo ©Zotero
supports PDF management
supports collaboration
can be integrated with plugin in word processors MS Word and Open Office / Libre Office Writer
various apps & Tools mainly from third-party providers
Free to use (open source), exception: Limitation on storage space for full texts
Startup from London / New York, part of the Elsevier publishing group since spring 2013
Desktop client for Win, Mac and Linux in combination with web service
Supports extensive PDF management (including annotations)Mendeley logo ©Mendeley
Designed as a social scientific network
Includes "Research Catalog" (document server)
Provides, among other things, recommendation functions for literature
Can be integrated into word processors MS Word and Open Office / Libre Office Writer
With plugin.
can be integrated into word processors MS Word and Open Office / Libre Office Writer with a plugin
genuine iOS app on offer, mainly from third-party providers
Freemium business model (restriction on the size of private groups and storage space for full texts)
Software project at the University of Kassel
Combination of literature management and bookmarking
Web tool for "Social Reference Management "BibSonomy Logo ©BibSonomy
Focus on collaboration
based on BibTeX
Integration / organisation of full texts possible
Free to use (open source)
University start-up project from
Magdeburg / Berkeley
Desktop client for Win, Mac and Linux withDocear logo ©Docear
Online backup
Basis for literature management: JabRef (LaTeX focus)
Integration / organisation of full texts possible
Supports mind mapping
Provides recommendation features
Provides MS Word integration
Free to use (open source)
There is not THE right software product on the market that can be recommended without reservation. Software comparisons will help you to assess and select the most suitable reference management system for you and/or your working group, institute, etc. We find the following particularly noteworthy:
Comparison of the University Library TU Munich
Compared programmes: Citavi, colwiz, Docear, EndNote, EndNote Basic, JabRef, Mendeley, RefWorks, Zotero
Comparison criteria [each with various subcategories]: General (price, licence model, platform, etc.); Technology; Import; Data format; Data entry / editing; Display / search; Cooperation; Citation; Other features; Usage; Other
Special note: In previous version 3, Papers (instead of colwiz) is also part of the comparison.
Comparison of SLUB Dresden
Compared programmes: Zotero, Citavi, RefWorks, Mendeley, EndNote, EndNote Basic
Comparison criteria: [each with various subcategories] General specifics, import / export, data entry, display / search, cooperation, citation / export, other functions, use
Comparison in the English Wikipedia
Status: dense continuous updating
Compared programmes:Category Open Source: BibDesk, BibSonomy, Docear, JabRef, Pybliographer, Referencer, Wikindx, Zotero
Category Proprietary: BibBase, Bookends, Citavi, CiteULike, colwiz, EndNote, Mendeley, NoodleTools, Paperpile, Papers, Qiqqa, ReadCube, RefWorks, Scholar's Aid, SciRef, Sente, WizFolio
Category Inactive: Aigaion, Bebop, Biblioscape, Bibus, KBibTeX, refbase, RefDB, Reference ManagerComparison criteria: General (cost etc.), Operating system support, Export file formats, Import file formats, Citation styles, Reference list file formats, Word processor integration, Database connectivity, Password "protection" and network versions
For further comparisons and up-to-date information on literature management and knowledge organisation, there is the web platform "Literature management. News - Analyses - Exchange on software and services for personal literature and knowledge organisation": https://literaturverwaltung.wordpress.com/
Citavi
No more paperwork, lost citations and laboriously created bibliographies! Work more efficiently with a specific programme for literature management and knowledge organisation.
The Windows-based literature management programme Citavi can be downloaded free of charge
by all members of the European University Viadrina and installed on up to two devices.
The University Library of the EUV has purchased a campus licence for Citavi Team for all students
and employees until 30 June 2028. Mac users have the option of using Citavi via virtualisation
- see the official reference in the Citavi manual.
If you need support, we would like to refer you to the following links:
Help overview
Common errors
FAQ
With Citavi you can:
automatically import literature data from books, journal articles, etc. in a variety of ways (e.g. by entering the ISBN or by "picking" directly from the searched database),
collect and organise literature references and, among other things,
add abstracts, headings, keywords and other information.and organise them with abstracts, keywords and comments,
import search results or watch lists from many databases directly or via specific exchange formats (remember BibTeX and RIS in particular!) and import literature data from other programmes,
create bibliographies automatically and flexibly using a wide range of selectable citation styles (particularly convenient with the add-in available for MS Word, otherwise Publication Assistant)
in the context of a module for knowledge organisation, including various citation forms and your own thoughts.
Collect various citation forms and your own thoughts and compile them for a scientific paper to be written,
Plan upcoming tasks and milestones with deadlines, importance and work status,
Group titles in the bibliography
Evaluate PDFs.
How to get Citavi
Install Citavi Free. You will receive the free version "Citavi Free".
Request your free licence key. You can find the licence key request form here: http://www.citavi.com/viadrina. Important: Your European University Viadrina email address serves as authentication. It is not possible to order with a freemailer address (web.de, GMX, Gmail etc.).
Enter the licence data in Citavi Start Citavi and enter the licence key from the email you receive from the software manufacturer. The email describes the procedure. The licence key converts the free version into the Pro version for the duration of the campus rental contract. The difference to the Free version is that you can save more than 100 data records per project with the Pro version. The licence key gives you the right to use Citavi on two computers (at home and at work) or on a USB stick.