Convert references to RIS
Paste a reference list in any citation style and download an RIS file for Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley or Citavi.
- Free, no sign-up
- Your text stays in your browser
- 10,800+ citation styles
- RIS, BibTeX, CSL-JSON, Word
1 Paste or upload
Paste references here
or drop a PDF, Word or text file
A reference list, a list of DOIs or a whole paper. One reference per paragraph or numbered line works best.
What is an RIS file?
RIS is a plain-text format for bibliographic records. Each reference starts with TY (the item type) and ends with ER, with one tagged field per line, such as AU for authors, TI for the title and DO for the DOI. Almost every reference manager can import it.
How to import the RIS file
- Zotero: File → Import, choose the .ris file.
- EndNote: File → Import → File, set Import Option to Reference Manager (RIS).
- Mendeley: File → Import → RIS.
- Citavi: File → Import, choose RIS as the format.
How it works
- 1
Paste or upload
Paste a reference list, a list of DOIs or a whole paper, or upload a PDF or Word file. The tool finds the reference section and splits it into single references.
- 2
Check the records
Each reference becomes a record with authors, title, source, year, volume, issue, pages and DOI. Orange flags show what is missing. Fix fields by hand or complete them from Crossref.
- 3
Format in any style
Pick one of 10,800+ CSL styles, from APA, MLA and Chicago to journal-specific styles, in 60+ languages. Copy the list or download it for Word.
- 4
Export
Download RIS for Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley or Citavi, BibTeX for LaTeX and Overleaf, or CSL-JSON for Pandoc.
Built for researchers, librarians and students
Every citation style
Uses the official Citation Style Language repository and citeproc-js, the same styles and engine as Zotero and Mendeley.
Private by design
Files and text are processed on your device. There is no account and no upload. Only the optional Crossref check contacts an outside service.
PDF and Word input
Upload a paper and the tool extracts the references from it, including wrapped lines and numbered lists.
Crossref completion
Completes records that have a DOI and finds missing DOIs for journal articles by matching title and year.
Clean exports
RIS, BibTeX and CSL-JSON for reference managers, plus Word, HTML and plain text bibliographies with hanging indents.
Open source
Free software under the GNU AGPL. The code is public and the site has no server component, so your institution can host its own copy.
Popular citation styles
All stylesFrequently asked questions
Why convert references to RIS?
Typing references into a reference manager by hand is slow and error-prone. Converting a finished reference list to RIS lets you import all items at once and reuse them in Word with any citation style.
Does the RIS file keep the original text?
By default each record includes the original reference as a note (N1), so you can check the import. You can switch this off in the Export tab.
Is it free?
Yes. You can convert and format as many references as you like without an account.
Are my references uploaded anywhere?
No. Text and files are processed in your browser. Only the optional Check with Crossref button sends DOIs or reference text to the Crossref API to complete records.
Which reference managers can import the files?
RIS files import into Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, Citavi, RefWorks, JabRef and most library systems. BibTeX works with LaTeX, Overleaf and JabRef. CSL-JSON works with Zotero and Pandoc.
Which citation styles are available?
All styles of the official Citation Style Language repository: more than 10,800, including APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, AMA, ISO 690, DIN 1505-2 and thousands of journal styles.
Can it read references from a PDF or Word file?
Yes. Upload a PDF, DOCX, RTF or TXT file. The tool extracts the text, finds the reference section and splits it into single references. Scanned PDFs without a text layer need OCR first.
How accurate is the parsing?
The parser recognises the common patterns of APA, Harvard, Chicago, MLA, IEEE, Vancouver, AMA and ISO 690. Records with missing data are marked so you can check them. Check with Crossref completes records that have a DOI.
Can I paste a list of DOIs?
Yes. Paste one DOI per line, convert, then select Check with Crossref to fill in all details.
Does it work offline or on my institution's server?
The site is static and open source, so a library or IT department can host its own copy.