IMPORT GUIDE
Export Zotero to RIS and Verify References
Export the references you want to check from Zotero, then import the file into a CiteWise Reference Audit. Your Zotero library is not changed.
Export your references
- 1
Choose what to export
For a whole library use the File menu. For one paper's references, right-click its collection, or select items and right-click them.
File → Export Library… | right-click collection → Export Collection… | right-click items → Export Items…
- 2
Pick RIS as the format
RIS keeps authors, DOI, volume, issue and pages in separate fields. BibTeX and CSL JSON also work. Leave Export Notes and Export Files unchecked; CiteWise only reads the metadata.
- 3
Save the file
Click OK and save it. Zotero adds the .ris, .bib or .json extension, so the file can be uploaded as is.
If accented characters appear garbled later, export again and set Character Encoding to Unicode (UTF-8) in the export dialog, if shown.
Import the file into CiteWise
- 4
Open Reference Audit
Sign in, choose Audit in the workspace menu, then switch to the Import file tab.
Workspace → Audit → Import file
- 5
Drop the file and review the preview
CiteWise lists every record with its title, authors, year, DOI and any warnings. Previewing does not use checks.
- 6
Select records and start the audit
Keep at least two valid records selected and click Confirm and start audit. Each selected record uses one check.
Why check references after exporting from Zotero
Zotero stores whatever was imported or typed in. Metadata scraped from PDFs or web pages, or copied from an AI chat, often carries a wrong DOI, a preprint year or a misspelled author, and Zotero keeps it as is. CiteWise checks each exported record against Crossref, OpenAlex, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, arXiv and DataCite and shows the source evidence for every field.
What CiteWise flags
- A DOI that is missing, or points to a different work
- Year, volume, issue or pages that disagree with the published record
- References that could not be matched in the checked sources
- Retractions, corrections and expressions of concern recorded by Crossref
A reference that cannot be matched is flagged for review. On its own it does not prove the reference is fabricated.
Common questions
Which Zotero format works best?
RIS is the most reliable. BibTeX works well too, including Better BibTeX exports. Zotero RDF and CSV are not supported.
Can I check only the references for one paper?
Yes. Put those items in a collection and use Export Collection, or select the items and use Export Items. Only the exported records are imported.
How do I find wrong DOIs in my Zotero library?
Export the library or collection as described above and run a Reference Audit. Records whose DOI is missing or points to a different work are marked HIGH risk with the conflicting values side by side. Export the audit as CSV with field evidence to fix them in Zotero.
Does CiteWise change my Zotero library?
No. CiteWise only reads the exported file. Suggested corrections appear in the audit report, and you decide what to change in Zotero.
Can I check AI-generated references this way?
Yes. Add the references to Zotero or paste them into the audit. CiteWise reports which ones match a published work and which could not be found in the checked sources. A missing match needs a manual check; it does not prove fabrication by itself.
Why did my file fail to import?
CiteWise accepts .bib, .ris, .enw and CSL-JSON .json files up to 10 MB and 1,000 records. "Could not parse" usually means the extension does not match the content: a RIS file starts with TY -, a BibTeX file with @article{ or similar. In BibTeX, one unbalanced brace can stop the whole file, so export again from your reference manager instead of editing it by hand.
Why are author names missing or wrong?
CiteWise reads the author fields exactly as your reference manager exported them. A "author is missing" warning means the record had no author field. In BibTeX, authors must be separated by "and" and organisation names wrapped in extra braces, for example {World Health Organization}; otherwise they are split into first and last names. Fix the entry in your reference manager and export again.
Accented characters look garbled. What should I do?
CiteWise reads import files as UTF-8. Export again and choose UTF-8 or Unicode as the character encoding if your reference manager offers the option.
Does importing use checks, and is my file stored?
Previewing is free. Checks are used only for the records you select when you start the audit. The uploaded file is processed for that request and not kept; the selected records and their audit results are saved in your workspace history so you can review and export them.
How many references can I import at once?
Up to 1,000 records per file. An audit needs at least two valid records. Free workspaces without credit packs can audit up to 10 records per task; paid plans and credit packs raise the limit to your available balance.