Referencing (Citation) can be done in a word file also, you can watch the following tutorial.

* How to Insert Citations in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step)

By Erin Wright

https://erinwrightwriting.com/insert-citations-in-microsoft-word/

How to Insert Citations in Microsoft Word

https://youtu.be/W_kuvEtqxwU

Hello Shilpi Jain re: convert a static list of references into the desired referencing form

Most reference software have free versions and most have a web app interface, so if you can get the list of references 'online' your software web interface can 'find' them. Once you have imported the list, your software can be adjusted for whichever format you wish (I use Zotero and Mendeley and can easily switch between APA, Harvard, Vancouver, etc.).

• First protect your source document and copy and paste to create a working document. All you need is an unformatted text list of the references each ending with a carriage return. I use a text editor like notepad, but you can do it in MS Word. You can also number the entries if you wish, but no blank lines, tabs, or other formatting.
• Then, copy and paste the list into the Cross-Ref link below. Wait a bit until the engine does its work and the formatted lists reappears in HTML.
• Then you use the web app for your referencing software to "find" the references, just as it would on any other web page. You can then 'select all'. It helps tremendously if the engine finds a DOI for each item. If not, you have to do some manual copy and paste work. I find with a list of 25 items I may have to manually enter 3 or 4, unless the items are very old.

Here is the link:

• https://doi.crossref.org/simpleTextQuery

Hope this helps. PM me if I can assist.

Cheers,

Leo

Shilpi Jain to add to the excellent suggestions of Leo Atwood , basically, here are four options:

a). copy and paste each entry into a reference software - since you are trying to convert a static bibliography within Word it makes sense to use the MS Word References menu options to convert them. However, this will require you also add the in-text citations - a long process - you could trick the system, paste the in-text citations on a blank page just to generate the correct bibliography and then save that page separately in case you need it again - in the meantime don't change your references already formatted..

b) Use the DOI to search for the article within a good quality literature search engine like EBSCO or PROQUEST, and then select the 'cite as' option to format as Chicage, copy paste that to your MS Word file or export it for use with a tool like EndNote or Zetero.

c) Combinations of above using the Zotero converter - note however the converter looks for reference codes in your MS Word document so all the above solutions still require work on your part to get the static entries into a software ready format appropriate for Zotero or whatever product you select (including using plan jane MS Word).

Here is a converter from Zotero

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/importing_formatted_bibliographies

d) if you are a programmer like myself you could use OO Basic or C - write a small conversion routine, copy paste the static reference to a text file as input, run your new program, and format the end results to a text file to with appropriate codes for Zotero or EndNotes - for example I use {Strang, 2022, #30} or whatever # code applies - this still requires work in the formatting step using EndNote because #30 may not be found so it will prompt you to select the correct reference entry from teh EndNote database to match the not found #30 record.

Hope this helps! Ken

If I have 300 references created manually in APA format, how do I convert them on masse to Vancouver format?

Bhodi Michael Tims [re: 300 references in APA format, converted Vancouver format] First you need to import the references into a reference management tool. See the above answers for detailed examples. I prefer Zotero, but there are many alternatives. You can just use MS.Word. Then you need check the imported data and select the bibliography output format, in your case Vancouver style.

P.M. me if I can assist further.

Here is an online tool that may be worth trying. It offers some level of free conversions, but I have not explored further.

Cheers,

Leo

https://app.bibguru.com/?style=vancouver

Thanks Leo. I'll give it a shot. a Any suggestions on how to change manually inserted citations in a text into new citation format (Vancouver)?

Bhodi Michael Tims [re: change manually inserted citations in a text into new citation format (Vancouver)] 1. Are the 300 existing in-text or footnote references in 'plain text' or are they field tagged in some system (like end-note in MS Word? 2. Is there an existing bibliography? If there is a bibliography, you can use a tool to process it [e.g.: https://doi.crossref.org/simpleTextQuery]

If the existing in-text refererences are 'field tagged' in some form then you can export them into another document. [e.g. in Word]:

• Run EndNote with a new or existing library you wish to receive the Word references.
• Open up the Word document containing the in-text citations to transfer.
• In Word, change to the EndNote tab of the Word toolbar ribbon.
• From the Export to EndNote drop-down, select Export Word Citations.
• Once you have to data in a reference system like Endnote. Zotero, or Mendeley, then you can click and choose your format, like Vancouver.

If the existing in-text refererences are plain text and not 'tagged' in some form then you will need to build a copy/paste list and process it with a tool like the crossref link above.

Here is a link with examples for many scenarios:

https://update.lib.berkeley.edu/2018/02/07/extracting-references-from-an-already-created-bibliography/

Cheers,

Leo

Thanks. I'm going to work with a colleague this week. If you don't hear back - thanks it worked. Much appreciated.

You can use MS Word's own referencing system. There you can easily convert references from one style to another. Shilpi Jain