Citavi - Reference management and knowledge organization

Update: Citavi Campus license expires on September 30, 2026

Citavi is a Windows-based software for literature management and knowledge organization.

With Citavi you can ...

  • Manage literature - in your own project databases, which can optionally be stored in a cloud from Citavi 6 onwards
  • Search online - in over 4,500 library and bookstore catalogs, in specialist bibliographies and databases
  • Evaluate literature - use the Citavi Picker to transfer websites, text excerpts, graphics and references with a single click
  • Organize knowledge - e.g. using an individual category system
  • Design texts and preparing publications - e.g. directly inserting references and citations when writing a scientific paper, creating bibliographies in different citation styles, creating your own citation styles, etc.
  • Organize work - plan tasks, generate task lists, define milestones, etc.
  • Import data - direct import from catalogs, import via text filters, from other reference management programs and much more.
  • Export data - formatting according to important citation styles, output in numerous formats, saving in the most important database formats, etc.

We offer this support:

Installation of Citavi Desktop

The Ruhr University has currently acquired a campus license for Citavi. This means that Citavi is available to all RUB members free of charge. This offer ends on September 30, 2026. Staff and students use the Citavi campus license via Shibboleth. Further information can be found here.

Installation instructions

Proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: Download and install Citavi. The Citavi desktop version runs on all computers with a Windows operating system. A virtualization solution can be used for Mac. The alternative is Citavi Web.
  • Step 2: Start Citavi on your desktop by double-clicking on it and log in to "My University" with your LoginID and password. These illustrated instructions show the individual steps. Attention: Make sure that the box in front of citaviweb.citavi.com "always allow to open links of this type in the corresponding app" is not checked.
  • Step 3: Activate your license in your Citavi account by going to the License page and following the instructions in the right-hand column. Then return to Citavi on your desktop and start working.
  • Step 4 (optional): If you want to activate the availability search, enter the following base URL in the OpenURL field under Extras → Options - RSS/OpenURL: https://resolver.ebscohost.com/openurl?site=ftf-live.

Please note: If you log in via www.citavi.com, you can view your access authorizations in Citavi Account, but from there you can only access the web version of Citavi, not your desktop version!

 

Special citation styles at the RUB

Department of History: "Blaues Wunder"

The basic style is based on the template "Erste Hinweise zum Zitieren von Literatur" from the Department of History. This video* shows the integration of the citation style in Citavi.

Alternatively, follow these instructions for embedding the "Blaues Wunder" citation style:
1.    In Citavi, click the menu item Citation -> Citation styles -> Change citation style
2.    Click on Search style and search for "Blaues Wunder"
3.    Then follow the instructions in the right-hand column, in particular the instructions for setting up short document support. The notes can be found in the following file.

The links marked with * lead to a page that may be subject to less strict data protection guidelines and may collect personal data. You can find more information in our privacy policy.

Faculty of Medicine: Citation styles A and B

The styles are based on the Faculty of Medicine's template "Merkblatt zur Abfassung der Dissertation" der Medizinischen Fakultät.

Notes on embedding citation styles A and B:
1.    In Citavi, click the menu item Citation -> Citation styles -> Change citation style
2.    Click on Search style, search for "Ruhr Universität Bochum MedFak Diss (A)*" or "Ruhr Universität Bochum MedFak Diss (B)*" and select the desired style.

 

Helpful links and materials

Materials for the UB courses
Further links and audiovisual introductions

The links marked with * lead to a page that may be subject to less strict data protection guidelines and may collect personal data. You can find more information in our privacy policy.

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