BibTeX to RIS Converter
Free. No signup. Runs in your browser.
Paste or upload a .bib file and get a .ris file you can import into EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero or any other reference manager. LaTeX accents become plain letters, braces disappear, each author gets their own line, and DOIs, ISBNs and page ranges come through intact.
How to convert BibTeX to RIS
Step 1
Add your BibTeX
Use Upload file, drop the .bib on the box, or paste the entries. One entry or a whole library both work.
Step 2
Convert
RIS is already selected on this page.
Step 3
Download
Use Download .ris for the whole file, or Copy on a single entry.
Your .bib is read and converted in your browser, never on our server.
How to import the .ris file
| Reference manager | How to import |
|---|---|
| EndNote | File > Import > File, choose the .ris file, and set Import Option to "Reference Manager (RIS)" |
| Zotero | File > Import, then choose the .ris file |
| Mendeley | Use Import and choose the .ris file |
| Others (JabRef, RefWorks, Papers) | Look for an import option called RIS or RefMan |
Zotero and Mendeley can import a .bib file directly too. EndNote reads RIS far more reliably, which is the main reason people convert.
What goes where
| BibTeX | RIS |
|---|---|
| author / editor | AU / ED, one line per person |
| title | TI |
| journal or booktitle | T2 |
| year | PY |
| volume / number | VL / IS |
pages (436--444) | SP 436 and EP 444 |
| publisher, school, institution / address | PB / CY |
| doi / isbn or issn / url | DO / SN / UR |
| abstract / keywords | AB / KW |
| arXiv eprint | UR, as the arXiv link |
| BibTeX entry | RIS type |
|---|---|
| @article | JOUR |
| @inproceedings | CPAPER |
| @book | BOOK |
| @incollection, @inbook | CHAP |
| @phdthesis, @mastersthesis | THES |
| @techreport | RPRT |
| @online | ELEC |
| @software / @dataset | COMP / DATA |
| @unpublished | UNPB |
| @misc and others | GEN |
Where most BibTeX to RIS converters break
The wrong line endings
RIS files are expected to use Windows line endings (CRLF). Some reference managers, EndNote in particular, merge entries or refuse a file with Unix line endings. This converter writes CRLF.
Everything becomes a journal article
RIS has a type code for each kind of reference. Converters that only know JOUR and BOOK turn conference papers, chapters and theses into generic records. Here each BibTeX type gets its own code (table above).
Page ranges in one field
RIS keeps the first and last page in separate fields. Writing 436--444 into SP leaves your reference manager with a strange page number; the converter splits it into SP 436 and EP 444.
LaTeX code in names
RIS is plain text. Kr{\"a}mer has to become Krämer and {DNA} has to lose its braces, or your library shows the LaTeX code. The converter decodes accents and removes the braces.
Frequently asked questions
Upload the .bib file in the converter above, or paste its entries, and press Convert. Download the .ris file and import it into your reference manager.
Any that read RIS: EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks, JabRef, Papers and most others. If the import menu mentions RIS or RefMan, the file will work.
Yes. abstract goes to AB, and each keyword gets its own KW line.
If an entry has a syntax error, the result lists it with its line number and reason, and the other entries still convert. Look for a missing closing brace or comma. If the text is already RIS, or an EndNote or NBIB export, the converter offers to switch the input.
Yes, with the RIS to BibTeX converter.
It is free and needs no signup. Your .bib is read in your browser and never sent to our server. The result is gone when you close the tab, unless you choose to have it emailed to you.
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