Protocol Online logo
Top : New Forum Archives (2009-): : Dissertation and Paper Writing

Anyone has experience in using Readcube, a reference manager tool - (Mar/26/2013 )

Hi all,
These days I just began to use a reference manager tool named readcube. It was first developed by two Harvard students in the dormitories, one is majoring in biology science, the other is majoring in CS, sounds like another version of Google, haha
To be honest, this is a key reason for me to try it out!

Until now, i have explored some useful functions about this software:
1. It can automatically recognize the name of the article, so i can easier to find the articles I need.
2. The interface is like iTunes, which makes me really comfortable to explore it.
3. It has a recommendation function that will recommend me some relative articles for my topic
4. readcube has cooperation with nature.com, I can get access to all the articles from nature! that's amazing!

But, i also find some shortcomings, like it has no app for phone or tablets...

Anyone has some experience using this software? I really want to know more about this tool! Thank you!

-Chenlu Lou-

Hi, Chenlu
I am an graduate student and doing research for my Professor. I am using ReadCube everyday and I am loving it. I don't regard it as shortcoming in terms of it having no app for smartphone and tablets since I believe most of serious researcher search articles by using their PC.

I think everyone need to install this software: for average people, it can help to organize your PDF articles and you will not complain about your messy desktop. For University students and professors as well as researchers, it can get access to your university's library by clicking "Use my institution proxy to access authenticated content online". For those who are pursuing major in the lifescience, I would say you are the ones who are blessed. With Readcube, you can not only get access to all the contents your library has but also to the contents of two great publishers in the lifescience realm: Nature and Wiley!

-Carollu-

Hello Chenlu,
Since last May I had been working as a graduate assistant for an IT professor. She always required me to search articles on GoogleScholar about a certain topic and submit a spreadsheet including article title, author, date, purpose, and conclusion. I also need to save all the articles in PDF and package them to her. It's a tough process.

But at the beginning of this year, I started using ReadCube. I can get access to basic information more easily and save an article by clicking a button. Besides the advantage you discussed above, ReadCube can also realize inline comments and save annotation. So I can keep track of my notes I have made at any time.
For the article which can be enhanced, click the authors’ name will give us options to search their publications, for example in Google scholar and Pubmed. So cool~

-Rebecca_88-

Carollu on Wed Mar 27 15:08:12 2013 said:


Hi, Chenlu
I am an graduate student and doing research for my Professor. I am using ReadCube everyday and I am loving it. I don't regard it as shortcoming in terms of it having no app for smartphone and tablets since I believe most of serious researcher search articles by using their PC.

I think everyone need to install this software: for average people, it can help to organize your PDF articles and you will not complain about your messy desktop. For University students and professors as well as researchers, it can get access to your university's library by clicking "Use my institution proxy to access authenticated content online". For those who are pursuing major in the lifescience, I would say you are the ones who are blessed. With Readcube, you can not only get access to all the contents your library has but also to the contents of two great publishers in the lifescience realm: Nature and Wiley!

Wow!!! I just realize the "get access to your university's library by clicking "Use my institution proxy to access authenticated content online"" function! It is really surprising me! Thank you for sharing!

-Chenlu Lou-

Rebecca_88 on Wed Mar 27 22:06:24 2013 said:


Hello Chenlu,
Since last May I had been working as a graduate assistant for an IT professor. She always required me to search articles on GoogleScholar about a certain topic and submit a spreadsheet including article title, author, date, purpose, and conclusion. I also need to save all the articles in PDF and package them to her. It's a tough process.

But at the beginning of this year, I started using ReadCube. I can get access to basic information more easily and save an article by clicking a button. Besides the advantage you discussed above, ReadCube can also realize inline comments and save annotation. So I can keep track of my notes I have made at any time.
For the article which can be enhanced, click the authors’ name will give us options to search their publications, for example in Google scholar and Pubmed. So cool~

Thank you Rebecca! I also found out the function of enhanced PDF, it's easier for me to track the inference.

-Chenlu Lou-