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Sciwheel: Home

Guide to registering, setting up, and using the Sciwheel bibliographic citation manager.

Created by Health Science Librarians

Important Note

NOTE for users who registered for Sciwheel prior to 6/10/22: 

  • New registration & login link: < https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124 >
    • Update your bookmarks
  • If you installed the browser extension prior to 6/10/22, and you are getting an error message when you try to use it, you may need to uninstall, then re-install the browser extension for each browser you use for Sciwheel.
    • Clear your browser cache/cookies. 
    • If that, alone doesn't work, uninstall/reinstall your browser extensions
      • Method 1: depending upon your browser/version, you may have the option to right click the extension itself in the browser to remove it or to select manage extensions to uninstall and/or update it,
      • Method 2: (example below is Firefox)
        • Login to your Sciwheel account
        • Go to Tools pulldown menu and select browser extension
        • This should take you to a browser extension page for the Sciwheel extension, where you can uninstall your existing browser extension, then re-install it.
    • Sign in to the newly installed browser extension
    • You may have to sign back out of your Sciwheel account, then sign back in again to make the newly installed extension work.

 

 

  • IF all else fails, here is a temporary work-around, while we are developing a solution:
    • Sign out of all Sciwheel instances, then sign back in via sciwheel.com rather than the usual link. 
    • You will now be in "roaming" mode.This will work for up to 120 days at a time.
    • You will need to reset the 120 day "counter" either by logging in from signing in from campus or via the usual links from our website,
    • If you are unable to come to campus or have trouble signing in via our website links before the 120 days of roaming expire, you may notice your account has become the free/basic type instead of the premium UNC institutional account. Have no fear, your citations will all still be there and you can convert back to the premium institutional account by contacting Sciwheel support for assistance.

Welcome to Sciwheel

Sciwheel logo

Login to an existing Sciwheel account.

Sciwheel is a unified space for writing, collecting, citing, & sharing scientific literature. It features a web-based application, a browser extension, a Word plugin, and a desktop app. 

Sciwheel Help Documents

Sciwheel Tools: Accessed from Tools tab within Sciwheel or try the new Get Started option there. See Help guide within Sciwheel for additional information and troubleshooting.

  • Web based application: The main Sciwheel website--manage, store, share your references from any computer.
  • Browser extension: Collect & annotate references as you discover them online. More info on the browser extension or see Help guide within Sciwheel.
  • Microsoft Word Add-In: Find & insert citations; generate bibliographies; save manuscripts with version control to Sciwheel.  More info on the Word Add-In or see Help guide within Sciwheel.
  • Legacy Desktop app: From 31st August 2021, no longer supported.If you already have this downloaded you will still be able to use the desktop app after this date. This was compatible with both Windows (Windows 8.1 onwards) and Mac (macOS 10.13 onwards).
  • Google Docs add-on: Find & insert citations; generate bibliographies.  More info on the Google Docs add-on or see Help guide within Sciwheel.

Download the SciWheel Mobile App:
Syncs with your Sciwheel account so you can view your references, add new ones from your mobile browser, highlight, annotate and more. For Android devices (v7 onwards) and iPhones/iPads (iOS v12 onwards) 

Get it on Google Play Download on the Apple App Store

Registration & Set-up

Check Captcha I am not a Robot box before activating Create Free Account button

If the "I'm not a robot" /reCAPTCHA check box does not appear when registering from off campus, you can do one of the following

  • Register from on campus, instead (VPN from off campus will not work)
  • OR you can sign up from off campus for the free/Basic account at sciwheel.com using your regular UNC email, then log off (use pull down menu next to the circle with your initials near the top right) and re-log on from the special link on UNC HSL's website < https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124>  to associate your account with UNC.


     
  • To check that your account is now a UNC Institutional account: use the pull down menu as above to go to "Account" and then use the menu on the left to go to "Subscription." You may also select "Proxy Settings" from the left-hand menu to check that it has this as the Proxy URL: https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=$@ .  If not, copy and paste it in (no need to go to the link, just cut and paste it into the box).



 

  • OR, if necessary, you can sign up from off campus for the free/Basic account at sciwheel.com using your regular UNC email, then Email for HELP (Sciwheel) or use the blue chat button with the smile within Sciwheel to let them know what happened and to ask for their help connecting your account to UNC's institutional account

F1000Workspace became Sciwheel (Spring 2020)

F1000Workspace becomes Sciwheel       

Spring 2020, F1000Workspace became Sciwheel.  Tools and functionality are the same - just a new look.

Your account should re-direct with no issues. 

If you have bookmarked the sign-in page, change it to the following: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/go.php?c=54438124 

There is now a Sciwheel branded mobile app for both Apple and Google/Android mobile devices.

Sciwheel support: Email for HELP (Sciwheel) or use the blue chat button with the smile within SciwheelSciwheel chat support

2021 Changes to Sciwheel Word plugin/Desktop App

2021 changes to Sciwheel Word plugin & desktop app
In 2021, Sciwheel launched a new Sciwheel 365 add-in in response to a growing number of Microsoft 365 users. They no longer support of the older, original Word plugin & desktop app and there will be no further updates to them. However, if you already have the [original] Word plugin installed, you will still be able to use it. Do not use both the old Word plugin and the new MS 365 add-in within the same document.
  • To convert original Sciwheel or F1000 Workspace Word plug-in citations for use with the new Word 365 Sciwheel add-in, see this conversion video.
For more information and instructions on downloading/installing the new Word 365 Sciwheel add-in, see the Sciwheel video here or  click on Help in Sciwheel.
  • Download the new 365 Sciwheel add-in from the Tools drop down in Sciwheel or directly via the Microsoft (MS) app store. Click here for help with Microsoft Store Add-ins > Sciwheel.
  • OR you can download it from within Word by selecting the insert tab and clicking on Get Add-ins. From the Store tab search for Sciwheel.
  • Once installed the Sciwheel add-in tab will be added to your Word ribbon. If you have both the older and newer add-ins installed, the newer one will usually be the one on the right. Once you open the new add-in, you will see the Sciwheel icon to the far left.  Click on it to open and use.
  • When using the desktop version of Word, to access the add-in after installation via Appsource, you will have to go to Insert > My Add-ins in Word to refresh the list before the add-in is shown.  
  • Do not use both the old Word plugin and the new MS 365 add-in within the same document.
Troubleshooting notes:
  • You may need administrative privileges on your computer to download and install the newer Sciwheel Office 365 add-in from MS Store. If you do not have administrative privileges, your computer support personnel should be able to assist you.
  • If your anti-virus or anti-malware software blocks installation from MS Store, computer support should be able to assist you. 
  • If you are using an older version of MS Office/Word (pre 2019), you may need to upgrade. 
  • Additional help with Microsoft Store Add-ins > Sciwheel.

For additional help, contact Sciwheel support (responses generally within a few hours) from the chat button within Sciwheel or via emailSciwheel chat support

Maintain Off-campus Institutional Access

Sciwheel typically requires users to log into their accounts from a campus IP address once every 120 days io retain institutional access. If you are working exclusively remotely, here are two ways to maintain your institutional access (don't worry--all of your citations will still be there!)

1) Sign in via a Sciwheel link on the library website. It takes you through the proxy server, and you will authenticate with UNC's single sign-on (SSO) using your ONYEN and password (as for other resources from off-campus), so you won't need your access extended manually.

2) If you see an 'x days left' message or counter pop up and you're not able to sign in from campus, sign in via a Sciwheel link on the library website).  If that doesn't work, message Sciwheel's customer support directly using the internal blue and white chat button F1000W chat support at the bottom right corner of your your browser window (you may not see this if you are blocking ads or trackers), OR just email them and they will be happy to help you keep your institutional subscription active. In the meantime, you will NOT lose access to your account or to any citations in your account.

  • NOTE from Sciwheel: if users are still seeing the 'x days left' popup and they use the proxy to verify, it doesn't register immediately. They'll get access immediately, but the popup will only disappear if they log out and back in. Admittedly that's a bit confusing (I've had a couple of users saying the proxy didn't work because they were still seeing the popup) and we'll work on improving this, but something to be aware of in the meantime. 
  • In the case where you're a new user with a subscribing institution, but you're unable to get the subscription via your library's link, we can provide complimentary subscriptions to cover you. Please contact us [via email] if this is the case for you."