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NoodleBib - MLA and APA Citation Formatting

NoodleBib is a Web application that allows you to create and edit MLA and APA-style source lists (i.e. MLA Works Cited lists, APA Reference lists) online and then save and insert or copy and paste into your paper. Access on campus is through the campus network. You may also access this tool through the Library in your ICampus account.

NoodleBib works on most web browsers but it you encounter problems with your home web browser, contact the Busse Library at 368-6465 for suggestions. NoodleBib was designed to run well on at least a 28.8 baud modem on your home computer. You must have both Cookies and Javascript enabled in your browser. If one of these features is disabled, you won't be able to use the program. To enable Cookies and Javascript on Internet Explorer, one can usually find the choice in Tools dropdown menu in Internet Options.

Read this tip sheet before you open NoodleTools and refer back to it as needed. There is online help.

The basic steps for producing a source list for a Works Cited or References page are as follows:

1. Select a style (APA or MLA) from the start screen, then select the source of your first citation from the "Add Citation" drop down menu. The screen will display a form where you can enter the information about the source.

2. The required form fields are marked with an asterisk. You will need to insert the ‘Basic Information’. For more complex citations, you will fill in the ‘Additional information, if available’ fields. For online or electronic media, you'll want to fill in information in the "For an online source..." or electronic media sections as well. Make sure you read any of the help text that appears off to the right of many of the form fields.

3. Click the "Create" button at the bottom when you're done. Your first entry will be displayed, correctly formatted.

4. Continue to add citations to your working bibliography. They will be properly ordered by the software. When finished, or at any time, you may want to see what the final bibliography will look like. Click on Options and Preview Bib.

5a. If you are in the MMC Computer Center you will not be able to do this step because of security restrictions on most machines. Go to 5b. If you are on your own machine you may do either 5a or 5b.

When finished save this to an RTF or text file on your diskette or a directory on your computer. You can insert the RTF file to your paper later. The text (.txt) file can be reloaded in NoodleTools and citations may be added to the file.

RTF stands for "Rich Text Format", and can be directly opened by Microsoft Word and other word processors that support the RTF standard. RTF preserves all page, paragraph, and text formatting, so that when you open the file in Word, you will have a properly formatted list.

To save a source list as an RTF file click "Options --> Save --> RTF File" and follow the on screen directions to name and save the file. By default, the filename is several random characters, followed by the extension ".rtf". We recommend that you change the filename to something that you will remember but leave the extension as .rtf. For example, "termpaper.rtf". The file name should be short and have no spaces.

Please note that RTF files can NOT be reloaded back into NoodleBib via the "Options --> Load" option. Only files saved by following the directions under "Options --> Save --> Text File" can be reloaded. If you intend to add to the file choose text file on the save screen.

5b. Or you may click on "Options --> Preview Bib" and then copy and paste the bibliography into a Word document or your term paper document from the screen and save the file under a name and in a directory or on a diskette that you choose.

6. To insert the RTF file in your Microsoft Word or other word processor document, put the cursor at the point you want to insert the bibliography at the end of the document. Click on Insert, File and then choose the file from your diskette or directory and click on Insert. Save you document.

Other Tips

1. You can edit or delete citations in your working bibliography in NoodleTools. There will also be two graphic icons next to each citation, delete and edit.

To delete a citation you have added, click the delete next to that citation. You cannot retrieve it but must reenter the data if you change your mind.

To edit a citation, click on edit. This will bring up the same form you used to create the entry. Edit the field values and click "Update" to change the citation.

2. You can email the working bibliography to yourself or another person from within NoodleTools. Click "Options --> E-mail" and fill in the e-mail address of the person you want to send it to. Click "Send". The recipient will get an e-mail containing three attached files, one text file that can be load back into NoodleBib using the "Options --> Load" feature, one RTF file that can be opened directly in Word, and one HTML file that can be open in a Web browser.

3. You may start a new working bibliography for another paper after saving the one you just finished. Once you save it, just click "Options --> New Bib" and follow the directions that come up. You must save or you will loose it.

4. To add citations to a source list that was saved as a text file, open NoodleBib and load it by clicking "Options --> Load." Just follow the directions on the screen to browse for the file (filename.txt) on your diskette or computer and open it to add to it and edit it. Save when you are finished.

Mount Mercy College -- 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE -- Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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