NoodleTools How to Guide: Print or Export a Source List

Before you print/export your source list and open it in your word processor or Google Docs, NoodleTools allows you to do some basic formatting. To see the formatting options, click Print/Export at the top of your source list and select Formatting Options…

Keep in mind that formatting options affect only the list that is open. Other projects in your personal folder will not change. The formatting options are:

List title

By default, MLA lists are titled “Works Cited,” APA lists are titled “References,” and Chicago lists are titled “Bibliography.” These are the most common titles, but you may want a title that reflects the contents of your particular source list. For example, if you have added annotations to your MLA list, a more descriptive title would be “Annotated List of Works Cited.”

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click Works Cited.
3. If you are creating an MLA style list, select one of the titles from the examples listed by clicking on the associated hyperlink, or create your own title by typing a title in and clicking Set Custom Title.
4. If you are creating an APA or Chicago style list, no preset alternatives are provided. Simply type your own title in and click Set Custom Title.

​Page header (MLA and APA only)

A “header” is information that appears at the top of each page of your paper. The MLA Handbook indicates that the header at the top of your source list should consist of your last name followed by a space and the page number. The APA Publication Manual states that the header should consist of a shortened version (50 characters or fewer) of the title of your paper (all capital letters, flush left), and the page number (flush right, continued from the body of the paper). If you are not writing a paper that will be published, a header is generally not required (you can ask your teacher if you aren’t sure). NoodleTools can add the header to your source list for you, correctly formatted (although you will still need to make sure that it also appears throughout your essay).

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click None
3. If you are creating an MLA style list, enter your last name and click Set Header.
4. If you are creating an APA style list, enter a shortened version of your paper’s title and click Set Header.

​Italics/Underlining (MLA only)

The current edition of the MLA Handbook suggests that italic type should be used as long as the text is readable in your chosen font. By default, NoodleTools uses italics in your source list. However, your teacher may instruct you to use underlining.

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click Italics.
3. Click “Switch to underlining.”
4. All entries in your list will be automatically updated to use underlining.

Annotation spacing (MLA only)

The MLA Handbook recommends that an annotation immediately follow the source reference, without any separation (see example in section 5.3.1 of the MLA Handbook). By default, NoodleTools displays annotations in this manner. However, your teacher may instruct you to separate annotations with an extra vertical space, for readability.

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click Annotation follows citation on the same line.
3. Click Start annotations on a new line.
4. All annotations in your source list will be automatically updated.

Include or omit annotations

If you have included annotations in your source list but you do not wish them to appear in the version you print or export, you can omit them:

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click Citations and annotations.
3. Click Print citations only (omit the annotations).

Note that your annotations will no longer appear in your source list, even though you can still edit existing or add new annotations.

Include or omit URLs (MLA only)

The current edition of the MLA Handbook indicates that URLs should generally not be included for online sources unless your reader will not be able to locate the source without it (or your teacher is requiring them).

 If you have included URLs in your source list but you do not wish them to appear in the version you print or export, you can omit them:

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Under Formatting Options, click URLs are included in exported Works Cited.
3. Click Omit URLs from exported Works Cited.

Note that URLs will no longer appear in your source list, even though you can still see them when you edit the references.

Other formatting

To change other document formatting, such as fonts and line spacing, wait until your source list is complete and then make the changes after you have opened your source list in a word processing program or Google Docs.

How to export as Word or RTF and add it to your research paper

1. Click Print/Export and choose to Word (which generates a .docx file) or as RTF. While Microsoft Word is often used, .rtf files can be opened in any word processor that supports that file format standard (nearly all word processors do).

2. When you choose to export to a .rtf or .docx file, there are a few possible workflows:

• If your computer is configured to open Word or another word processing program automatically, your source list may immediately download and open within that word processor. This may or may not be the word processor that you have used to write the rest of your research paper. Regardless, to save the source list, use that word processor’s File> Save as… mechanism to save the document as you wish (for example, in Word, as a .docx file), to a location on your computer or network that you will remember.
• If your browser is configured to prompt you before opening the file, a browser pop-up window will appear asking you whether you would like to save or open the file. Save the file to a location on your computer or network that you will remember.
•  A security message may notify you that the browser has blocked the site from downloading the file. Click the message and allow the download, then follow options 1 or 2 above.

Now that the file has been saved to your computer, open it and copy and paste the source list to the end of your research paper. It is customary to begin your source list on a new page, not on the last page of your research paper.

NOTE: Do not re-save a .rtf file as a .rtf file after opening it in Word. Doing so can cause formatting issues due to the way Word handles certain RTF codes. Instead, save as .docx.

How to export to a Google Doc and add it to your research paper

To export your source list to a Google Doc:

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Click Print/Export to Google Docs.
3. You may be prompted to sign in to your Google account and/or grant access to allow NoodleTools to write a new document. Once complete, your source list will appear in a new Google Doc.
4. Now that the file has been saved in a Google Doc, open it and copy and paste the source list to the end of your research paper. It is customary to begin your source list on a new page, not on the last page of your research paper.

How to preview the source list (HTML)

NoodleTools allows you to preview your formatted source list as an HTML-based webpage: 

1. Click Print/Export.
2. Click Preview as Web Page (HTML).
3. A new window will open containing just your source list. If no window appears, disable your popup blocker and retry.

How to print your source list

The final version of your source list should always be printed after it is exported and viewed in your word processor or Google Docs. Do not print your source list from the Preview version because that webpage represents only a close approximation of the correct spacing and formatting.