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A free tool for researchers & students

Literature review matrix generator

Upload included-studies RIS and download an Excel literature synthesis matrix with authors, abstracts, and blank columns for methodology and findings.

Build matrix
# Authors Year Title Journal DOI Abstract Methodology Sample size Key findings Limitations My notes
1 Smith, J. et al. 2022 Example study on workplace wellbeing (illustrative) J. Appl. Psychol. 10.0000/example Abstract text from your RIS appears here…
2 Lee, A. et al. 2020 Second included paper (illustrative) Health Soc. Care 10.0000/example2 You type methodology, findings, and limits in the coloured cells.
3 Nguyen, T. et al. 2019 Longitudinal cohort on student engagement (illustrative) Educ. Psychol. Rev. 10.0000/example3 Prefilled metadata from your export; synthesis columns stay blank for your notes.
4 Patel, R. et al. 2018 Mixed-methods review of clinical pathways (illustrative) BMJ Open 10.0000/example4 Filter and sort using the header row once your full set is in Excel.

Your literature selection filled in an easy to use Excel file, ready to use

Upload included-studies RIS

We build an Excel synthesis matrix with authors, year, journal, abstract, and blank columns for your notes.

  • RIS (.ris), EndNote RefMan export (.txt), and PubMed (.nbib)
  • Prefilled authors, year, title, journal, DOI, and abstract
  • Colour-coded columns for methodology, sample size, findings, and limits
  • Duplicate DOIs removed automatically (first record kept)
  • Email with Excel download link and year-of-publication chart
  • Up to 20,000 citations / 50MB total filesize
  • This is a FREE service.
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Upload your RIS file/s containing your literature. Up to 20,000 citations / 50MB total filesize.
Optional source labels help identify citations in your report. Remove any file before submitting.
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What you get

A shareable HTML report plus your systematic review data extraction template (in Excel) with metadata filled in, and synthesis columns ready for note-taking.

Downloadable literature matrix

RIS to Excel table layout: one row per included study, filters on the header row, and a “How to use” sheet.

Prefilled bibliography

First author et al., year, title, journal, DOI (linked), and abstract from your upload.

Synthesis columns

Blank, colour-coded cells for methodology, sample size, key findings, limitations, and your notes.

Year chart

Publication years across your included set in email and on your report page.

Public report link

Summary stats and chart you can bookmark and share. The report is available indefinitely.

Clean included set

Duplicate records with the same DOI are merged automatically so your PRISMA literature grid starts tidy.

As used by students at ...

  • Monash University
  • University of London
  • National University of Singapore
  • University of California
  • Queen's University
  • University of Reading
  • University of Southern Queensland
  • University of Vienna
  • University of Texas at Arlington
  • Université Paris Cité
  • Utrecht University
  • Université de Toulouse
  • Vietnam National University, Hanoi
  • University of South Africa
  • Indira Gandhi National Open University
  • Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • University of Indonesia
  • Tecnológico Nacional de México
  • National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Durham University
  • University of Wales
  • University of the Sunshine Coast
  • The University of Western Australia
  • Victoria University of Wellington

How it works

From RIS file to synthesis table in three steps.

  1. 1
    Export your included references
    Export RIS from Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, Scopus, PubMed, or Rayyan (or EndNote RefMan .txt / PubMed .nbib).
  2. 2
    Upload and build the matrix
    We parse your files, remove duplicate DOIs, and generate the Excel literature review matrix with prefilled metadata and blank synthesis columns.
  3. 3
    Download and complete your synthesis
    Open the .xlsx from your email, fill in methodology and findings, and use filters to compare studies. Share the public report link if helpful.
Build matrix free

FAQ

What is a literature review matrix?

A literature review matrix (literature grid, synthesis table, or literature summary table) is a systematic tool used by researchers to organize, compare, and synthesize literature. It allows researchers to track methodologies, sample sizes, and key findings across multiple studies in a single spreadsheet or table. The matrix typically contains columns for the year of publication, authors, title, methodology, sample size and other relevant information.

Are duplicate references removed?

Yes. When two or more records share the same DOI, only the first is kept in your matrix. References without a DOI are always included.

Where can I learn more about how to use a Literature Review Matrix?

Monash University’s guide to writing a literature review: https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/excel-at-writing/how-to-write/literature-review/the-process-of-writing-a-literature-review. The University of the Sunshine Coast describes a literature grid (https://libguides.usc.edu.au/read-notes/literature-grid) for reading and note-taking.

Can I export my references in a RIS file from my reference manager?

This tool supports RIS file exports from many software applications such as Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Rayyan.

Can I export from EndNote and import into this tool?

Yes. 1. Open EndNote and select the references you want to export. 2. Click 'File' > 'Export' from the top menu. 3. Choose a destination folder and type a file name. 4. Set 'Save as type' to 'Text File (*.txt)'. 5. Set 'Output style' to 'RefMan (RIS) Export'. If it does not appear in the dropdown menu, click 'Select Another Style...' and search for 'RefMan (RIS) Export'. 6. Click Save. 7. Locate the saved .txt file and rename the file extension from .txt to .ris. 8. Upload the .ris file into the form on this page. Note: Instructions adapted from https://libguides.babson.edu/c.php?g=26340&p=7249083.

Is this tool free?

Yes. Same free tier as our other web tools (20,000 citations per job, 50 MB upload limit, 7-day download retention).

How long are my files available?

Download links in your email work for 7 days, then files are deleted automatically. Your public HTML report page remains available after downloads expire.