EndNote: the Basics

Once you have installed EndNote onto your computer,  it's time to get started! This section will review the following:

• creating and saving an EndNote library
• creating references manually and from article PDFs 
• gathering references from article databases 
• editing references
• using "Groups" to organize the references 
• removing references from a library
• creating a back-up EndNote library

Creating and Saving an EndNote Library

1. Open the EndNote program. When prompted, select Create a new library.*
2. Select a location on your desktop to save the library
3. Give your EndNote library a name and select Save.

Please note that in addition to creating an .enl file for your EndNote library, a folder with the same name ending in .data was also created. These two files must always be stored in the same location on your computer. If the .data file associated with your EndNote library is missing or deleted,  your EndNote library will not function.

To upload or email your EndNote library with its associated .data file, you need to create a compressed file. 

*Mac users also have the option of saving their EndNote library as .enlp file, which is 'package' file. This means that the .enl and .data files will be stored together in what will appear to be a single file.

There are advantages - and - disadvantages of saving an EndNote library as .enlp file. Please consult EndNote's FAQ on .enlp files to decide whether saving your library as an .enlp will be helpful to you.

Creating References Manually

1. In the command bar on the upper left-side of the screen, select References >>New Reference >>use the pull-down menu to select a Reference Type (e.g., Web Page).
2. Fill in the required fields for your reference type. Consult the Citing Information guide for more information on how to create a citation for your reference type.
3. When you have completed creating a new reference, close out of the window and select Save.     

Creating Journal Article References from PDFs

EndNote allows users to create journal article references from PDFs. In order for EndNote to create a complete journal article reference from a PDF, the PDF must have a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) embedded within it.

A DOI will provide information regarding the article (i.e.e, article title, authors, journal name, date, volume and issue). If a DOI is not embedded within the  PDF, EndNote will still import the file but you will need to enter the article's information manually.

To import an individual PDF file, or a folder of PDF files, complete the following steps:

1. In the command bar on the upper left-side of the screen, select File >>Import... >>select either a File or Folder
2. When prompted, browse for and choose the file, or folder, you want  to import.
3. Under Import Option, select PDF and then, Import.

Imported PDFs that create a references consisting of a file name in < > will require you to enter additional information. Try updating the reference by editing the reference to add the full article title and then select from the command bar, References >>Find Reference Updates.

The following are instructions for exporting references from major article databases and/or database platforms. Most databases offer some type of direct export of citations into EndNote. If you do not see an export to EndNote option listed, then look for an option to export citations in .RIS format.

EBSCO databases

1. Perform a search in an EBSCO database. Select the references you want to export by clicking the Add to Folder icon. 
2. When ready to export your selected references, select the Folder icon on the command ribbon. Your references will be displayed. Select all of the references and then select Export icon listed in the right side of the screen.
3. Under Save citations to a file formatted for, select Direct Export in RIS Format (e.g. CITAVI, EasyBib, EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, Zotero). Select Save. 

To bulk download citations, pull down the "Share" option on the right side of the results screen. Then, select use the "Email a link to download exported results (up to 25000)". 

Google Scholar

1. From the Google Scholar search page, click on the Settings icon, located on the upper right-side of the screen. 
2. Under Bibliography Manager, select Show links to import into and select EndNote from the drop-down menu. Click Save.
3. Conduct your search in Google Scholar.
4. Each record displayed will have an Import into EndNote link. Click on the Import into EndNote link.

Ovid Databases

1. Perform a search in an Ovid database and use the checkboxes to select individual references.
2. Scroll up to the top of the list of references and select Export.
3. In the "Export Citation List" window:
   • Under the Export to pull-down menu>>EndNote
   • Under Select Fields to Display>> select Complete Reference
   • Select >>Export Citation(s)

You can bulk export up to 5000 references at a time.

ProQuest Databases

1. You will need to create an account with ProQuest.
2. Once you have create an account in ProQuest, perform a search in a ProQuest database. Use the checkboxes to select individual references.

3. Scroll up to the top of the list of references and select Export/Save

4. Select EndNote, Citavi, or Reference Manager. Another window will open prompting you to select EndNote, Citavi, or Reference Manager, then select Continue.

PubMed

1. Perform search in PubMed. On the results screen, choose citations to export by selecting the checkbox next to the result.
2.  At the top of the results screen, select Send To and then Citation manager.
3.  From the pull-down menu, choose which results to export, then select Create File.

EMBASE

1. Perform search in Embase. On the results screen, choose citations to export by selecting the checkbox next to the result.
2. At the top of the results list, either choose citations to export by selecting the checkbox next to the result - or - select the number of results you want to export from the pull-down menu. Select Export.
3. From Format the pull-down menu, select RIS Format (Mendeley, EndNote).

Scopus

1. Open another browser window, go to Scopus and perform a search. Use the checkboxes to select individual references.
2. Scroll to the top of the list of search results and select the Export icon.
3. Under Export format, select RIS Format (Reference Manager, ProCite, EndNote). Under Output select All Available Information. Select Export.
4. A .ris file will be downloaded from Scopus. Save this file onto your computer.
5. In EndNote, go to File > Import. Browse for and select the .ris file you saved. Under Import Option, select Reference Manager (RIS). Select Import.

Tufts Libraries Catalog

1.  Perform a search in the Tufts Catalog. Use the checkboxes to select individual results.
2.  At the top of the results screen. Click on "..." icon (near to the push pin icon).  
3. Select "Export RIS" and then select "Download."  

Web of Science

1. Perform a search in Web of Science and use the checkboxes to select individual references.
2. At the top (or bottom) of the results list, from the pull-down menu select the option Save to EndNote desktop.
3. If prompted, select the EndNote program file. 

Creating a group

1. From the command bar at the top of the screen, Select Groups then Create Group.
2. Give the group a name; this will appear on the left-side of the screen.

Putting references in a group

1. Using the mouse while pressing the Ctrl key (or ⌘ key), select the references you wish to add to a group.
2. Drag and drop the highlighted reference from your reference list into the group on the left side of the screen.

Removing references from a group

1. Using the mouse while pressing  the Ctrl key (or ⌘ key), select the references you wish to remove from a group.
2. Right-click the mouse (Control-click) and select Remove References from Group. This will remove the reference from the group but not from your EndNote library.*

*Please note that dragging and dropping references from a group into the Trash will delete the reference from the entire library!

Editing a Reference

1. Select the reference you want to edit and then select the Edit tab on reference display panel on the right side of the screen. This will show you information fields for the reference.
2. After you have finished editing the reference, select Save at the top of the display panel

Attaching PDFs to a reference

1. From the list of references, select and double-click on a particular reference to which you want to attach a PDF.
2. Then, either:
   • At the top of the edit a reference window, click on the paperclip icon. Select a PDF stored on your computer and select Open. 
   •  - OR -
   • In the reference edit window, scroll down until you see the File Attachments field. Right-click within the File Attachments field and File Attachments >> Attach Files.  Select a PDF stored on your computer and select Open. 

Removing references

1. Using the mouse while pressing  the Ctrl key (or ⌘ key), select the references you wish to delete. 
2. Drag and drop the highlighted reference from your reference list to the Trash icon on the left side of the screen.

References are emptied from the Trash when you close out of EndNote. Once the Trash has been emptied, deleted references cannot be retrieved. 

Compressing an EndNote library

Use the compress library feature to create a back-up, send or upload a copy of an EndNote library.

1.  In your EndNote library, go to the command ribbon and select File> Compressed Library (.enlx).
2. Select whether you want to:
   •  include file attachments (i.e., PDFs)
   • to compress only certain references belong to a group or that you have selected
3. Select Next. When prompted, select a location on your desktop and provide a name for the file. If creating a back-up library, it is a good idea to include the date created as part of the file name.

A single file containing ending in .enlx will be created containing both the library's .enl file and it's associated .data folder. When this file is saved and opened on a computer with EndNote installed, EndNote will extracted the .enl and .data files.