The Endnote software is an indispensable tool for researchers and students alike. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that can streamline the process of managing references and bibliographies. With Endnote, you can easily import and organize your references, create formatted bibliographies, and share your research with others. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to use Endnote, from importing references to creating bibliographies. So whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just starting out, read on to learn how to harness the power of Endnote to enhance your research workflow.
One of the most important features of Endnote is its ability to import references from a variety of sources. You can import references from online databases, PDFs, and even books. Once you have imported your references, you can organize them into folders and subfolders, making it easy to find the references you need. Endnote also allows you to create custom fields, so you can track any information that is important to you. For example, you could create a custom field to track the status of your research projects or the funding sources for your research.
Once you have organized your references, you can start creating bibliographies. Endnote offers a variety of bibliography styles to choose from, so you can easily create a bibliography that meets the requirements of your academic institution or journal. You can also create custom bibliographies, so you can include only the references that you need. Endnote makes it easy to share your bibliographies with others. You can export your bibliographies to a variety of formats, including PDF, Word, and HTML. You can also share your bibliographies online using Endnote’s web service.
Import References into EndNote
Importing references into EndNote is a crucial step to organize your research materials and easily create bibliographies in your documents. Follow these detailed instructions to seamlessly import references from various sources into EndNote:
Manual Entry
Manually add references by clicking “New Reference” in the EndNote toolbar. Enter the required details for each reference, including:
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | First and last names of authors in the specified order |
| Title | Full title of the article, book, or web page |
| Journal or Book Title | Name of the journal or book where the reference appeared |
| Year | Year of publication |
| Volume and Issue (for journals) | Volume and issue number of the journal where the reference appeared |
| Pages (for articles) | First and last page numbers of the article |
| Publisher | Name of the publisher (for books) |
| Location | City of publication (for books) |
| URL (for web pages) | Full web address of the webpage |
Create a New Bibliography
Both EndNote’s desktop client and online portal allow you to build and manage bibliographies. We’ll concentrate on building one for the first time in this tutorial.
1. Create a new EndNote library
In order to house your bibliographies, EndNote libraries serve as repositories. Open your EndNote software and follow the instructions below to create a new library:
| Desktop Client | Online Portal |
|---|---|
| – Go to File > New > Library. | – Click on “Create New Library” on the left-hand menu. |
| – Specify the location and name for your library. | – Specify the name of your library. |
| – Click on “Save”. | – Click on “Create”. |
2. Add references to your library
There are several ways to add references to your EndNote library:
- Manually entering reference information: You can manually input data into EndNote’s reference fields by selecting “New Reference” from the “References” menu or hitting Ctrl+N (Command+N on Mac).
- Importing from a file: EndNote allows you to import references from various file formats, such as RIS, BibTeX, and PubMed. To do so, select “Import” from the “File” menu and choose the desired file type.
- Searching online databases: EndNote directly integrates with several online databases, enabling you to search and import references with ease. Go to “Online Search” under the “References” menu and select the desired database.
3. Create a bibliography
After adding references to your library, you can create a bibliography. Here’s how:
- Select the references you want to include in the bibliography.
- Click on “Bibliography” under the “Format” menu.
- Choose the desired bibliography style and save or export the bibliography in the desired format.
Format Your Bibliography
Endnote allows you to format your bibliography in a variety of styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago.
1. Choose a Bibliography Style
To choose a bibliography style, click the “Format Bibliography” button in the Endnote toolbar. In the “Format Bibliography” dialog box, select the desired style from the “Output Style” drop-down menu.
2. Insert a Bibliography
To insert a bibliography into your document, place the cursor where you want the bibliography to appear. Then, click the “Insert Bibliography” button in the Endnote toolbar. Endnote will automatically generate a bibliography based on the selected bibliography style and the references in your Endnote library.
3. Customize Bibliography Settings
You can customize your Endnote bibliography by adjusting a variety of settings, such as the font, font size, and line spacing. You can also control the appearance of the bibliography titles, such as whether or not to include the title “References” or “Bibliography.”
| Setting | Location |
|---|---|
| Font | “Format Bibliography” dialog box, “Font” drop-down menu |
| Font Size | “Format Bibliography” dialog box, “Font Size” drop-down menu |
| Line Spacing | “Format Bibliography” dialog box, “Line Spacing” drop-down menu |
| Include Title | “Format Bibliography” dialog box, “Include Title” checkbox |
| Title Text | “Format Bibliography” dialog box, “Title Text” field |
By customizing your Endnote bibliography settings, you can create a bibliography that meets the specific requirements of your project.
Insert Citations into Your Document
1. Add a Citation
To insert a citation, click the “Insert Citation” button in the EndNote toolbar. The EndNote window will appear, displaying your saved references.
2. Search for References
You can search for references using the search field or by browsing the categories. Once you find the reference you want, click on it to insert it into your document.
3. Select Citation Style
EndNote allows you to choose from a variety of citation styles. Select the style you want from the “Style” drop-down menu in the EndNote toolbar.
4. Configure Citation Options
- Author Order: Choose the order in which authors’ names should appear in the citation.
- Date Format: Specify the format for the date in the citation.
- Citation Location: Choose whether to insert the citation as a footnote or in parentheses in the text.
- Bibliography: Select whether to include a bibliography at the end of your document.
- Prefix/Suffix: Add custom text before or after the citation.
- Citation Numbers: Choose the format for citation numbers (e.g., [1], (1), 1).
5. Insert Bibliography
After you have inserted citations into your document, you can insert a bibliography by clicking the “Insert Bibliography” button in the EndNote toolbar. The bibliography will automatically update if you make changes to your references or citation style.
Tips for Inserting Citations
- Use EndNote’s “Find and Replace” feature to replace citations with different styles if necessary.
- Make sure to edit the prefix/suffix options if you need to add additional text to your citations.
- Always check your citations and bibliography for accuracy before submitting your document.
Manage Reference Groups
Reference groups are a powerful tool in EndNote that allow you to organize your references into different categories. This can be helpful for keeping track of references for different projects, or for separating references by topic or type. To create a new reference group, click on the “Groups” tab in the EndNote library window. Then, click on the “New Group” button. In the “New Group” dialog box, enter a name for the new group and click on the “OK” button.
Delete a Reference Group
To delete a reference group, select the group in the “Groups” tab and click on the “Delete Group” button. You will be prompted to confirm that you want to delete the group. Click on the “Yes” button to delete the group. All of the references in the deleted group will be moved to the “Ungrouped” group.
Rename a Reference Group
To rename a reference group, select the group in the “Groups” tab and click on the “Rename Group” button. In the “Rename Group” dialog box, enter a new name for the group and click on the “OK” button. All of the references in the renamed group will be updated with the new group name.
Reorder Reference Groups
To reorder reference groups, select the group in the “Groups” tab and drag it to the desired location. The groups will be reordered accordingly.
Assign a Reference to a Group
To assign a reference to a group, select the reference in the EndNote library window and click on the “Assign to Group” button. In the “Assign to Group” dialog box, select the desired group from the drop-down list and click on the “OK” button. The reference will be assigned to the selected group.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Create a new reference group by clicking on the “Groups” tab and then on the “New Group” button. |
| 2 | Enter a name for the new group and click on the “OK” button. |
| 3 | Select the references that you want to add to the new group. |
| 4 | Click on the “Assign to Group” button. |
| 5 | Select the new group from the drop-down list and click on the “OK” button. |
Edit References
To edit a reference, double-click on it in the EndNote library. When you make your desired changes, click “Save” to apply them.
Delete References
Step 1: Select References
Select the references you want to delete by clicking on them one by one while holding down the “Ctrl” key on Windows or the “Command” key on Mac.
Step 2: Delete Multiple References
With the references selected, right-click and choose “Delete” from the menu. Alternatively, you can press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
Step 3: Delete Single Reference
For individual references, you can simply right-click on the entry and select “Delete.” Alternatively, select the reference and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
Step 4: Confirm Deletion
A confirmation dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the deletion. Click “Yes” to delete the selected references.
Step 5: Undo Deletion (Optional)
If you accidentally delete a reference, you can undo the action by clicking “Edit” > “Undo Delete” from the EndNote menu bar.
Notes:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all references | Ctrl/Command + A |
| Deselect all references | Ctrl/Command + D |
| Delete selected references | Delete key or Right-click > Delete |
Customize EndNote Settings
EndNote offers a wide range of settings to personalize your research experience. To access these settings, click the “Edit” tab in the EndNote toolbar and select “Preferences.”
1. General Settings
In the “General” tab, you can adjust overall EndNote preferences, such as the default library location, backup settings, and automatic update options.
2. Display Settings
The “Display” tab allows you to customize the appearance of EndNote, including font size, window layout, and display options for references and attachments.
3. Import Settings
The “Import” tab provides options for customizing the import process, such as default file formats, citation style recognition, and field mapping.
4. Export Settings
The “Export” tab offers settings for exporting references to various formats, including Word, PDF, and RTF. You can choose different citation styles and adjust the output appearance.
5. Sync Settings
The “Sync” tab lets you manage your EndNote libraries across multiple devices. You can choose to sync your library online or through a local network.
6. Search Settings
The “Search” tab provides options for customizing the search functionality within EndNote. You can choose which fields to search, set search limits, and adjust the relevance ranking of results.
7. Advanced Settings
The “Advanced” tab offers a range of advanced options, including citation style editing, custom field creation, and export filters. These settings are recommended only for experienced EndNote users or those who require specific customizations.
| Field | Options |
|---|---|
| Authors | Include or exclude authors |
| Title | Include or exclude title |
| Publisher | Include or exclude publisher |
| Date | Include or exclude date |
EndNote Stalls When Trying to Format a Document
Error: EndNote stalls or crashes when trying to format a document.
Cause: The EndNote library file (.enl) is corrupted or damaged.
Solution:
- Quit EndNote.
- Navigate to the location of the library file (.enl) on your computer. The default location is:
- Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/EndNote
- Windows: C:\Program Files\EndNote\
- Rename the library file to something like “old_library.enl”.
- Restart EndNote.
The library file will be recreated automatically.
EndNote Crashes When Trying to Import a Bibliography
Error: EndNote crashes when trying to import a bibliography.
Cause: The bibliography file is corrupted or damaged.
Solution:
- Quit EndNote.
- Navigate to the location of the bibliography file (.bib) on your computer.
- Open the bibliography file in a text editor, such as TextEdit or Notepad.
- Look for any errors or inconsistencies in the file. For example, missing commas or quotation marks.
- Correct the errors and save the file.
- Restart EndNote and try to import the bibliography file again.
If the problem persists, try importing the bibliography file into a new EndNote library.
EndNote Doesn’t Recognize Citations
Error: EndNote doesn’t recognize citations in a document.
Cause: The citation style is not installed or activated.
Solution:
- Quit EndNote.
- Download the citation style from the EndNote website.
- Install the citation style by double-clicking on the .ens file.
- Restart EndNote.
- Activate the citation style by clicking on “Styles” in the EndNote toolbar and selecting the desired style.
If the problem persists, try creating a new EndNote library and importing the document into it.
Use EndNote’s Collaboration Features
EndNote allows multiple users to collaborate on the same library, which can be a great way to share research and work together on projects. To collaborate on a library, you first need to create a shared group. Once you have created a group, you can invite other users to join. Once users have joined the group, they will be able to access the shared library and make changes to it.
Creating a Shared Group
To create a shared group, click on the “Collaborate” tab in the EndNote toolbar. Then, click on the “Create Group” button. In the “Create Group” dialog box, enter a name for the group and a description. You can also choose to make the group public or private. If you make the group private, you will need to invite users to join the group.
Inviting Users to Join a Group
To invite users to join a group, click on the “Invite Users” button in the “Collaborate” tab. In the “Invite Users” dialog box, enter the email addresses of the users you want to invite. You can also include a message in the invitation.
Accepting an Invitation to Join a Group
When you receive an invitation to join a group, you will receive an email with a link to the group. Click on the link to accept the invitation. Once you have accepted the invitation, you will be able to access the shared library.
Sharing a Library with a Group
To share a library with a group, click on the “Share” button in the “Collaborate” tab. In the “Share Library” dialog box, select the group you want to share the library with. You can also choose to share the library with all users in the group or only with specific users.
Editing a Shared Library
Once you have shared a library with a group, other users in the group will be able to make changes to the library. To edit a shared library, click on the “Edit” button in the “Collaborate” tab. In the “Edit Library” dialog box, you can make changes to the library’s settings, such as the library name, description, and access permissions.
Managing Group Members
As the group owner, you can manage the members of your group. To manage group members, click on the “Members” tab in the “Collaborate” dialog box. In the “Members” tab, you can view a list of all the members of the group. You can also add, remove, or edit members.
Leaving a Group
If you no longer want to be a member of a group, you can leave the group. To leave a group, click on the “Leave Group” button in the “Collaborate” dialog box.
Deleting a Group
If you are the group owner, you can delete the group. To delete a group, click on the “Delete Group” button in the “Collaborate” dialog box. When you delete a group, all of the members of the group will be removed and the group will be deleted.
| Collaboration Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Create a shared group | Allows multiple users to collaborate on the same library. |
| Invite users to join a group | Adds users to a shared group. |
| Accepting an invitation to join a group | Allows users to access a shared library. |
| Share a library with a group | Makes a library available to a group of users. |
| Edit a shared library | Allows users to make changes to a shared library. |
| Manage group members | Allows the group owner to add, remove, or edit members. |
| Leave a group | Allows users to leave a group. |
| Deleting a Group | Removes a group and all of its members. |
Export References from EndNote
Step 1: Select References
Choose the references you want to export from your EndNote library. You can select individual references or filter and select multiple references based on criteria.
Step 2: Choose Export Format
In the EndNote menu bar, click on “File” > “Export”. In the “Export Format” dialog box, select the desired file format for your citations.
Step 3: Configure Export Settings
Depending on the chosen format, you may need to configure additional export settings. For example, you can specify the citation style, bibliography layout, and export options.
Step 4: Select Export Location
Choose the destination folder where you want to save the exported references. You can also specify the file name for the exported file.
Step 5: Export References
Click on the “Export” button to start the export process. EndNote will generate a file in the specified format containing the selected references.
Step 6: Verify Exported File
Open the exported file to ensure that the references have been exported correctly. Check the format, citation style, and any other relevant information.
Step 7: Import to Word Processor
Import the exported references into your word processor using the appropriate citation management tool. This will allow you to easily insert citations and create bibliographies in your document.
Step 8: Manage Exported References
Once you have exported references, you may want to organize or edit them in EndNote. You can create new reference groups, add notes, or modify existing references as needed.
Step 9: Export as Separate Bibliography File
If you prefer to keep your references separate from your main document, you can export them as a separate bibliography file. This allows you to easily update or modify the bibliography without affecting the main document.
Step 10: Considerations for Different File Formats
Different file formats have distinct capabilities and limitations:
| Format | Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Text Format (RTF) | Preserves text formatting and annotations | May not be compatible with all software |
| Plain Text (TXT) | Simple text file format | Loses formatting and annotations |
| BibTeX | Open-source bibliography format | Requires specialized software to use |
| RIS | Research Information Systems format | Designed for exchanging bibliographical information |
| XML | Extensible Markup Language | Flexible and customizable, but complex to implement |
How to Use Endnote
Endnote is a powerful reference management software that can help you to organize your research, create bibliographies, and format your citations. Here are the basic steps on how to use Endnote:
- Install Endnote. You can download Endnote from the Endnote website.
- Create a new library. A library is a collection of references that you can manage with Endnote. To create a new library, click on the “File” menu and select “New Library”.
- Add references to your library. You can add references to your library by importing them from a file, searching for them online, or manually entering them.
- Organize your references. You can organize your references into folders and subfolders. To create a new folder, click on the “Organize” menu and select “New Folder”.
- Create a bibliography. You can create a bibliography by selecting the references that you want to include and clicking on the “Bibliography” menu. You can choose from a variety of bibliography styles.
- Format your citations. You can format your citations by selecting the text that you want to cite and clicking on the “Cite” menu. You can choose from a variety of citation styles.
People Also Ask
How do I import references into Endnote?
You can import references into Endnote by importing them from a file, searching for them online, or manually entering them.
To import references from a file, click on the “File” menu and select “Import”. You can then select the file that you want to import from.
To search for references online, click on the “Search” menu and select “Online Search”. You can then enter the search terms that you want to use.
To manually enter references, click on the “References” menu and select “New Reference”. You can then enter the reference information into the fields that are provided.
How do I create a bibliography in Endnote?
You can create a bibliography by selecting the references that you want to include and clicking on the “Bibliography” menu. You can choose from a variety of bibliography styles.
To select the references that you want to include, click on the “References” menu and select “Select References”. You can then select the references that you want to include by clicking on them.
To choose a bibliography style, click on the “Bibliography” menu and select “Style”. You can then select the bibliography style that you want to use from the list of available styles.
How do I format citations in Endnote?
You can format citations by selecting the text that you want to cite and clicking on the “Cite” menu. You can choose from a variety of citation styles.
To select the text that you want to cite, highlight the text.
To choose a citation style, click on the “Cite” menu and select “Style”. You can then select the citation style that you want to use from the list of available styles.
