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Health Sci EndNote Guide

EndNote Web site

MU Libraries: Your Connection to Knowledge

Introduction to EndNote

What is EndNote?

  • EndNote is bibliographic management software that stores and organizes reference citations and works with your word processing software to format bibliographies.

EndNote is free to students!

Some Basic Terminology:

  • Libraries: when you create a new library, EndNote creates two files: a *.enl file and a *.Data folder. You need both!
  • References: individual citations
  • Custom Groups: new for EndNote X1. Create subsets of your references.
  • Output Styles: e.g. Chicago; APA; Science; Am J Soc
  • Import Filters: Use filters to input references when direct export is not available
  • Connection Files: Use connection files to search databases directly from EndNote

Getting Citations Into EndNote: General Principles

  • Direct Export from a database (e.g. Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo) into EndNote
    1. Mark citations of interest
    2. Look for Save, Export, Download or similar
    3. Choose your EndNote library
  • File import (e.g. Sociological Abstracts; Communications Abstracts; ERIC; PubMed)
    1. Mark citations of interest
    2. Look for Save. Save items to your desktop (this file will usually be a .txt or .ris file).
    3. In your EndNote library, choose File>Import. Under Import Data, browse to your file. Under Import Data, choose the proper filter. Note: the filter must match the database provider MU uses. For example, use the ERIC (CSA) filter, not the ERIC (Ovid) filter.

Connect to a Library Database from EndNote

  • Select Tools > Online Search > New Search (in EndNote X, this was Tools > Connect> Connect...)
  • Browse to the desired database, e.g., PubMed (NLM), U Missouri (to search MERLIN, the online catalog). The database will now appear in your Tools > Online Search menu.
  • Be sure to copy your references to your EndNote library.
  • Want to search MERLIN? You will need to fix the current U Missouri connection file. In EndNote, select Edit > Connection Files >Open Connection Manager. Choose U Missouri and click Edit. Select Connection Settings. Change the server address from laurel.lso.missouri.edu to merlin.mobius.umsystem.edu. You'll be asked to save your changs when you close the window.
  • Note: the connection files must match the database provider MU uses. Not all databases have connection files.
  • Use caution when connecting to the databses from EndNote. The connection files can work well for known-item searching (e.g. "I need to add a particular article"), but they're not good at general subject searching. For broader searches, use the databases proper and export results to EndNote.

Manual Entry: use only when you have to!

  • Select Reference > New Reference. Select Reference Type (e.g. Journal Article). Enter the information that you have. Your reference will be automatically saved when you close the window.
  • Some data entry rules:
    • New terms are shown in red; previously entered terms are shown in black
    • To enter an author name, you must use a comma after the last name: e.g., Anderson, K.M.
    • If there is more than one author, use a hard return (Enter) after each name.
    • Corporate names should be entered as they appear with a comma at the end of the name for correct alphabetizing (e.g. American Medical Association,)

Getting Back To the Full Text

  • Many databases will automatically download a link back to the database.
  • You can link directly to FindIt@MU (our OpenURL resolver). See Instructions. Once you have this preference set, highlight or open a reference and select References > URL >OpenURL Link.
  • Linking to a .pdf or other file residing on your computer: Drag and drop the file onto the EndNote record or choose References > File Attachments > Attach File (older EndNote versions: References > Link to PDF).
  • In Edit > Preferences > URLs & Links, you can choose the Relative Link setting. With the relative link, EndNoe will put a copy of the .pdf in your *.Data folder.

Creating Bibliographies

  • Create a quick bibliography with Copy Format:
  1. Choose desired output style
  2. Highlight the desired references from your library
  3. Select Edit > Copy Formatted (Ctrl+K) or right-click Copy Formatted. Note: do not use Copy.
  4. Open a Word document and select Edit > Paste (Ctrl+V)
  • You can also creat bibliographies using Cite While You Write (CWYW).

Basics of Cite While You Write (CWYW)

  • Before starting a manuscript, get rid of any duplicate references in EndNote. You can select References > Find Duplicates, and it's a good idea to sort your references by Title and do a visual check.

  • In Word, put your cursor where you need to cite a reference.
    Choose Tools > EndNote X1> Find Citation(s) or click the Find Citation icon on the toolbar . Search for your citation and Insert. Alternatively, you can: place your cursor in Word; go to EndNote; highlight the desired reference(s) in EndNote; select Tools > CWYW > Insert Selected Citation(s) (Alt+2)

  • Word defaults to the Output Style currently active in EndNote. To change styles, click the Format Bibliography icon . If your Output Style is not in the dropdown menu, choose Browse.

  • To put "References" or "Bibliograhy" before your bibliography, click the Format Bibliography icon . Choose the Layout tab; type in the desired Bibliography title.
  • Use the Edit Citation(s) icon to add phrases such as "see also" or to exclude the Author from in-text citations or to add page numbers to them.
  • Need to delete a citation? Use the Edit Citation(s) icon , highlight the citation, and Remove the citation.

  • Mistake in the reference (e.g. misspelling of author's name)? In Word, highlight the reference and select the Edit Library Reference icon . THis will bring up the reference in EndNote. Edit as needed.

  • Need to submit a manuscript without the EndNote information? In Word, choose Tools > EndNote X1 > Remove Field Codes. Word will strip out all the EndNote codes and create a new document. (If you are sending the document to a collaborator, be kind and don't remove the field coes...)

  • Need to email the EndNote library (and corresponding .pdf files) to a colleague? Compress the library. In EndNote, choose File > Send To > Compressed Library. EndNote will create a single .enlx file, combining the *.enl file and the corresponding *.Data folder. Send the .enlx file. Watch file size!

  • Remember: EndNote is never 100% correct. You must still check your reference list.

Troubleshooting and More Information