Help Guides: Endnote: How to

Accessing EndNote

EndNote is a software package that allows you to manage your references to create bibliographies and citations. It is available for both Macintosh and PC computers.
The software can be downloaded for either PC or Macintosh from the Library.
EndNote is downloaded in a compressed format. Before you can install the software, you have to extract the installer.
- Many computers come with extraction software already installed, if you right-click on the EndNote icon, "Extract All" will show up as one of the choices on the pop-menu. Select that option and another EndNote icon will appear. Install that one.
- If "Extract All" is not an option for you, then you need to install extraction software. Winzip.com is a popular choice.
If you are being prompted for a Product Key, you need to extract the software first.
Once installed, you can use the software to collect, organize, and use references

Entering References

To add references to your library, you will select from options across the top of the screen.

One option is to hand enter references. Select the button with the plus sign (+).

A new window will open. From the pull-down menu, select the type of document you are creating a reference for. Most items will be journal articles, although there is also the possibility of books or book chapters.

Once you select the document type, the system automatically sets out the fields that need to be filled. The minimum amount of information is listed in the first few fields. There are additional fields you can fill.

If you have less than ten items to add, hand typing may well be the most efficient approach.

Importing References from PubMed

Perform your PubMed search as usual.

To select references to add to your library, click in the boxes next to those items.

From the "Send To" pull-down menu, click on the option for "Citation manager".

You can bring the references into EndNote by clicking on the file you created.

To bring the references into EndNote manually, select "Import" from the pull-down menu labeled "File".

Find the file that contains your references (It will likely be called pubmed_result.txt).

You will need to apply a filter to import the file. To do so, click on the button labeled "Options".

Select the filter needed to appropriately tag the references. In this case, choose "PubMed" as your filter.

The references will automatically be saved to a group called "Imported References".

Importing References from CINAHL

Perform your searchin in CINAHL as usual. For references that you want to add to your collection, click on the link labeled "Add to folder".

As you select your references, the contents of the folder appear in a box on the right side of the screen. Once you've selected the references you are interested in, click on the link labeled "Go to: Folder View" to see the contents of your folder.

Within the folder, you must again select the references you want to export. You can select all references by clicking in the box labeled "Select/deselect all" at the top of the screen. If upon further review, there are references you no longer want, you can select individual references by clicking in the box next to the references. Once you have selected the references, click on the icon labeled "Export" on the right side of the screen.

Select the radio button for where you want to export the references to. In this case, click in the button labeled "Direct Export to EndNote Web". Then click on the grey button labeled "Save".
Note: To use this option, you must allow pop-up boxes. Otherwise, you will need to use the option to export to EndNote and import the references as you would with PubMed.

Find the file that contains your references (It will likely be called delivery.ris).
You will need to apply a filter to import the file. To do so, click on the button labeled "Options".

Select the filter needed to appropriately tag the references. In this case, choose "Reference Manager" as your filter.

Creating Groups

If you've acquired references from multiple sources, you'll want to check to make sure that you aren't keeping multiple copies of the same reference.

From the pull-down menu labeled "Library", select the option labeled "Find Duplicates".

The software offers you a choice of which form of the referene to keep.

When you've decided which reference to keep, click on the button labeled "Keep this Record".

To add references to a group, click on them once to highlight them.

From the pull-down menu labeled "Groups", select the option labeled "Add References To".

If you already have existing groups, select the group you want to add the references to.

If you have no existing groups, or if you want to create a new group for these references, select the option labeled "Create Custom Group".

If you are creating a group for the first time, you will need to give the group a name.

Be sure to give your group a meaningful name. "Cholera vaccines" is more meaningful thatn "PubMed Search".

Creating a Bibliography

Once you have assembled your references, you may want to produce a bibliography.

Click on the references you want to include in your bibliography by clicking on them once to highlight them

To create a bibliography, click on the arrow icon on the toolbar or select "Export" from the pull-down menu labeled "File".

In the resulting dialog box, give your file a name.

In order to maintain the formatting required in most styles (e.g. bolded text, italicized text, underlined text), you must save your file in rtf format.

Choose the bibliographic style in which your bibliography will appear.

When you have made all your selections, click on the button labeled "Save".

Cite While You Write

Cite While Your Write is an add-on that allows you to insert references into your paper using word processing software. It is installed automatically when you install the EndNote software on your computer. If you installed EndNote 21, Cite While You Write is compatible with Word 2010 and above. It cannot be used with Office 365 unless the application is downloaded to your computer.

You can find the tools for Cite While You Write in the tab labeled EndNote on the Word toolbar.

Once you have typed the text after which you want to insert a reference, you will need to search for the reference in EndNote.

Select the search tool (magnifying glass) from the Cite While You Write Toolbar. Be sure to select the appropriate style you want for your document from the pull-down menu.

Enter your search criteria in the search box.

The reference that meets your criteria will appear in the results box. In the event that there is more than one reference, highlight the one you want to use by clicking on it once.

Once you have selected the reference you want to use, click on the button labeled "Insert".

The note will be added into the text in the format selected.

The citation will be added at the current end of the document. If you wish to make this a new page, hit the return button until a new page is created. Then go back to your text and start typing.

Each time you add a new reference, it will be added to the current end of the document.

Getting Help

There are tutorials available from the vendor and from other sources. Some of these are available on the EndNote page at the Library web site.

Contact the Library

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