Skip to main content
Home » workshops & instruction » tutorials » endnote tutorial

EndNote Tutorial

TUTORIAL CONTENT

What is EndNote?

Introduction to an Endnote Library

Entering References into a Library

Citing References & Generating Bibliographies in Word

Accessing Additional Filters, Connection Files, Styles & Term Lists

Useful Tips and Tricks

Other Tutorials

Support

What is EndNote?

  • It's a database for references: organize and store your citations into databases called libraries.
  • It's a citation formatter: automatically create references, footnotes, & bibliographies in your written documents.
  • It's a search interface: search online catalogues and databases directly from Endnote. Search the Cornell online catalog! (Due to licensing and security restrictions, some Gateway databases cannot be searched this way).

~Back to top~

Introduction to an EndNote Library

Much as a physical library is a collection of books and journals in a particular subject, an Endnote library is a collection of references (or citations) that are usually on a single topic (your thesis, for example). Each reference in a library is composed of different fields, such as author, date, journals, etc.

~Back to top~

Entering References into a Library

There are 3 ways to enter references into an Endnote library:

1. Type them by hand.
2. Download them from a database and import into your library.
3. Connect directly to & search a database from Endnote.

1. Typing by Hand

--choose references>new.

--enter in author, year, etc. by hand (use tab key to go to next field). Alternatively, you may cut and paste field information from an existing document. Author's name may be entered either first last or last, first.

2. Downloading from a Database:

--When you search a database like Biosis, Medline or Eric, you can save your search results and import them directly into your library. To import them, you must use the proper Endnote filter.

--Once you have saved your search results, go to file>import.

 

  • For "import data file," choose your saved search.
  • For "import option," choose the filter for your database. Remember to note both the database name (Biosis, for example) and the information provider (at Cornell, that would be Silver Platter, or SP, for Biosis). If the filter you need isn't listed, you can download it from either Endnote or Cornell.
  • For duplicates, you can have Endnote compare incoming records with those already in your library & discard any duplicates, or you can import them all. You can also later search for duplicates already in your library.

--Note: certain databases, such as the Web of Science Citation indexes and the Proquest databases, allow you to export records directly from them into Endnote without a filter. Others, like any of the OCLC databases, allow you to directly export but will ask you to select the filter. In either case, you won't have to do the "file>import" routine.

3. Connecting Directly to a Database from Endnote:

Connection files let you search a database directly from Endnote. Currently, the connection files that work for Cornell patrons are:
a. library catalogs such as Cornell's;
b. PubMed (for Endnote 6 and later);
c. ISI Web of Science databases; and
d. most of the OCLC databases (Eric, Medline, Worldcat, and many others).

--To use a connection file, you first need to select it in the connection manager folder. In Endnote 7, choose edit>connection files>open connection manager. In Endnote 6 and earlier, choose file>connection files>open connection manager.

--Once you've selected a connection file, connect by choosing tools>connect (in Endnote 6 and earlier, you choose file>connect).

 

--Once you've done your search, records may then be added to any library by simply pressing the "copy all references to" button and selecting a library.

  • The connection file for the Cornell library catalog may be downloaded here. If you have a Mac, convert this file using the free conversion tool at http://mac.unimaas.nl/EndNote.html.
  • The connection files for PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and OCLC databases should come with Endnote or can be downloaded at Endnote.com. Tips on using them may be found here.

~Back to top~

Citing References & Generating Bibliographies in Word

Endnote works with most versions of both Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect.

--To cite references and generate bibliographies, you should first highlight the reference you want to put into your document.

--Then go to Word. To insert a reference, choose Tools>Endnote>Insert Selected Citation.

 

When you are done adding references and wish to format the references and bibliography, choose Tools>Endnote>Format Bibliography. The references and bibliography will be formatted in the output style you choose. The output styles you see are those selected in Endnote style manager folder.

~Back to top~

Accessing Additional Filters, Connection Files, Styles & Term Lists

Filters:
Connection Files:
Styles:
Term Lists:

~Back to top~

Useful Tips and Tricks

1. Downloading Records from Cornell Library Resources

Database Tips
ABI/Inform/Periodical Abstracts (Proquest) No filter is needed. Mark records, then go to marked list. Choose export, then choose "Export directly to ProCite, EndNote or Reference Manager." Then select an Endnote library.
OCLC Web (i.e. Econlit, MLA, Geobase, Sociological Abs, etc.) Mark the records you want, then click Export. Select marked records. If you need the Endnote filter for this OCLC database, click the "Endnote Filters" link. Then click "export" and the database will export it to the Endnote library of your choice.
WebSpirs (SilverPlatter) Biosis, Agricola, CAB, Agris, etc.
  • To export records directly into Endnote, you first need to download & install the "silverplatter.enf" filter.
  • To download & import, first mark records and then click the Save (floppy disk) icon. Under "save these fields," choose "change fields." Uncheck Full Text and check Publication Year. If there are other fields you want, check them. Then click "Change Fields" and "Save."
  • If you are using Netscape 6 or 7 on a Mac, the files you save may not be recognized by Endnote. You need to change the file extension from .dat to .txt
Web of Science (ISI) No filter is needed. Mark records, then choose " Marked List." Select "export to reference software," then pick Endnote library.

2. Connecting to Databases from Endnote Using a Connection File

Database Tips
OCLC Web (MLA, Econlit, Sociological Abs, etc.) You must modify the connection file: open the Connection Manager and edit the OCLC database connection file of choice. On the first edit screen click on “Connection Settings.” Uncheck the “User ID” and “Password” boxes, and save.
Pubmed Note: the PubMed connection file will only work with Endnote 6.0 and higher. Users with earlier versions of Endnote may use the Medline connection file, or download PubMed records and import using the PubMed filter.
Web of Science (ISI) Due to a server problem, the ISI connection file is currently not working properly. A temporary work around: Choose the Web of Science connection file in the connection manager.
Select the Connection Settings option. Change the settings under "Custom" to: gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=1&SrcAuth=ISIResearchSoft&SrcApp=EndNote&DestA

2. E-mailing Records

If you e-mail yourself records from a database, you will need to save these e-mail messages as text files. Using either Eudora, or Travelers Mail (Web), select Save As from the File menu, and save records with the .txt extension.

3. Mac to PC and PC to Mac

Mac to PC: If transferring EndNote files from a Mac to a PC, add .ENL for an EndNote Library (i.e.. MYLIB.ENL) Older versions of EndNote use .LIB as the library extension. Newer versions of EndNote will recognize either .ENL or .LIB as the proper extension.

PC to Mac:There is a nifty free software program that converts all PC filters, connection files and styles to a Mac format. At the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands: http://mac.unimaas.nl/EndNote.html

~Back to top~

Other Tutorials

Endnote Tutorial (University of Queensland, Australia)

Endnote 3-X1 Tip Sheets (plus video tutorials for later releases)

Endnote Tutorial (UNC Health Sciences Library)

~Back to top~

Support

~Back to top~