Once you've installed and set up EndNote, you can start building your Library. The main ways of adding references to your Library are:

Manual entry

Create a new record and enter the references' details

Direct export

Export from the library catalogue, databses, Google Scholar and more...

Import from PDF

Import PDFs and let EndNote try and find the matching details for you

Watch the video below, no audio (1 min 21 sec)

Allows you to mark items and export them into your EndNote library.

Export from the Library catalogue

Use the 'Send To' options found on a record page, or click the " icon on the results page select 'EndNote desktop (RIS)' or 'EndNote web'. To export multiple items use the to save to Favourites then export.

Export from databases

Instructions below - how to export references from specific databases into your EndNote library.  Please note if you use a Mac the instructions are the same but with a slightly different interface.

Export from Google Scholar

Use the and select 'EndNote' OR add a direct 'Import into EndNote' link via menu > Settings > Bibliography manager change to 'Show links to import citations into' and select EndNote. To export multiple items you will need a Google Account, use the to save items to My Library then export

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Choose an import filter

When using Google Scholar, users may decide to trace resources back to the Library Collection using the ‘Fulltext at UniSA’ link.

If the user then downloads a citation from the library collection record, EndNote will prompt the user to ‘Choose An Import Filter’. Users should select the RefMan RIS filter.

Note: The filter will only need to be selected when accessing the citation in this way and not if the user has searched directly for the same resource in the library collection.  

This will only work 100% with PDFs which include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), it will not work on scanned copies of PDFs.

Three ways to import references from PDFs:

1. Import a single PDF

To import a single PDF that you have already saved to your PC:

    Go to File > Import > File...
    Select Choose..., browse to the relevant PDF, then select Open
    From the Import Option drop-down menu, select PDF
    Select Import.

PDFs are stored in the .data file associated with your EndNote library.

NOTE: For references which EndNote does not find the details add some information e.g. author and title, learn to use the Find Reference Update option (see video in Edit references box below).

2. Import multiple PDFs from a folder

    Go to File > Import > Folder...
    Select Choose..., browse to the relevant folder, then select OK
    From the Import Option drop-down menu, select PDF
    Select Import.

PDFs are stored in the .data file associated with your EndNote library.

NOTE: For references which EndNote does not find the details add some information e.g. author and title, learn to use the Find Reference Update option (see video in Edit references box below).

3. Set up a PDF folder for automatic import

To set up EndNote to automatically import references in this way:

    Go to Edit > Preferences > PDF Handling (for Mac, Preferences is in the EndNote X9 menu)
    Under the heading PDF Auto Import Folder, select Enable automatic importing
    Select the folder where you'll save PDFs
    Select Apply, then select OK (for Mac, just select Save).

When you save a PDF to the selected folder, the next time you open EndNote (if it isn't already open), the reference and the PDF will be automatically imported into your EndNote library, and the PDF will be moved to a subfolder (automatically created and named 'Imported').

PDFs are stored in the .data file associated with your EndNote library.

NOTE: For references which EndNote does not find the details add some information e.g. author and title, learn to use the Find Reference Update option (see video in Edit references box below).

If your records are missing information e.g. DOI, volume/issue numbers use the Find Reference Updates option. EndNote will search for updates and display any found for you to review. You can then choose to update all fields, update empty fields or edit reference manually.

Watch the video below, no audio (47 sec)

Term lists maintain consistency and accuracy in your EndNote library. To edit an Author's name or add an abbreviated journal title you can edit a term list or import a ready-made list.  

Edit a Term List

'Open Term List' via the 'Library' menu and select a list. Once you have edited a term it will replace the original in the term list but will not change references in your library. Use the 'Find and Replace' via the 'Library' menu.

Import Term List

EndNote provides ready-made journal term lists, e.g. Bioscience, Chemical, Law, Medical and Humanities that can be imported into your library. Use this for output styles that requires abbreviated journal titles.

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