There is no limit to the number of references you can add to an EndNote Library. It is important that you keep all the references you cite in a paper or thesis in one Library.
Each EndNote Library consists of a library file (with the extension .enl) and an associated Data folder (with the extension .data). It is vital that you regularly back-up your Library files.
Note: You may be prompted to "Select a Reference Library" when downloading files or working with Word documents that contain EndNote citations. It is important that you know where your Library has been saved so that you can navigate to the folder to select it.
Select Start > EndNote > EndNote.
If it is the first time you have used EndNote, select Create a new library.
Your blank EndNote Library should open:
Go to File > Open… [choose the Library] or
launch your Library from where you saved it eg. your desktop.
EndNote provides a sample Library (Sample_Library_20) for you to practice on.
To navigate to the Sample Library:
Go to File > Open > Open Library choose the file Sample_Library_20.enl.
Go to File > Close Library or
click the grey or red X at the top right corner of EndNote Library window.
EndNote allows you to organise your references into Groups or Group Sets. Groups are displayed in the Navigation Panel on the left.
If you wish to sync your Library with EndNote Online, then it is worth prefixing your group names with part of their group set name.
EndNote Online does not display group sets. It retains the information if you sync your Library with another desktop version of EndNote, but they won't display on screen. On EndNote Online your groups will appear alphabetically. To make them to appear in their usual group you will need to prefix each group with the group set name.
Endnote desktop | EndNote online |
It is imperative you back up your Library regularly so it can be easily recovered should it, or your PC, become corrupt.
You could back up by using:
A: Yes…
However, we recommend you only have one Library and organise your references into groups.
This is because merging Libraries can get tricky.
A: Yes. You are adding a 'copy' of the reference to your Group from your main Library.
A: No. You are deleting a 'copy' of the reference, so it will only be removed from the Group, not your main Library.
A: Yes. This is because you are deleting the main reference.
A: We strongly advise you avoid using cloud storage such as DropBox to backup or store your EndNote Library. If you wish to access your Library anywhere, set up EndNote Online.
Macquarie's Librarians have encountered a number of users with corrupt EndNote libraries caused by the use of Dropbox.