EndNote 20

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Get started with EndNote 20 by following these help guides.

Note: Our Software training resources page has EndNote 20 training manuals (as PDFs) for Windows and Mac.

  1. Set up and back up your EndNote Library
  2. Add references into EndNote library
  3. Organising references with groups
  4. Add full text to references
  1. Select and change output (referencing) style
  2. Add references and reference lists in Word
  3. Syncing and sharing
  4. How use EndNote videos

1. Set up and back up your EndNote Library

Create a new EndNote library

A library is the file in which your references are stored.

  1. Click the File option on the menu bar
  2. Click New...

A dialogue box will open with My EndNote Library.enl as the name of the new library

  1. Select a library save location. Do not save to the cloud.
  2. Type a name for your library in the File name box (eg. your own name).
  3. Click Save and you will see a new library window.

One EndNote Library

We recommend only creating one EndNote Library to avoid issues when inserting references when writing. You can organise references into different groups.

Do NOT save to the cloud

Do NOT save an EndNote Library to cloud syncing folders, such as Dropbox, iCloud or GoogleDrive, if you are still actively adding to it. It can cause issues. You can save backups in the cloud or use EndNote Online.

Move or copy an EndNote Library

Your EndNote library consists of two elements:

  • a file with the extension .enl (the library file)
  • a folder with the extension.Data (containing various files connected with the library).

Keep these elements together if copying or moving your Library.

Back up your EndNote Library

Create a back-up

  1. Click on the File option on the menu bar and select Compressed Library (.enlx) ...
  2. This will create an archive copy of your library in a single file with the extension .enlx

Note: Compress Library will not work for libraries larger than 4 GB and/or 65,535 files.  Use any third party compression software like WinZip or WinRaR instead.

Restore from a back-up

  1. Click on the File option in the menu bar
  2. Click Open and select the .enlx file

The complete library will be recreated - based on the version that was archived.