EndNote: Basic EndNote Help

Opening EndNote on a PC

1. Go to the Start button, then Programs, and choose EndNote from the program list.
2. Choose to open a new library. 
3. You’ll be asked to save your library.  Save it to the desktop. 
4. After you’ve saved it you should see an empty library window.

Adding references to EndNote by typing them in yourself

1. Click on References in the menu at the top.
2. Click on New Reference
3. A blank form will open.  You can choose different referesnce types to show different fields for the forms. For example if you are adding a fact sheet change the Reference Type to Report.
4. Fill in as many of the blanks as you can.
5. Click on the smaller “x” in the upper right corner to close the form. 
6. Choose Yes when you are asked if you want to save the changes.

You can add references to your EndNote Library using the browser plug in available on myendnoteweb.com.

1. First go to http://myendnoteweb.com and log in to your account. (See the tab on using EndNote Web in this guide if you have questions about getting an account).
2. Click on the yellow Options tab.
3. Click on Download Installers.
4. Follow the instructions on the page to get the plug in. There are three options. The plug in is available for Internet Explorer and Firefox.
5. Now that you have the Capture Reference button in your browser toolbar you can click that button when you are looking at any web page you would like to add as a reference in EndNote.
6. You will be given a preview of your reference in a pop up window. Make any changes or additions to the reference.
7. Choose whether you want to save the reference to the web version of EndNote (my.endnote.com) or to the desktop version of EndNote (EndNote).

Adding references to EndNote using Google Scholar

1. Go to Google Scholar, http://scholar.google.com/
2. Click on Settings at the top of the page.
3. Look at the bottom of the page.  Where it says “Bibliography Manager” click on the choice to “Show links to import citations into” and then choose EndNote from the drop down menu.
4. Click on Save.  You will only need to complete steps 1-4 when your browser cache clears. You do not need to be signed into Google to use this feature.
5. Search for the items you need.  When you find a citation that looks good, click on “Import into EndNote”.
6. Click OK.
7. The screen will switch to EndNote and you will see the reference in your library.

Note that most databases include this functionality natively. Look in any database for an "export" or "download citation" link.

Editing References 

1. If a reference you imported from a database has problems (the title is in all capital letters, for example) you can edit the reference in EndNote by double clicking on it.
2. The form will open.  You can retype or make changes in any of the fields.
3. Click on the smaller “x” in the upper right corner to close the form. 
4. Choose Yes when you are asked if you want to save the changes.

Adding references to a Word Document

1. Open a new Word document.
2. Type your sentence.
3. Leave your cursor where you want the reference to go.
4. At the top of the screen click on the EndNote tab.
5. Click on the Style drop down box and choose Select Another Style from the list.
6. Find the citation style you prefer in the list.
7. Now click on Insert Citation.  Sometimes the box will open automatically, but if you see a choice pick “Insert Citation”.
8. Enter a search term in the search box at the top of the window.
9. Click on the reference you want to use.  Click “Insert”.
10. The reference will be inserted into the document. 

Preparing the document to be turned in to your professor

1. Once you are finished with your assignment save the document.
2. In the EndNote tab in Word click on “Convert Citations and Bibliography”.
3. Click on “Convert to Plain Text”.
4. In the next box click on “OK”.  A new copy of your document will open.  This copy is the one you will turn in to your professor. 
5. Be sure to save the new copy.  Your professor will be able to see all of your citations and references in this version. 
6. Once you convert to plain text you can't go back to having EndNote linked citations, so be sure to keep both saved copies of the document.

A compressed copy of your library can be created which allows you to attach it to an email or move it to another storage location (like a thumb drive) for back up.

1. From the EndNote program click on "File" in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
2. Click on "Compressed Library (.enlx)".
3. Select the options you want.  You can choose from create or create and email, with or without file attachments, and the entire library or just a part of the library.
4. Click "Next".
5. Save the file. 
6. Move the file to your desired location or attach it to your email if necessary.
7. To open the library from back up or email just double click on it.