EndNote

Create an EndNote Library when you open the software the first time

The first time you open EndNote, a Getting Started with EndNote window will appear.

1. Double click Create a New Library
2. Choose the location you want to save it to. Always keep your library on the hard drive of your computer. It needs stable file paths to function properly.
   • If you are using your own computer, it is a good idea to make sure this is a top level folder in My Documents.
   • If you are on a university computer, it is recommended that you use a top level folder in Downloads. Your Desktop, My Documents and My Pictures folders will be synced to OneDrive. You will get error messages if you try to store your EndNote library in OneDrive.
3. The default filename is My EndNote Library.enl. Change this to personalise it, e.g. Tom Bromiley's Library.
4. Click Save.

The new library will open and the name of the library will display in the top left corner of the EndNote window.

Create an EndNote Library using the File menu

1. Open EndNote
2. Click File to open the File menu
3. Choose New...
4. Choose the location you want to save it to. Always keep your library on the hard drive of your computer. It needs stable file paths to function properly.
   • If you are using your own computer, it is a good idea to make sure this is a top level folder in My Documents.
   • If you are on a university computer, it is recommended that you use a top level folder in Downloads. Your Desktop, My Documents and My Pictures folders will be synced to OneDrive. You will get error messages if you try to store your EndNote library in OneDrive.
5. The default filename is My EndNote Library.enl. Change this to personalise it, e.g. Tom Bromiley's Library.
6. Click Save.

The new library will open and the name of the library will display in the top left corner of the EndNote window.

NOTES:

• EndNote recommends that you use the same library for everything but use the group and group set functions to organise the different subject content.
• If you are using your EndNote library on both Windows and Mac computers, make sure there are no spaces in the library name, e.g. TomBromiley'sLibrary.

You will spend hours developing and maintaining your EndNote library. This is where you keep all of your materials for your research so it is vital that you regularly back your library up.

1. Open your EndNote Library.
2. Open the File menu and select Compress Library (.enlx).
3. 3. You’re going to want to back up all of the records and their file attachments. Make sure that Create, With File Attachments, and All References in Library are selected.
4. Click Next and save in a location of your choosing.
   This compressed back up copy will have .enlx on the end of it’s name, e.g. Tom’sLibrary.enlx. You can make copies of this compressed version and save them to other locations

Always use the Compressed Library option. When EndNote creates the library, it will also create a .DATA folder which contains various files connected with the library (PDF’s, Groups). When you compress the library, EndNote will include the .DATA folder. If you do not save the .DATA folder with you library .enl file you will not be able to open your pdf attachments or see your groups.

It is recommended that you keep at least 3 back-up copies of your library and document. One copy of each should be in a separate location, e.g. one on the computer itself, one in cloud storage, e.g. OneDrive, and one in your Research Data Store. At least one copy of each should be in a separate physical location from the original library and document, e.g. the originals at home and the copies at work.

CAUTION: Never open or use your library in cloud storage (e.g. OneDrive, Google Drive, CloudStor, Dropbox) or on a storage device such as a USB or an external drive. It will corrupt your library. Cloud storage is only for storage. Always save your working library to the hard drive of your computer. Work from that copy.

This video is for EndNote 20, but there is no significant difference for this function in EndNote X9.

Always back your work up. If something happens to your working copy, you can recreate your work from the back up copy a lot more easily than starting from the beginning again. Always keep your back up copies in secure storage. This is especially important for sensitive data.

• 3 back-up copies of your data, your EndNote library, your thesis. Update these back-up copies once a week.
• 2 different formats for your back up copies.
• 1 back up copy elsewhere – Store one back-up copy of each dataset, EndNote library or document in a different physical/geographical location from the working copy.