Using EndNote to Create Bibliographies

EndNote is a bibliographic management software package. It is designed to save your references in a database(s) and allow you to place those references into word processing documents and easily create bibliographies from those documents. EndNote supports the following word processing formats: Microsoft Word 3-6.0.1 (see special instructions for MSWord with Plug-ins/Add-ins), WordPerfect 1-3.5, FrameMaker 3-5 MIF format, Rich Text Format(RTF), Nisus 3-4, WriteNow 1-4, MacWrite II, MacWrite Pro 1.0-1.5, ClarisWorks 4-5, HTML, and Plain Text. The instructions included here are a brief overview of some aspects of using EndNote; you may need to consult the software manual to learn how to perform additional or more complicated operations.     (Note: You can click on any image to enlarge it.)

 Opening a New Library in EndNote & Entering References

A Library is a collection of references that you compile in EndNote. EndNote recommends that you keep all your references together in in one main library; doing so will facilitate paper formatting.   Open the EndNote software Select New and type the desired name for the database. Decide where you wish to place your database and click on Save.  
A new library window will open.
Select References from the EndNote menu bar.
Drag down to New. A blank new reference screen will appear.
    Each part of a record; author, title, journal etc., is known as a field. Use the tab key to move between fields.
Authors
  • Enter 1 author per line. If the name is too long for a single line let it wrap.
  • Enter as John J. Doe or Doe, John J.
  • If using initials be sure to follow with a space or a period.
  • Include as much information as you know, including whole first and middle names if they are available.
 Titles
  • Do not place a period or any other punctuation at the end of a title.
  • Do not press the return key when typing titles, let long titles wrap.
  • Capitalize titles as you would like them capitalized in your bibliographies.
Year
  • Enter as 4 numbers: 1998. When appropriate enter in press, etc.
 Pages
  • Enter as 1442-1449 or 1442-9.
 Journal
  • Enter either a full title or an abbreviation. The EndNote software cannot convert an abbreviated title to a full one or vice versa so you may need to edit your finished bibliography. As with authors, it is best to enter as much information as possible so entering a full journal title might be the best choice.
Blank New Reference
Completed New Reference
 
New reference entered into a new library.
 
New references can be entered into an already existing library in the same way they are entered into a new library. Records can also be downloaded from searches in bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE and imported into a new or existing EndNote library.
 
The examples shown up to this point have been of a journal reference. Other formats can be used for entering references into a library. The fields vary with the different formats.
   

Downloading and Importing Citations into EndNote Using Article Indexes/OVID Web.

 
 Conduct a search using Article Indexes/OVID Web
Select citations for saving by marking the boxes.
 

Scroll down to the bottom of the citations page to the Citation Manager box.
Several defaults are set. You may leave most of them but you must change the Citation Format default to Reprint/Medlars.
  • Citations select the option the citations that you wish to save.
  • Fields select which parts of the journal record you wish to save.
  • Citation Format select Reprint/Medlars. References must be saved in this format to be sucessfully imported into EndNote.
  • Save Format select the appropriate format for your workstation.
  • Action select either Email or Save
Click on when you have marked all your choices in the Citation Manager  
The dialog box below will appear. Click on the Save file button.
  A standard Macintosh dialog box will appear . Save to the desired location.   Open the EndNote library into which you want to move the downloaded citations.   Choose File from the menu bar, drag down to Import.  
At the Import Option prompt, highlight Other Filters. (Note: You may need to navigate to this pull down menu)
You must select the correct import filter. When searching using the OVID search engine choose OVID (Reprint Format).
 
At the next prompt choose the correct database and click on Open.
 
At the next prompt click on to select the correct downloaded citation file. Then click on the Import button.
 
 

Creating a Bibliography for a Paper Using an EndNote Library

EndNote supports the following word processing formats: Microsoft Word 3-6.0.1 (see special instructions for MSWord with Plug-ins/Add-ins), WordPerfect 1-3.5, FrameMaker 3-5 MIF format, Rich Text Format(RTF), Nisus 3-4, WriteNow 1-4, MacWrite II, MacWrite Pro 1.0-1.5, ClarisWorks 4-5, HTML, and Plain Text.  
Open both your paper and your EndNote library. Highlight the reference you want to insert in your paper. From the EndNote Edit menu choose Copy.
Return to your paper, place the cursor where you want the new reference to be inserted. Select Paste from the Edit menu.   When you have inserted all the desired references, Save and close your paper.
Return to the EndNote Library. Choose Scan Paper from the Paper menu.
A dialog box opens to prompt you to open your paper. Highlight the name of your paper and select Open.
EndNote scans the paper and finds the citations from your EndNote library that match the brief citation entries in your paper. A box appears listing the matches.
Choose a style for your paper by selecting Styles from the menu bar. A list of styles available for formatting your paper and references will appear.
Choose Format from the Paper menu.
EndNote appends a style abbreviation to the name of your original paper. Save the newly formatted paper as a different document, retaining your original paper as well.
The references are now appended to the newly reformatted paper and the in-text references are formatted for the style you have chosen for your paper.
 

Microsoft Word with EndNote Add-ins, Plug-ins

Open your EndNote library. Open your document in Microsoft Word. Place the cursor where you want to insert a reference. In the EndNote library highlight the reference to insert. Copy the reference.  
In Microsoft Word choose Tools from the menu bar. Drag down to Insert Citation(s). The new reference will be placed at the cursor point. When finished inserting references, choose Tools again and drag down to Format Bibliography.
A box will pop up for you to make a bibliographic style selection; select a style by clicking on the down arrow in the With Style: box then select Format. Your paper will be formatted with the newly created reference list appended. It is probably best to use the Save As function and create a new name for the formatted paper.


Back to MUSC Library Homepage
Return to Ovid Page