Importing references

There are three main ways of transferring groups of references from journal databases and Library Catalogues into EndNote: Direct Export, Connection Files, and Filters.

Direct Export from Journal Databases into EndNote

This is easily the best and simplest method of transferring references from a journal database into EndNote. Many (but not all) journal databases allow you to send your chosen citations electronically by "Direct Export" straight from the database into your EndNote library. There is a list of databases, with brief instructions for each database, in the Library's Guide to EndNote on our EndNote Workshop Material page. Alternatively there is also a single page Direct Export Handout.

One thing to be careful of: any URLs that are brought from databases into EndNote in this way will probably not be permanent ones. You will need to copy and paste a stable URL (often called the "doi") into the URL field if one is available. Alternatively, you can attach an article in pdf format to an EndNote reference.

If you are using a Macintosh, you should use Firefox as your web browser. There may be other problems with Direct Export.

Connection File for UTS Library

Connection files are the easiest method for getting references into EndNote from Library Catalogues. EndNote comes with a large number of connection files for many Library Catalogues.

The UTS Library connection file works well with EndNote X1 & later versions. However, with earlier versions there are some small adjustments that must be made for the UTS Library connection file to work.

EndNote 7 and earlier versions do not come with a connection file for UTS library. However, it is easy to create a UTS Library connection file from the University of Sydney Library connection file that comes with EndNote (so that you have both). This is done as follows:

  1. In the EndNote menu bar, click on Edit, Connection Files, Open Connection Manager
  2. Scroll down to U of Sydney, select it, and click on Edit
  3. Click on Connection Settings
  4. Change Server to read University of Technology, Sydney
  5. Change Server Address to read linus.lib.uts.edu.au
  6. In the EndNote menu bar, click on File, Save As ...
  7. Change the File Name to U of Technology, Sydney (this preserves the original U of Sydney connection file)
  8. Click on Save, and close all the edit windows

EndNote 8, 9 and X do come with a connection file to UTS Library, but unfortunately it contains an old server address which now no longer works. To fix this, just repeat steps 1, 2 (with U of Technology Sydney), 3 and 5 above. Then close the Connection Manager window and save changes.

To use connection files in EndNote, use the Online Search section on the left of the screen. (In EndNote X1 click on Tools, Online Search; in EndNote X and earlier the option is Tools, Connect).

Filters

Filters should only be used for databases which do not allow you to Direct Export. To use a filter you must first search your database, and then save your chosen references as a text file. The text file is then imported into EndNote, using a filter which translates the text file into a format that EndNote can use. Because of differences between databases each database needs its own special filter.

EndNote comes with several hundred filters ready for use: click on Edit, Import Filters, Open Filter Manager to see the list.

If you can't find the filter you need from within EndNote, or if the filter that comes with EndNote does not seem to be working properly, check the table below. You can also check EndNote's Filter Webpage. If you are still having difficulties, please contact your Information Services Librarian for assistance.

 

Database name

Preferred Method

Filter Instructions
(use filters only if the preferred method is not possible)

ACM Digital Library

Direct Export not possible in ACM. Instead, search for citations in INSPEC (OVID) and then
Direct Export from there

 Use EndNote's INSPEC (OVID) filter
CABI-Tourism
(Leisure, Recreation & Tourism Abstracts)		 Direct Export

Use the CABDirect (CABI) filter supplied with EndNote.
Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA) Databases Use the various CSA filters supplied with EndNote.
China Academic Journals (CNKI)

If using EndNote X2 or later, download this filter to My Documents/ EndNote/ Filters. You may first need to create these folders: a new folder called EndNote in My Documents, and then a new folder called Filters inside this folder. If using EndNote X1, save to C:\Program Files\EndNote X1\Filters\

Save your search results in CAJD using the RefWorks option in the database, then import the saved text file using this filter. You should select Unicode (UTF-8) as your Text Translation option in the Import window.
Ingenta Ingenta's Direct Export feature works very poorly. Use a filter instead.

Choose the Export (Plain Text) option in Ingenta and save your results as a Plain Text (.txt) file. Use EndNote's UnCover (Ingenta) filter to import into EndNote. You may need to check the Authors of imported references to rearrange name order and commas.

Libraries Australia

Download records in RIS format, and then use EndNote's Reference Manager (RIS) filter to Import the saved text file.
LLBA
(Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts)

Use EndNote's LLBA (CSA) filter.

OVID databases

Direct Export

(but you may still be asked to choose a filter: if so, pick the one that matches your OVID database)

 EndNote supplies filters for most OVID databases. Check the list in EndNote's Filter Manager, and in this table. For the database Maternity and Infant Care (MIDIRS) use the CINAHL (OVID) filter. For Compendex, use Ei Compendex (OVID).

PubMed

 Use EndNote's PubMed (NLM) Connection File supplied with EndNote Search PubMed and select your citations. Change format to "Medline" and select "Send to File". Save as a Text File (*.txt) and then Import using the PubMed (NLM) filter supplied in EndNote. You may need to edit the filter so that it recognises the first field of each record.
ScienceDirect Direct Export

Choose citations, click on the export citations link. Choose RIS format, click on the export button. Save the file with File type: Text File (*.txt). Use EndNote's Reference Manager (RIS) filter to Import the text file into EndNote.
SciFinder Scholar

Select records and Save as type: Tagged Format (*.txt), with a file name ending in .txt, then import using the SciFinder (CAS) filter supplied in EndNote. You may need to edit imported references that are not journal articles.
SuperSearch Direct Export not currently possible

Sydney University Library Catalogue

 Use the U Sydney Connection File supplied with EndNote Use the INNOPAC filter supplied in EndNote

UTS Library Catalogue

 Use the U Technology Sydney Connection File supplied with EndNote (see section above this table if you have EndNote X or an earlier version) Use EndNote's INNOPAC filter

Other Filter Sites

The following Australian universities (this is just a sample, there are others) also have EndNote filters information: