EndNote - Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions concerning EndNote are listed below. For additional information or to submit a question, please contact Ask a Librarian.

• What is EndNote?
• Where do I find EndNote on my computer?
• EndNote X3 is not installed on my computer?
• How do I request an EndNote account?
• Is EndNote available for Macs?
• Can I access EndNote in the MSKCC Library?
• Can I share my EndNote library with a colleague?
• Can I import one EndNote library into another one?
• How do I import references directly from PubMed?
• I tried to import my reference from PubMed to EndNote, but nothing happened?
• Can I use EndNote to create bibliographies formatted for NIH grants?
• I've tried to import references from the Cochrane Library, but nothing happened--what's wrong?

EndNote is a bibliographic management tool designed to help you, the writer/editor, import and organize your references, figures, and images in a library and export them to your bibliography or paper.

1. Click on the Start menu.
2. Scroll up to Programs.
3. Scroll over to, and click on User Applications.
4. Click on EndNote.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering employees may request installation of this application by contacting the Help Desk at 646-227-3337.

If you are a Memorial Sloan-Kettering employee and EndNote is not installed on your computer (desktop workstation or laptop), or if you are not running EndNote X3, please contact the Help Desk at 646-227-3337.

EndNote X3 is available for Macs. Contact the Help Desk at 646-227-3337 for further assistance.

Yes, but you must log into the library terminal as yourself.

You can send your library to another person, but they will need to have EndNote to read and make changes in the library. Otherwise, your library can be exported as a text (.txt) file. To share a library with someone within MSKCC consider saving the library to a shared drive. You can also use RefWorks, another bibliographic management tool which is web-based and available through the MSKCC Library.

To ensure that your colleague is getting everything, you should save your library as a compressed library by:

1. Opening your EndNote library.
2. Clicking on File and scrolling down to select Compressed Library (.enlx) and Create.
3. Save the compressed library.

1. Use EndNote X3 to open the compressed file. (You will recognize the compressed library as it is has .enlx in the filename) This will open the library file (.enl) and the data file.
2. Open the EndNote library file (.enl) as you normally would.

There are two ways to incorporate references from one EndNote library into another.

To import references from one library into another:

1. Open the library you would like to import into.
2. From the File menu, scroll down to and click on Import.
3. The Import dialog box will open. Click on Choose File, and select the file you wish to import.
4. Change the import option to EndNote library.
5. Click Import.

1. Open the library you wish to copy references from.
2. Highlight the reference(s) you would like to copy by clicking on it. To select multiple references hold down the CTRL key.
3. Right click on the highlighted reference and choose Copy, or select Copy from the Edit menu.
4. Open the library you wish to copy references to.
5. Right click in the library you wish to copy the references to and select Paste. Or select Paste from the Edit menu.

1. Saving your references to the PubMed Clipboard.
2. Exporting your references from PubMed.
3. Importing references into EndNote.

Saving references to the PubMed clipboard:

1. Search PubMed.
2. Select citations by clicking in the box next to the reference.
3. Click on the Send To link, choose Clipboard, and click the Add to Clipboard button.

1. Open the Clipboard by clicking on the Clipboard items link.
2. Click on the Send To link and choose File.
3. Choose the MEDLINE format and click on the Create File button.
4. Click on the Save button and name the text file.

1. Open your EndNote library.
2. Click on File and scroll down to and select Import.
3. When the Import dialog box opens click on the Choose File button, and locate your text file.
4. Choose Other Filters then select PubMed (NLM)Import Option.
5. Click Import.

First, make sure when you saved the text file from PubMed that you selected the MEDLINE format. This error also happens when PubMed (NLM) has not been selected as the import filter. PubMed (NLM) is not the default import filter, so you must select from the alphabetical list EndNote provides.

To select PubMed (NLM) as the import filter:

1. Click on File and scroll down to and select Import.
2. When the Import dialog box opens locate and select your file.
3. Click on the down arrow in the box where it says Import Option.
4. The box that appears is a list of frequently-used import options. If PubMed (NLM) appears in this box click on it then click on the Import button. If you do not see PubMed (NLM) click on Other Filters, select PubMed (NLM) from the alphabetical list, and click the Choose button.
5. Click Import.

Yes, you can do this. Just select the NIH output style from the drop down menu.

Make sure you have selected the Cochrane (Wiley) import filter.