EndNote 21 Guide: Importing references as text files

Some databases do not have a direct export option. In these cases, you will need to import the reference as a text (.txt) file.

• Open Internet browser and go to the Database via Library Search.
• Conduct a search and select some records
• Click on Display Options in the top right corner, then select Full Article/Report plus Indexing from the drop down menu
• Click on the Save button. A new tab will open. Ensure the Menu Bar is being displayed (right click at the top of the browser window and select Menu Bar if it is not). Click File > Save As and in the Save as type drop down menu select Text File (*.txt). Save the file somewhere you will easily be able to find it e.g. your desktop.
• Open your EndNote library. Select File > Import > File
• The Import File box will open. 
• Click Choose... and find the .txt file you saved. Click Open. The file name will now appear in the Import File box (see above).
• In the Import Option drop-down menu, select ‘Other Filters…’
• The Choose An Import Filter box will appear. In Import Option select Factiva (DJ)
• Decide what you want to do with Duplicates (i.e. references you may already have from another source)
• Click Import
• Your reference(s) will now appear in your EndNote library.
• Select your required filter and click Choose. This will take you back to the Import File box with your chosen filter now displayed in the Import Option field.

(The contents of this page have been adapted from the University of Western Australia by permission.)

It is difficult to import references from Word into EndNote, and not recommended. Rather, you should be using the methods previously discussed: manual entry, or exporting from databases or Library Search.

However, there may be partial solutions to help with this, including the use of other citation-management software such as Zotero (in combination with CrossRef) or WizFolio.

Zotero and CrossRef method

1. Install Zotero.
2. Go to CrossRef and paste your bibliography into the query box. You will need to register for a CrossRef account.
3. Extract the references using Zotero
4. Export the references from Zotero to EndNote.

Other methods

• You can try creating your own tagged files.
• If most of your references are from PubMed, you can also use the HubMed Citation Finder.

For Apple Macintosh

Install Ref2RIS to convert your bibliography into the RIS format, and edit it. Then import the RIS file into EndNote.

Note: if you wish to add references from a Word Document that has already been formatted by EndNote, see our Travelling Libraries tab for further instruction.

If your required filter doesn't appear in the Other Filters list you will need to download it from EndNote Filters Webpage

• Find the appropriate filter from the EndNote Filters Webpage
• Click on Download > Open
• The file will open in EndNote.
• In EndNote, go to > File > 'Save As' > remove the word copy > save.
• Close the filter file by clicking the small cross OR go to File > Close File

MAC users - Select your required filter, control-click and choose Save Linked File to "Downloads". The filter will now appear in your "Downloads" drag the filter file into your Filters folder. Located HD\Applications\EndNote\Filters

For the Joanna Briggs Institute database use Ovid Nursing Database (OvidSP)