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EndNote 21 Guide: Editing references in EndNote

How to use EndNote 21 reference management software

Editing References in EndNote

If you find that your reference data is not very good, EndNote can look up and import metadata from PubMed or Web of Science to improve it.

To update your references:

  • Select References you wish to update
  • Go to References > Find Reference Updates…
  • In the Review Available Updates pop-up box, select whether you want to Update All Fields or Update Empty Fields
  • In dialogue box select Yes or No to continue
  • If Yes, allow for updates
  • If No, review and select Save and Continue to continue updating
  • Repeat the process for each reference to be updated, or Skip to the next reference
  • EndNote will update selected updates

If you want to update multiple citations at the same time (eg. adding a retrieval date or label), the best time to do it is when you have just imported them (in the ‘Imported References’ window) or in a Group.

To edit a field in multiple citations:

  • Go to Library > Change/Move/Copy Fields…
  • The Change/Move/Copy Fields pop-up box will appear
    • In the Select a field… drop-down menu, choose ‘Access Date’
    • Click Replace whole field with:
    • Enter a date and click OK.
  • Click OK to confirm that you want to change that field in all references
  • A pop-up will inform you that all changes have been made. Click OK. 

Duplicate references in EndNote may lead to confusing by citing both versions and thus having double entries in your bibliography/reference list.

To find and remove duplicate references:

  • Go to Library > Find Duplicates
  • You will be asked to compare the duplicates found:
    • Select ‘Keep This Record’ for the reference you want, or
    • Click ‘Cancel’ to close this box.
  • The ‘Duplicate References’ screen will be open, with the duplicate references highlighted to remove duplicates

To set EndNote preferences to automatically eliminate duplicate references retrieved from an online search:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Duplicates

2. Tick the box Automatically Discard Duplicates > OK