EndNote 21 guide

Certain errors may arise when using EndNote. Errors are particularly common when inserting EndNote references into a Word document.

Please consider the following general advice and troubleshooting tips when using EndNote:

• Do you have "Track Changes" turned on in your Word document? Track Changes does not play well with live EndNote code. You can find instructions for managing this on the EndNote website:
• You may need to update your version to get bug fixes
• Recovery of a corrupted document and/or library may not always be possible and should be avoided at all costs. Back up your library regularly to avoid losing your references
• If a problem occurs when you are syncing your library or sharing references using EndNote Online, make sure your Sync Status is up to date.

Issue

The in-text citation in word appears as {Santhanam, 2015 #418}, with curly brackets around the in-text citation, and the reference list may not be added at the end of the document.

Cause

If the 'Instant Formatting' is turned off, then all citations inserted will be in a temporary format: {Santhanam, 2015 #418}. This can also occur when text that includes a formatted EndNote reference has been moved around or copied from another source. If you copy and paste text containing EndNote formatted citations, your library could be corrupted and potentially lost.

Solution

Turn on Instant Formatting

1. In Word, select the EndNote 21 tab from the ribbon
2. Click on the down arrow beside the button "Instant Formatting is Off"
3. Select "Turn Instant Formatting On."

Alternatively, clicking on Update Citations and Bibliography from the EndNote 21 tab converts the temporary citations to formatted citations.

Issue

EndNote21 tab does not appear in a Word document.

Solution 1 - Install EndNote plug-in

If you installed EndNote on your computer before Microsoft Word, you may need to install the EndNote plug-in manually. See Install Word CWYW on the EndNote website for further instructions.

Solution 2 - Check Word settings

If you installed EndNote on your computer after Microsoft Word, but the EndNote tab does not appear, check the Word settings. 

1.     Open Word, click on the File ribbon and select "Options"
2.     Click on "Add-ins" in the left menu
3.     At the bottom of the page, next to "Manage:" set the Drop down to "COM Add-ins"  
4.     Click "Go"
5.     Select "EndNote Cite While You Write" (if it is unchecked)
6.     Click OK.  

If the option to "Disable all Application Add-ins" is checked, tools will not appear. To turn off this setting: 

1. Click on the File ribbon and select "Options"
2. Click on "Trust Center"
3. Click "Trust Center Settings"
4. Click "Add-ins"
5. Uncheck "Disable all Application Add-ins (may impair functionality)" and click "OK"
6. Click "OK"
7. Exit Word and then re-open it.

Issue

The EndNote ribbon in a Word document is greyed out and not clickable: 

Solution - Word settings

If the EndNote tab is greyed out, you will need to deactivate and then reactivate the setting in Word.

1.     Open Word, click on the File ribbon and select "Options"
2.     Click on "Add-ins" in the left menu
3.     At the bottom of the page, next to "Manage:" set the drop-down to "COM Add-ins"
4.     Click "Go"
5.     Uncheck "EndNote Cite While You Write" (if it is checked)
6.     Click OK.  
7.     Repeat Steps 1-4
8.     Re-check "EndNote Cite While You Write"
9.     Click OK.  

Check with the library owner to ensure you still have access.

Issue

Error message: "This library is being used by someone else. Try opening it again later."

Cause

This is most likely to happen with shared libraries when they are in the process of being updated by another user.

Solution

Try again later. 

If you see this message with a library that is not shared, you may need to create a new local library on your computer (from the copy in EndNote Online) and then try to synchronise again.

Issue

You are maintaining more than one EndNote library.

Cause

Creating multiple new libraries rather than using groups to separate your references.

Solution

1. Save a back-up copy of each library [add link]
2. Choose which library to make the master working library (or create a new one) and open this library
3. Select "File ", then "Import". Choose the EndNote library to import
4. Set "EndNote Library" as the selected file import option
5. Decide what to do with duplicates
6. Click "Import"
7. Repeat with other libraries as necessary
8. Create a back-up copy of your new master library
9. Sync with EndNote online