Managing Endnote .enl files

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ENL stands for Endnote Library. This is the data file which contains all the references and other data that a user creates while using this program.

Endnote X1

Developed by Thomson Reuters, Endnote is a one of the most popular systems amongst academics for cataloguing reference material such as books and journal articles (screenshot). The application contains a number of features which are available on the Endnote Website, together with downloadable trial versions and some excellent online tutorials.

Partly due to its unique purpose, Endnote has its own way of doing things and the new user is encouraged to experiment with the interface to gain some familiarity of function. Endnote can be integrated with Microsoft Word and has its own Word toolbar once the two products have been married together. It can also integrate with Palm and other PDAs for portability and backup purposes.

There are numerous web resources containing hints on how to use Endnote, including the tutorials on the website itself. For the writer and academic who aspires to a 'minimal paper office', this program offers agreat way to systematically catalogue electronic PDF versions of journal articles and other information. Whichever way you use the program, it has to beat the onerous task of manually typing out individual reference lists.

Backing up the Endnote database

The core of Endnote's database is a few files which come into existence once a new reference library has been created. This library can be created anywhere on the system and it is important to understand what files make up the library and where they are located. To start click on the File menu and select New. The New Reference Library window pops up offering a filename called Untitled.enl in the default location, which is usually the My Documents folder under MS Windows (screenshot). Give the library file a unique name and make a note of where the library has been created.

As the library is added to the size of the database file will gradually increase. However at a starting size of under 100KB the library files are very portable and easily backed up. As I tend to use the resource both at work and at home, so I keep my library file on a USB drive which is ideal for portability. The files themselves comprise an enl file and a folder of the same name, which contains a number of support files (screenshot). These are quite portable and Endnote can open these from any location by clicking on the File menu and selecting Open and driling to the location of the drive and folder containing these files. Make sure to keep additional copies in separate places in case of accidental loss.

Entering references using Google Scholar

Get Google to do the hard work of entering new references into your library, while you undertake more important scholarly tasks such as quaffing a caraffe or two of chardonnay. Open google and on the menus at the top sclick on more and then select scholar (screenshot). Next click on Scholar Preferences in the middle (screenshot). Towards the bottom, select the option, Show links to import citations into EndNote. Click the Save Preferences button to finish.

Next type your article title into Google Scholar (including it in quotes can often hone down to the one reference), but include authors or other details if necessary. Note that at the bottom of the citation is a new link (screenshot).

Clicking on this hyperlink brings up an Opem/Download box. Choose 'Open' which opens Endnote and asks which database to add the reference to. Choose the usual one by going to My Computer and the appropriate drive and folder and .eml file (screenshot)(screenshot). Endnote will open and lob the reference into a temporary "Imported References" section.

Finally right click on the (temporary) imported reference and select "Add Reference To.." and select and appropriate Custom Group (screenshot).