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EndNote for Sciences

Overview

Exporting references from databases to EndNote Desktop and to EndNote Basic is usually a straightforward process that follows a common series of steps.  In most databases you will:

  1. Run a search.
  2. Select the references that you want send to EndNote Desktop or EndNote Basic.  
  3. Select an export option.

At this step the process for EndNote Desktop and for EndNote Basic diverges. 

  • You will need to choose the correct file export format for EndNote Desktop or EndNote Basic.
  • For EndNote Basic, you will also need to choose the correct import option.

The chart below shows what export option to choose for EndNote and for EndNote Basic, and, for EndNote Basic, which import option to use for a range of science databases.  

At a glance: file types and import options

Database/Vendor EndNote Desktop EndNote Basic File Type for EndNote Basic Import
Academic Search Elite (EBSCO)  Direct Export in RIS Format Direct Export to EndNote Web n/a (automatic import)
arXiv See arXiv export instructions See arXiv export instructions  
Biological Abstracts (Ovid) EndNote EndNote * Biological Abs (OvidSP)
BIOSIS Citation Index EndNote desktop EndNote online n/a (automatic import)
Google Scholar EndNote EndNote * EndNote Import
InfoHawk+ Export RIS EndNote Web n/a (automatic import)
MathSciNet EndNote EndNote * EndNote Import
MEDLINE (Ovid) EndNote EndNote * MEDLINE (OvidSP)
NASA ADS EndNote EndNote * EndNote Import
PubMed Citation Manager Citation Manager * PubMed (NLM)
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global EndNote EndNote * ProQuest
ScienceDirect Export citation to RIS Export citation to RIS * ScienceDirect
SciFinder-n Citation (.ris) Tagged (.txt) * SciFinder (CAS)
Scopus EndNote (RIS) RIS * Scopus
Web of Science EndNote desktop EndNote online n/a (automatic import)
Zoological Record EndNote desktop EndNote online n/a (automatic import)

* The file will need to be manually imported into EndNote Basic.  Find instructions here.