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EndNote: a beginner's guide

An introduction to EndNote Desktop for new users. Learn how to create a Library, add and modify references, use EndNote with Microsoft Word, add groups, add full-text PDFs, and back-up your EndNote Desktop library. Also includes EndNote Online.

Export references directly from EndNote with connection files

Connection files allow EndNote Desktop and EndNote Online to connect to a library's search engine (e.g. LibrarySearch) or an online database to search for and import references directly from EndNote’s interface. But connection files will only let you do basic searches. If that is not enough, start your search in LibrarySearch or in a library database.

Both EndNote Desktop and EndNote Online come with many pre-installed connection files. These include the RMIT_University_Library connection file and others from publicly-available library catalogues and databases. Use the Online Search feature in EndNote to access these connection files. You can download additional connection files from EndNote.com.

You can also download the RMIT_University_Library connection file if it is not already within EndNote Desktop.

For EndNote Desktop, save a downloaded connection file to its corresponding sub-folder:

  • On Windows, save the file to C:\Program Files (x86)\EndNote\Connections
  • On Mac, save the file to Applications > EndNote > Connections
IMPORTANT -- PLEASE READ: The RMIT_University_Library connection file searches for and imports references from LibrarySearch ONLY, not databases. Also, if using EndNote basic (a type of EndNote Online account), you can only use pre-installed connection files. You cannot add any new connection files.