Opening a Linked File or URL

Once a valid, hyperlink URL or path and filename appear in a reference, you can open the reference and click the hyperlink text or icon to open the linked URL or file.

Or, from the References menu, use the URL > Open URL or File Attachments > Open File command to look specifically in the URL field or File Attachments field to open the Internet site or linked file.

You must have the necessary program installed on your computer in order for EndNote to open a file created by another program. For example, to open a PDF file, you must have Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or another program that can read PDF files installed on your computer.

Similarly, EndNote does not include a Web browser. If you do not already have a browser installed, you will need to install one before using this feature to open a link to a Web site.

Using the Open Link and Open File Commands

The URL > Open URL (Ctrl+G) and File Attachments > Open File (Ctrl +Alt+P) commands on the References menu can be used to launch a URL or open a linked file entered into an EndNote reference under the following conditions:

When just one reference is selected in the Library window, the Open URL command opens the first URL that is listed in that reference’s URL field. The Open File command opens the first linked file that is listed in that reference’s File Attachments field.
When multiple references are selected, EndNote checks the URL or File Attachments field in each of the selected references (in the order listed), and opens the first link it finds.
If you need to enter multiple links into the URL field of one reference, enter them one per line. EndNote will open the first link in the field when you select Open URL or Open File. If you have multiple links, you can click on any one of them to activate the link. (We recommend that you enter multiple URLs on separate lines. However, if more than one URL is entered on a single line, separated by semicolons, hold down the Alt key while you click on the URL you wish to open.)

To open a linked file or Internet site from the URL field:

You could open the reference and click on the hyperlink found in the URL field. Or,

Select or open a reference in the Library window.
From the References menu, select URL > Open URL (Ctrl+G).

The Open URL command opens the linked URL with your default browser, or opens a linked file with the appropriate program.

To open a linked file from the File Attachments field:

You could open the reference and click on the file icon found in the File Attachments field. Or,

Select or open a reference in the Library window.
From the References menu, select File Attachments > Open File (Ctrl+Alt+P).

The Open File command opens the linked file with the appropriate program.

If the file was linked with a relative path, EndNote looks in the library's DATA\PDF folder to find the file. If the file was linked with an absolute path, EndNote looks for the file in the original folder from which it was inserted.

Note: Please see Selecting a Relative Path or an Absolute Path for File Attachments for information about the difference between a file linked with a relative path and a file linked with an absolute path.