If you have access to a library catalog or bibliographic database that supports the Z39.50 protocol, you can use EndNote as a tool to search and retrieve references directly from that database into EndNote. You do not need to use EndNote’s Import command. You can use the Online Search command instead. This is the easiest way to get data into EndNote because it involves no intermediate steps. For more information about the direct retrieval of references, see Introduction to Searching Online Databases.
There are many sources of bibliographic data that can be used to help you create your EndNote library. To avoid re-typing this data into EndNote, we have provided several means by which you can get references into EndNote:
Import references saved or downloaded from online data services (for example, Ovid or Clarivate Analytics).
Import text files that conform to a particular format (such as the Tab-delimited or EndNote Import format). These files can be created by you or generated from other databases.
Import text files exported from other bibliographic software programs.
First, you need to get your data files in the right format (see Summary of Output Formats and Corresponding Import Options and Getting Data in the Right Format), and then determine the correct import option.
Once you have a file in the proper format and you know which import option or filter to use, the import instructions are the same for all of these types of data. See General Importing Instructions.
Note: Although we try to provide many flexible ways to get data from other sources into EndNote, we do not claim that EndNote can import data from all sources. In some cases, you may have to write your own import filter (see Creating a New Filter), or you may need to manipulate the data in a word processor before it can be imported. If none of these tools helps you to import your data, tips on how to quickly copy and paste data into EndNote are described in Copying and Pasting References.
Note: When importing records, we recommend that you import into a temporary new library, determine which ones you want to keep, and then move those records into your permanent library.