Record Layout (Import Filters and Connection Files)

Use the options in the Record Layout panel to modify how EndNote interprets the end of a reference in a data file.

Smart Record Identification

Smart Record Identification, EndNote’s default setting for Record Termination, creates a new record in EndNote each time a tag in the data file repeats out of sequence and is preceded by a blank or extraneous line. EndNote will not create a new record if the same tag appears in succession, provided that they are not separated by a blank line.

For example, some databases list authors one per tagged line, with the AU tag appearing two or more times in succession, as in the following example:

AU- D'Orazio, MGAU-

When EndNote sees consecutive tags, it does not start a new reference unless it finds the same tag preceded by a blank or extraneous line.

More Specific Record Layout Options

A more precise way of identifying a new record is to specify in your filter exactly how the records are terminated in your data file. The remaining options in the Record Layout panel allow you to do this.

To determine how records are terminated, open your data file in either a word processor or text editor. Check for the pattern consistently separating one record from another. Once you have determined the correct record termination, click the appropriate button on the Record Layout panel to select the best option for your data file. You may choose only one option as a record terminator.

Blank line separates records

Select this option if the only blank lines in a data file are the ones in between references.

Using "First Tag" and "Last Tag" Options

This option lets you specify a first tag that starts the record and/ or a final tag that ends each record. Only one tag is required.

Each record ends with:

Select this option if your references consistently end with a specific set of unique characters. Note that whatever you enter into this option needs to be unique enough that it does not appear elsewhere in your references. One common set of characters that is used to terminate each record is ||.

Each record starts with:

Select this option if your references consistently start with text that is not a tag. For example, it is common for some information providers to begin each reference with a counter such as:

<1>

or

Record 1 of 53

In these cases, enter the text exactly as it appears in the data file, but substitute a number sign (#) for the actual number. For the examples above, you would enter "<#>" and "Record # of #".

Example

The following example illustrates a data file that contains neither a blank line, nor text terminating each record. However, there is a consistent first tag, "ND:" starting each record. So for this example you would want to specify "ND:" as the record termination by clicking the "First Tag" button, and typing "ND:" in the box.

ND: 430529953|
BASE: BA83|
AU: HILDEN

Related Topics

Author Parsing

Continuation Lines

Field Editing (Import Filters)

Reference Type

Source Parsing

The Basic Components of a Filter

The Filter Editor window

The Filter Manager