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Import Filters

EndNote comes with thousands of filters for importing records from various electronic journals and databases. Filters are used when importing saved records from a database search into Endnote. Frequently the UW-Madison Libraries will provide a database or resource for which EndNote currently does not have a filter, or does not have a filter that works in the most desired manner. Custom filters are available below.

Click on desired filter file and save it within your EndNote program to the Filters folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\EndNote X3\Filters). You may need to right-click on the link if clicking doesn't prompt you to save the file.

*If a desired filter is not available, please contact a UW-Madison Libraries EndNote Consultant.

Online Search (Connection) Files

Connection files are used when using the Online Search feature within EndNote itself.

In EndNote:

  1. Click Online Search Mode (EndNote X2 and newer)
  2. Select database from list on left. If you do not see your desired database, click more... .
    (EndNote X3: Refer to your EndNote manual for adding additional connection files not initially installed.)
  3. Enter search.

Custom Connection Files

The following connection files have been developed by UW-Madison staff:

  • PubMed-(PMCID)-Connect - This Connection file includes the "PMC" prefix with PMCID numbers and the "NIHMS" prefix with NIHMSID numbers when importing PubMed records - developed by E. Wixson
  • CINAHL (EBSCO-Ebling). Developed by M. Venner
  1. Click on connection file name.
  2. Save the .enz file in the location listed in your EndNote Folder Locations preferences.

    Example: C:docs\EndNote\Connections

EndNote X3 and later: Enter Proxy String for Access to Licensed Resources via Connection files

  1. Click Edit, then Connection Files.
  2. Click Open Connection Manager and select the database you want to search from within EndNote.
  3. Click Connection Settings.
  4. Add UW-Madison Libraries proxy character string to the end of the Server Address:

    Web of Science Example: gateway.isiknowledge.com.http://ezproxy.library.wisc.edu
    Cinahl (EBSCO) Example: zgw.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.wisc.edu

*If a desired connection file is not available, please contact a UW-Madison Libraries EndNote Consultant.

Output Styles

EndNote comes with thousands of styles to assist in the formatting of in-text citations, bibliographies and footnotes. Styles determine how each reference type will be formatted, such as a journal article or a book. Occasionally you may need a style which EndNote does not supply, or need to modify an existing style to meet a specific need.

Customized output styles

  • NIH-PMCID.ens output style - This output style includes NIHMSID and PMCID numbers if they exist in your EndNote records. EndNote X3 and later assigns PCMID to the Custom 2 data field in the Journal Article Reference Type. If you have an earlier version of Endnote, assign Custom 2 field to PMCID in the Journal Article Reference Type under your EndNote Preferences. Assign Custom 6 field to NIHMSID in the Journal Article Reference Type under your EndNote Preferences. The default NIH output style does not include NIHMSID numbers.
    PMCID and NIHMSID Custom field assignment

Creating a custom output style

Determine ahead of time which fields and format requirements you will need for a bibliography and/or in-text citation. We recommend finding an existing output style that most closely matches your desired style and using that as a model. This is easier than trying to make one from scratch. Directions below are for creating a new style.

  1. Choose Edit and Output Style.
  2. Select New Style.
  3. Click File and Save As and name your new style.

Notice all the headings in the left hand menu bar. These offer all the advanced features of customizing an output style. The four main definitions for an output style are:

Citation , which defines the style for an in-text citation within the body of a wordprocessor manuscript.

Bibliography , which defines the format for a list of references at the end of a wordprocessor manuscript, or independent bibliography.

Footnotes, which defines the format of a footnote at the bottom of a page in a wordprocessor manuscript.

Figures and Tables, which define the format for figures or tables cited within the body of your manuscript.

The example below is for defining the format of a Bibliography.

  1. Click Bibliography from the left hand menu bar and select Templates.
  2. Under Reference Types select the desired reference type.
    If a specific reference type is not defined the formatting will default to the "generic" reference type.
  3. Click Insert Field to add the fields you want to appear in a formatted citation for that reference type.
    Remember to add any desired punctuation, such as periods, spaces, etc. Also remember that the order in which you add the fields is the order in which they will appear in the formatted bibliography.
  4. Click the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen to add special formatting, such as italics, underlining, superscript, etc.
  5. Continue adding desired fields and styling until you have everything you need for a complete citation for that reference type.
  6. Repeat this process for each reference type needed.
  7. Close the Style box by clicking in the X in the right hand corner of the window.
  8. Click YES to save the new output style.

Preview your new style

  1. Click the Bibliographic Output Style drop-down menu and select your new style. If your style is not in the list, click Select Another Style.
  2. In your EndNote library highlight a record matching the reference type you have defined.
  3. If the Tab Pane is not visible, click Show Tab Pane in the bottom right hand corner.
  4. Click Preview tab. Your reference will display in the currently selected style. Check for accuracy and re-edit if necessary.

Journal Term Lists

Different journals have different standards for abbreviating journal names. For example, some styles may require "Proceedings of the National Academy of Science" to be abbreviated as "Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.," "P.N.A.S." or "PNAS." EndNote's Journals term list provides a way for you import and store the accepted journal abbreviations in various disciplines, such as MLA, Medicine, Education, etc. for use in your bibliographies.

EndNote comes pre-loaded with a variety of journal term lists. These include the accepted journal abbreviations from the Modern Language Association (MLA) , the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the American Chemical Society (ACS) among others. Directions for importing these lists into your journal term list within an Endnote Library are given below.

Importing a journal term list

  1. Open your EndNote Library.
  2. Click Tools, then click Open Term Lists.
  3. Select Journals Term List.
    Note: An EndNote Library can only have one journal abbreviation term list. If you have an existing set of journal abbreviations and want to replace it with a new list, you must first delete the existing list.
  4. Click Lists tab and select Journals.
  5. Click Import List.
  6. Select the EndNote Term Lists subfolder from the Look In: drop down menu.
  7. Click on the desired list and click Open.
    chemicals.txt is the American Chemical Society
    humanities.txt is the Modern Language Association
    medical.txt is National Library of Medicine
    EndNote Term Lists window
    8. The list will be imported into your EndNote library.
  8. Click Tools, Open Term Lists, and Journals to confirm.

Note: Check your Style to verify whether a journal abbreviation or full journal title is selected. Unless specified, the journal title will format as entered in the EndNote record itself.

Other Journal Abbreviation Lists from the Internet

Most of the lists below may be saved as a text file (file.txt) and imported into EndNote following the same procedures listed above.

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