Import Filters/Connection files
EndNote comes with thousands of filters/connection files for importing records from various electronic journals and databases. Filters are used when importing saved records from a database search into Endnote. Connection files are used when using the online search feature within EndNote itself. 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/connection files, which you may freely download are available below.
Custom Filters/Connection files for EndNote
Click on desired filter/connection file and save it within your EndNote program to the Filters folder if it is a filter or to the Connections folder if it is a connection file. You may need to right-click on the link if clicking doesn't prompt you to save the file.
Custom Filters
- Beilstein(MDL)
- Business and Industry RDS
- PubMed-PMCID.enf - Refer to Using EndNote to Manage NIHMSID & PMCID Numbers for proper use of this filter.
- Wilsonweb
- WorldCat
Custom Connection files
- PubMed-(PMCID) - Refer to Using EndNote to Manage NIHMSID & PMCID Numbers for proper use of this connection file.
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
Beginning May 25, 2008, all NIH applications, proposals, and progress reports must include the PubMed Central reference number (PMCID) when citing an article that falls under the policy and is authored or co-authored by the investigator or arose from the investigator's NIH award. The NIH Manuscript Submission ID (NIHMSID) may be used until the PMCID is issued.The following custom output style has been created to include these numbers.
- NIH-PMCID.ens output style - Refer to Using EndNote to Manage NIHMSID & PMCID Numbers for proper use of this custom output style.
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. I would recommend finding an existing output style that most closely matches your desired style and use that as a model. This is easier than trying to make one from scratch. Directions below are for creating a new style.
- Choose Edit and Output Style .
- Select New Style.
- Click on 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.
- Click on Bibliography from the left hand menu bar and select Templates.
- 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. - Click on 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. - Click on the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen to add special formatting, such as italics, underlining, superscript, etc.
- Continue adding desired fields and styling until you have everything you need for a complete citation for that reference type.
- Repeat this process for each reference type needed.
- Close the Style box by clicking in the X in the right hand corner of the window.
- Click on YES to save the new output style.
Preview your new style
- Go to Edit and Output Styles. Your new style should be checked.
If it is not, click on Open Style Manager and highlight your new style and close the style manager window. - In your EndNote library highlight a record matching the reference type you have defined.
- Click on Show Preview in the bottom right hand corner of EndNote.
- Your article should display in the Preview box in your 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
- Open your EndNote Library.
- Click on Tools and Open Term Lists.
- 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. (You can click on the first item, scroll to the end of the list and hold down the Shift key while clicking on the last item. This will select all items in the list. Then click Delete Term). - Click on Lists tab and select Journals.
- Click on Import List.
- Select the EndNote subfolder Term Lists from the Look In: drop down menu.
- 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 - The list will be imported into your EndNote library. Click on 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.
- Journal Title Abbreviations listed by subject
- Education journal term list (locally developed from ISI Journal Citation Report titles by E. Wixson Chemistry Library UW-Madison.