Library » Biotechnology Information Center » EndNote Support Information

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EndNote Connection Files (for EndNote ver. 6, 7, 8, 9, X and beyond)

What is a Connection File?

These are files that allow the University of Illinois EndNote user to search the Online Catalog and various journal indexes directly from EndNote, so they can easily "drag" citations into an EndNote library. It's a handy alternative to having to log in to a database, search, save the records of interest to a separate file, and then using an EndNote filter to import the records into an EndNote library. However, the EndNote search interface is a bit primitive, so sometimes it's still advisable to search the databases using their native search interfaces.

Several of the database interfaces (OVID-type; Web of Science; ProQuest; Ei Village; EbscoHost) offer the option of dynamically opening and importing records into EndNote after using the native search engine -- no need to go through the step of saving the results to a file and using a filter. Even if connection files exist for these resources (and many times they don't) it's recommended that you use the native search interface rather than the EndNote interface in order to do more thorough searches.

Downloading, Saving and Using Connection Files

Downloading & Saving ...

• PCs: To download the connection file, click on the file link, below. The first time you save a file, you'll need to authenticate yourself with Bluestem by providing your University of Illinois NetID and password. Depending on your browser and system, you will be offered an option to "Open the file with EndNote" (do this!) or to save the file to some location on your computer.  If you choose to save the file:

1. Save the file to your desktop. 
2. Double click on the file to open it with EndNote. 
3. Go to File / Save As and make sure the file does not have the same name of an already existing file (EndNote will not overwrite installed files). 
4. Click Save.
5. Close the file editor.

• MACs: To download a connection file, control-click on link and select from the menu "Download Link to Disk" or "Save Target As". The first time you save a file, you'll need to authenticate yourself with Bluestem by providing your University of Illinois NetID and password. Save the file to your EndNote / Connection folder. If the browser doesn't give you the option of choosing where to save the file, save it wherever you can, and then move it to the proper folder.

Using...

Then, in order to use the Connection File the first time, you will need to select the file via the EndNote Connections Manager:

• Edit / Connections Files / Open Connections Manager
• Scroll down the list until you see the new file, and "check" it
• Then close the Connections Manager.
• Unless you download additional connection files, or feel the need to edit them, you shouldn't have to use the Connections Manager again. Note: you will need to edit the connection files for the various OVID databases. See, for example, the instructions for PsycInfo, below.

After you have closed the Connections Manager, you're ready to use a Connections File!

• First you need to have an EndNote "library" open, if you don't already:
  • File / Open / Open Library
  • Choose a library to open; or start a new library
• Now you're ready to connect to and search a remote database:
  • Click on Tools / Connect
  • You should see a list of all the connection files that you selected via the Connections Manager (see instructions, above)
  • Choose the database you wish to search
  • Conduct your search
    • Note: if your search results in a lot of hits, and you want to stop the search in progress, click your "Escape" key.
  • Select the citations that you want to import into your library, and drag them into your EndNote library. (Hold the control key down to select multiple records; then drag them all at once.)
• Warnings:
  • When you first start using a connection file, check several citations to see that the information is being imported into the the right EndNote fields. Check the citations for several journals, books, etc. This may be particularly important to do if the database you're searching has patents or other non-standard types of citations
  • Likewise, it's advisable to conduct several searches using both the native search interface (e.g., go directly to the PubMed site, or search Biological Abstracts etc. directly) and compare the results with those that you obtain via EndNote connect.
  • Keep in mind that the EndNote search engine was designed to search your small EndNote "library". While it is very handy for simple searches, it may not be the best choice for all your searching needs

Using connection files from off-campus

In order to use connection files from off-campus, you will need to authenticate yourself as affiliated with the University of Illinois using CITES VPN protocol.  In order to do this, you will first need to install a small piece of software on your computer.  Please refer to CITES Virtual Private Networking site for instructions.

Why don't the connection files that come with EndNote work?

For the connection files to work, you often need to modify the connection file so it includes U of Illinois-specific password information. In the files below, we have made these revisions (encrpyted), and often tweaked the search parameters, too. If there are other library resources for which you'd like connection files, please let us know. Contact: Katie Newman, Biotechnology Librarian (217-265-5386).

About the Connection Files for Macs 

Barbara Meyer, formerly of the University of Illinois School of Life Sciences, kindly converted our PC connection files into Mac connection files for us before her retirement. These converted files are listed below, for you to download. If a MAC file is not listed below but a PC file is, you may convert the file yourself using the instructions from our colleagues at Northwestern University.

 

PC and Mac Connection files for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students and faculty

Journal article databases	Connection files Instructions for Downloading: PCs Instructions for Downloading: MACs	Notes
ABI/Inform, [Business / Economics] 1905-present, via ProQuest	None	Search the native ProQuest interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
Academic Search Premier via EbscoHost	None	Search the native EbscoHost interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
AGRICOLA, 1970-present, via OVID	None	Use OVID's direct export.
ArtBibliographies Modern, 1974-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_ARTbiblioModern(CSA).enz MAC:  UIUC_ARTbiblioModern(CSA)-mac.enz 8/26/04	Although a connection file is available, more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
ASFA 1: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts 1: Biological Sciences and Living Resources, 1971-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_ASFA1_(CSA).enz MAC: UIUC_ASFA1_(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available, more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
ASFA 3: Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts 3: Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Quality, 1990-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_ASFA3_(CSA).enz MAC: UIUC_ASFA3_(CSA)-mac.enz 7/14/04	ASFA 3 is a small part of the Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management database, so use it's connection file instead of the ASFA3 file, if you like. Although a connection file is available, more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Biological Abstracts, 1955-present, via Web of Knowledge	On campus, use the CAB Abstracts connection file that comes with EndNote. No connection file available for use from off-campus. Better yet, search the native Web of Knowledge interface. See note -->	Search the native Web of Knowledge interface, then directly " Export to Reference Software" (see below for details)
Business Source Premier, 1985-present, via EbscoHost	None	Search the native EbscoHost interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
CAB Abstracts, 1910-present, via Web of Knowledge	On campus, use the CAB Abstracts connection file that comes with EndNote. No connection file available for use from off-campus. Better yet, search the native Web of Knowledge interface. See note -->	Search the native Web of Knowledge interface, then directly " Export to Reference Software" (see below for details)
CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, 1982-present, via EbscoHost	None	Search the native EbscoHost interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
Communication Abstracts, 1977-, via CSA	PC: UIUC_communication_abstracts_csa_(PC).enz	Although a connection file is available, more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Compendex, 1884-present, via Ei Village	None	No connection files available. Search the native Ei Village interface, then " Download" directly into EndNote (see below for details)
Dissertation Abstracts (Proquest Digital Dissertations), 1861-present, via ProQuest	None	No connection file available. However you may search using the native interface, mark, and download the records (saving as a txt file). Then use this filter to import the records into Endnote: Proquest_Dissertation_UIUC.enf Be sure to save the filter in your Endnote Filters folder.
Environmental Science and Pollution Management, coverage dates vary by subfile.	PC: UIUC_Envir_Sci_CSA.enz MAC:  UIUC_Envir_Sci_CSA_mac.enz 7/14/04	Use this connection file for any of the "subfiles" that make up the ESPM database, such as ASFA1, ASFA2,
ERIC, 1966-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_ERIC (CSA)	See instructions for importing records from these searches.
FSTA - Food Science & Technology Abstracts, 1969-present, via Web of Knowledge	On campus, use the FSTA connection file that comes with EndNote. No connection file available for use from off-campus. Better yet, search the native Web of Knowledge interface. See note -->	Search the native Web of Knowledge interface, then directly " Export to Reference Software" (see below for details)
GeoRef, 1785-present, via CSA	None	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
InSPEC, 1969- present, via Ei Village	None	No connection file available. Search the native Ei Village interface, then " Download" directly into EndNote (see below for details)
International Pharmaceutical Abstracts - IPA, 1970-present, via OVID	None	Use OVID's direct export.
LISA - Library and Information Science Abstracts, 1974-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_LISA(CSA).enz MAC: UIUC_LISA(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
LLBA - Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, 1973-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_LLBA(CSA).enz MAC:  UIUC_LLBA(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
MLA - Modern Language Association Bibliography, 1963-present, EbscoHost	None	Search the native EbscoHost interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
NTIS - National Technical Information Service, 1964-present, via Ei Village	None	No connection files available. Search the native Ei Village interface, then " Download" directly into EndNote (see below for details)
PAIS - Public Affairs Information Service, 1972-present, via CSA	None	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Philosopher's Index, 1940-present, via CSA	None	Use the native CSA search engine to search. See instructions for importing records from the Philospher's Index.
PsycInfo, 1872-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_PsycINFO (CSA).enz 7/2007	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
PubMed - MEDLINE, 1969-present, via NLM	Use the connection file for PubMed that comes with EndNote.
Scopus 1965-present	None	No connection file available. Search Scopus directly, and then export the results to EndNote. See Instructions, below.
Social Services Abstracts, 1980-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_Social_Services_Abs_(CSA).enz MAC: UIUC_Social_Services_Abs_(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Sociological Abstracts, 1960-present, via CSA	PC:   UIUC_SociologicalAbs(CSA).enz MAC:  UIUC_SociologicalAbs(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04ch/endnote	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Sport Discus, 1830-present, via EbscoHost	None	Search the native EbscoHost interface, then directly export into endnote. See below for instructions.
Toxline, 1998-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_TOXLINE(CSA).enz MAC:  UIUC_TOXLINE(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Web of Science, 1970-present, via Web of Knowledge	On campus, use the Web of Science connection file that comes with EndNote. No connection file available for use from off-campus. Better yet, search the native Web of Knowledge interface. See note -->	Search the native Web of Knowledge interface, then directly " Export to Reference Software" (see below for details)
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, 1975-present, via CSA	PC: UIUC_WorldPolSciAbs(CSA).enz MAC: UIUC_WorldPolSciAbs(CSA)-mac.enz 4/22/04	Although a connection file is available (contact me if you need it), more comprehensive searches can be accomplished using the native search engine. See instructions for importing records from these searches.
Zoological Record, 1978-present, via Web of Knowledge	On campus, use the Zoological Records connection file that comes with EndNote. No connection file available for use from off-campus. Better yet, search the native Web of Knowledge interface. See note -->	Search the native Web of Knowledge interface, then directly " Export to Reference Software" (see below for details)

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Library Catalogs	Download Connection File
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Online Catalog (worldwide access)  Note: find revised z39.50 definitions, which are used for connection files, for the I-Share libraries at: http://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-prod/i-share/opac/i-share_z3950.html	PC: U Illinois-UIUC Note: this connection file was updated and tested 3-8-2012 with EndNote x5 on a PC.
I-Share Catalog (worldwide access) Use this connection file to search the Illinois consortium of academic libraries (I-Share) (a much broader search than just searching the UIUC catalog!) Note: find revised definitions for the I-Share libraries at: http://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-prod/i-share/opac/i-share_z3950.html	PC: I-Share
WorldCat (OCLC) (U of Illinois access)	PC:  UIUC_WorldCat_OCLC.enz MAC: UIUC_WorldCat_OCLC_mac.enz

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Tips for Exporting citations from Databases into EndNote (mostly without connection files)

• ACM
• CSA
• EbscoHost
• EiVillage
• Google Scholar
• OVID
• ProQuest
• PubMed
• Scopus
• Web of Knowledge

ACM Portal

Importing one citation at a time:

• Perform your search
• Click on the title of an article of interest, to open the full citation
• In Tools and Actions / Display Formats, click on EndNote. You will be prompted to Open EndNote, and will need to locate the EndNote Library where the citation should go. Once you identify the library, the citation will be imported.

Importing multiple citations at a time into EndNote, from the ACM Portal

• You will want to download an import filter that was created by John East, from the University of Queensland (Australia) Please refer to his page, ACM Digital Library - Importing References using a Filter, for instructions.
• In a nutshell, you'll need to copy and paste the citation(s) in a Bibtxt format to a Notepad (txt) file. Just keep copying and pasting them to the file until you have all the citations you need. Save the file, and then import the citations into EndNote using his filter. Note: When you download the filter file, be sure to place it in your EndNote / Filters folder.
• Be sure to read the Known problems with this filter, at the bottom of his page.

Alternatively, if you wish to download more than one citation at a time, import citations from the Engineering Village databases (Compendex; InSpec; NTIS; Patents) instead of using the ACM Portal. EiVillage provides very nearly comprehensive coverage of the publications found in the ACM Portal.

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CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)

Although we list several EndNote connection files so you may search directly from EndNote, more through searches are often possible by searching the native search engine, and then importing the citations into EndNote. Here's how:.

From within the CSA database:

• Perform your search and mark the articles of interest.
• Click on the link to "Save, Print, Email"
• Click on the "Save" button (after selecting your computer type -- PC, MAC, or Unix)
• Save the file to a location on your computer where you can find it.

From within EndNote:

• Open the EndNote library where you want to place the citations.
• Click on: File / Import
• Locate your file, using Choose File
• For Import Option, choose a the filter that matches the name of the database that you are searching. Make sure that the Information Provider is CSA (or Cambridge Scientific Abstracts). You may need to select Other Filters in order to see the whole list of filters. If the database you're using isn't listed, then choose ASFA (CSA)-- apparently it works well with all the CSA databases.
• Click the Import Button. The citations should now be in the EndNote Library.

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EbscoHost

The EbscoHost search interface for the Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, and other databases does not support z39.50 connections and so there are no connection files available for these databases at this time. However, importing results from the various EbscoHost databases is very easy:

• Perform your search and "add" the records of interest to your "folder".
• Click on "Folder has items". You'll go to a page that lists all the records that you've selected.
• Click on "Save to Disk".
• Switch from the "Articles" folder to the folder labelled "Bibliographic Manager".
• Choose "Direct Export to your bibliographic management software".
• Then choose "Save".
• EndNote will automatically open, and you'll be asked to select the EndNote library into which to export the records.
• As soon as you choose a library, the selected EbscoHost citations will be exported!

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Ei Village

The EiVillage search interface for the Compendex and InSPEC databases does not support z39.50 connections and so there are no connection files available for these databases at this time. However, importing results from Ei Village into EndNote is very easy:

• From within EiVillage, perform your search and select the records of interest.
• Click on "Download".
• Choose to save in the "RIS Format".
• EndNote will automatically open, and you'll be asked to select the EndNote library into which to export the Ei Village records.
• As soon as you choose a library, the selected Ei Village citations will be exported!

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OVID

Direct Export (see below for customizing the OVID connection files)

 

We are no longer providing connection files for the OVID databases.  It is usually better to search the OVID databases directly, using the native OVID interface, rather than using EndNote's rather limited search engine. OVID has provided a "direct export" feature which, when selected, will automatically open EndNote and import selected records from the OVID database into an EndNote library. Note: Direct Export only works if you have an EndNote filter for the database in question. Since EndNote ships with most, if not all, of the filters for the OVID databases that we have, this should not be a problem. But you may want to check the EndNote filter site for updated versions of filters.

To use the direct export feature:

• Open the OVID database, and perform your search.
• Select the articles of interest, by checking the boxes to the left of each citation.
• In the Citation Manager, which is located at the bottom of every search results screen in OVID, make the following choices:
  • Fields to import: Complete Reference
  • Citation Format: Direct Export
  • Include Search History: Ok to leave this unchecked
  • Action: Click on "save"
• At this point, EndNote will open and you will be prompted to choose an EndNote library in which to export the citations.
• As soon as you choose a library, the selected OVID citations will be exported!
• MAC USERS NOTE: You will need to set your MIME type so that your computer will recognize the file that is downloaded from WoS as an EndNote file. (From http://library.ucsc.edu/science/endnote/directexport.htm)
  • Description: EndNote-Ovid
  • MIME Type: application/x-bibliographic
  • Suffixes: .ovd
  • Handled by: Application EndNote (use the "Choose button to choose the
    appropriate version of EndNote)
  • File info: File Type: Text
  • File Creator: ENDN (IE only)
  • Encoding: Plain text (IE only)
  • Download Destination (IE only): Temporary Items Folder
  • How to handle (IE only): Postprocess with application Application: EndNote

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ProQuest

The ProQuest search interface for the ABI/Inform database (and other) databases does not support z39.50 connections and so there are no connection files available for these databases at this time. However, importing results from the various ProQuest databases is very easy:

From within the ProQuest database:

• Perform your search and mark the article(s) of interest..
• Click on "Export".
• Click on "Export citations into EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks or Reference Manager".
• EndNote will automatically open, and you'll be asked to select the EndNote library into which to export the records.
• As soon as you choose a library, the selected ABI/Inform citations will be exported!

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PubMed

In PubMed:

• Perform your search and mark articles of interest.
• As you go along, put the marked articles into the Clipboard:
  • Send to / Clipboard
• When finished searching, view the articles in the Clipboard:
  Click the Clipboard tab.
• From the Display dropdown box, choose MEDLINE
• From the Show dropdown box, choose a number high enough to show all your selections
• From the Send to dropdown box, choose File. Save the file to a location you can find; change the file name, if desired, but it should remain a txt file..

In EndNote:

• Click on: File / Import
  • Import Data File: Browse to the location of the txt file that was saved.
  • Import Option: From the dropdown box, choose PubMed. If PubMed isn't visible on the short list, click on More Filters, to see the entire list of filter options, and choose PubMed from this list.
    (Later, go into your Filter Manager (Edit / Import Filters / Open Filter Manager) and Check off PubMed. This will make it appear on your short list of filters.)
  • Click Import.

Alternatively, you can use EndNote's built-in connection file for PubMed. However, in many cases you will be able to perform a more precise and comprehensive search if you search PubMed using the native interface, save the results to a MEDLINE txt file, and then pull the citations into EndNote from that file.

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Scopus

• Select the document(s) you want to export.
• Select Export.
• Select an Export format: RIS format:
• Select the output format desired (usually Abstract format:)
• Click Export to begin your export.
• A file download dialog box will appear allowing you to save or open your exported file.

In most cases you'll be asked if you want to open it with the Web Export Helper. If this happens, choose this option. The documents will go right into the EndNote library of your choosing.

If the web export helper doesn't pop up, you will need to filter the results into EndNote.

• Save the downloaded file somewhere that you can find it..
• From within EndNote: Click on File / Import. The Import option box will appear.
• Import Data file: Choose the file you saved
• Import Option: Choose Reference Manager (RIS)
• Import.

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Web of Knowledge's "Export to Reference Software" feature

The connection files that come with EndNote for Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, FSTA, Medline, and Zoological Record seem to work fine as is, for searching on campus. Although no connection files are available for searching Web of Knowledge databases from off campus, you can search from off-campus if you have first logged in to CITES VPN; see above, Using Connection Files from Off-Campus.

However, for comprehensive searching, it's highly recommended that you fore go using the connection files, and search using the native Web of Knowledge search engine, instead. This way you will be able to take advantage of the many related citation linkages available within WoS. Follow these easy steps:

• As you locate citations of interest in WoS (or any of the other Web of Knowledge databases listed above), mark them by checking the box near the citation. As you progress onto each new page of 10 records, the selected citations will be added to the "Marked List".
  Note: If you're not progressing on through multiple pages, then it's a good idea to click on the "Add to Marked List" button, to make sure your selections are added to the Marked List.
• When you're ready to export the records to Endnote, click on the "Marked Records" button, at the top. You will see a list of all the records you have marked during the current WoS session.
• Select the output fields you need -- Author, Title and Source (citation) are automatically selected, but you'll also want to select the the Abstract, and possibly other fields.
• Click on the button "Save to EndNote, RefMan, or other reference software". EndNote will automatically open, and you'll be asked to select the EndNote library into which to export the records.
• As soon as you choose a library, the selected Web of Science citations will be exported!
• MAC USERS NOTE: You will need to set your MIME type so that your computer will recognize the file that is downloaded from WoS as an EndNote file. (From http://library.ucsc.edu/science/endnote/directexport.htm)
  • Description: EndNote-ISI Format
  • MIME Type: application/x-inst-for-Scientific-info
  • Suffixes: .cgi
  • Handled by: Application EndNote (use the "Choose button to choose the
    appropriate version of EndNote)
  • File info: File Type: Text
  • File Creator: ENDN (IE only)
  • Encoding: Plain text (IE only)
  • Download Destination (IE only): Temporary Items Folder
  • How to handle (IE only): Postprocess with application Application: EndNote

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Server Information

If you have EndNote connection files that you've been using, you may just want to update the new server address settings. Or, if you're using a different bibliographic management program such as ProCite or Reference Manager, you may need to update your z39.50 connection files. ThIs site provides the server address and attributes for our Online Catalog or the Illinois-wide academic catalog, I-Share.

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