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EndNote Guide / APA Referencing Guide

This guide provides comprehensive instructions on the installation and use of the reference management software EndNote.

Backing up your EndNote Library

It is highly recommended to make a backup copy of your EndNote library, so that if something goes wrong this is a working copy of your library. 

There are two ways to backup your EndNote Library, compressing the library or saving a copy.

 

Compressing an EndNote Library

This method compresses the .enl and .Data files into a single zipped file with an .enlx extension and can be saved to a USB or emailed to yourself or someone else (depending on the file size).

1. Open your EndNote Library.

2. Select File → Select Compress Library (.enlx)

3 A pop-up window will open, select All References in Library and With File Attachments. 

4. To save to a USB select the Create option, to send as an email attachment select the Create & E-mail option (your default email system will launch with the compressed library file attached).

5. Click Next on Windows/PC device or OK on Mac device.

6. The default file name of the backup will be the exact same name as the original library.  It is highly recommended you modify the name to state it is a backup and the date the file was created.

Opening a compressed library

If your compressed library is in an email or on a USB:

  • Do not open the library from these locations as it is likely to corrupt your file.
  • Instead copy the compressed .enlx file and save it to your EndNote Library folder on your computer hard drive.
  • If you renamed the compressed library file to indicate it was a backup, you can now rename it back to the original name.
  • Double-click the file to unzip the compressed library.
  • You may delete the original .enlx compressed file from this folder now to avoid potential confusion.

 

Video credited to EndNote Training.

EndNote Training. (2021, August 25). In action: EndNote 20 compress library [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccmrjObQq8

Saving a Copy of your EndNote Library

To save a copy of your EndNote Library to a different folder, a USB or other portable storage device:

1. Open your EndNote Library.

2. Select File → Select Save a Copy.

3. Rename the file including the backup date and save it to a different folder, a USB or a portable storage device.

Video credited to EndNote Training.

EndNote Training. (2021, August 25). In action: EndNote 20 (Windows) save a copy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzWQ-BqboZk