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EndNote Guide: Protect your EndNote Library

General safety notes

  • It is good practice to have an EndNote library name that is not My EndNote Library.  If you ever create an EndNote library the default is My EndNote Library which will override your original library.

  • EndNote libraries are made up of two parts: the .enl file and the .data folder. These two parts must be kept together, both are needed for the library to work correctly.

  • EndNote libraries should be kept on your computer's hard drive. Storing and editing libraries on a network drive can lead to corruption and performance issues.

  • EndNote libraries should never be used in cloud-syncing folders such as DropBox, OneDrive, Box, SugarSync, etc. Syncing folders corrupt EndNote libraries over time.  But it is ok to store a backup version in a cloud server.

  • Uninstall your previous version of EndNote before installing a new version.

  • References in EndNote libraries can be synchronized between desktop and laptop computers, the online library, and an iPad using EndNote Sync.

  • Complete EndNote libraries can be shared with other EndNote X20 users through EndNote Sync and Library Sharing.

  • Compressed backup copies should include the date in the title not My EndNote Library copy copy.  e.g. backup-library-2018-12-25.enlx

Saving a Backup copy

Once you have created a large EndNote library you can save a compressed  copy of your original library and any associated files  (such as PDFs) to another location as a backup file

You can also use this method to transfer your library and associated files to another computer

Open your EndNote library

  • Click File | Compressed Library (.enlx)
  • Choose appropriate options for your compressed library and click Next
  • Save the compressed library where you wish to store your back up file - USB stick, portable hard drive, another computer. Avoid using Dropbox or other cloud based storage systems.
  • To uncompress the .enlx version of your EndNote library double click on it or in EndNote use File | Open