Research Support- Manage References with Endnote X9

This method creates an exact back-up of your EndNote Library. This means that 2 things will be created, a xxx Copy.enl file and a xxx Copy.Data Folder. You can then store the .enl file and .Data Folder on a thumb-drive or a portable hard-disk.

Do note that the .enl file and the .Data Folder needs to be located together in order for EndNote to read the library properly.

To Save a Copy

1. Click on File on the top menu bar and select Save a Copy

2. Name the file if you wish, and then click on Save

3. A xxx.enl File and a xxx.Data Folder will be created

4. Save the xxx.enl File and .Data Folder in a thumb-drive or portable hard-disk as a back-up

5. To open the library, just open up the xxx.enl file

This method compresses the xxx.enl File and xxx.Data Folder into a single compressed xxx.enlx File.

You can then save the file in a thumb-drive or portable hard-disk or even email yourself a copy.

To Compress Your EndNote Library

• This is the best way to backup an EndNote library. It compresses .enl and .Data files into a single zipped file with an .enlx extension
• This compressed file is easy to save to a USB stick and other external drives

Compress and backup

• Open your library
• Select File > Compressed Library (.enlx)

• Choose from the options, click Next

• Choose a location and save the file
• The default will be a .enlx version with the same name that you can change or modify, e.g., by adding a date when the backup was made or a version number

• The compressed .enlx file is a good way to safely transfer both your .enl and .Data folders to another computer on a memory stick or by email attachment
• If you need to use your backup, double-click the compressed .enlx library and it will unzip to produce the library .enl and .Data folders

Backup your EndNote library

• You can create a backup (a compressed Library) which can be:
  • Emailed to yourself
  • Saved to a USB stick
  • Uploaded to the cloud, e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive

• You can also sign up with EndNote Online and sync your library with your EndNote Online library as another back up option

How to open a compressed library on your computer:

• If you receive a compressed library by an email, or saved a compressed library in a USB stick or the cloud, 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 computer hard drive where you would like to save your EndNote library, click the file to unzip the compressed library.

Using EndNote with multiple computers

• You can use the compressed library option for working with multiple computers  
• You may backup your references to your EndNote Online and download your library to another computer
• You can use a portable hard drive (NOT a flash drive!) and use it with multiple computers