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EndNote X7 and X8 Tutorial Guides: Getting Started

Created by Health Science Librarians

Important Notes for Endnote Users

IMPORTANT NOTES:

EndNote 9.3 Issues: The EndNote 9.3 Update is incompatible with previous versions of EndNote, including 9.1 and 9.2.  Once you install 9.3, you can convert old libraries to a new format; however, this new format cannot send XML files or libraries to any previous versions of EndNote.  For best use, do not install the Endnote 9.3 Update.

MAC Users: If you have updated your macOS system to 10.15 Catalina and are running EndNote X8 or earlier, you may be experiencing problems. Please visit the Mac Users tab for more information. 

About EndNote

EndNote is a citation management program that allows you to:

  • Create and maintain your own searchable database of literature references
  • Centralize and organize your research information
  • Insert citations into word processed documents
  • Format references and bibliographies in a variety of styles

EndNote is available as downloadable software (Desktop version) for PCs and Macs, and as a cloud-based account online.

The Desktop version must be bought, and comes with an online account, but you can also create a free online account (EndNote Basic) that is mostly similar to the online account you would get with EndNote Desktop.

Each user who purchases a license for EndNote Desktop can install their license on up to three of their devices but can not share their license with other users.

How to Purchase EndNote

Students

  1. Go to Student Acquisition Ordering Portal at https://sa.unc.edu/shop.  Log in with your Onyen and password.
  2. Choose the link for Shop as a Student. If you automatically enter the Ordering Portal, skip to the next step.
  3. Search for EndNote in the search box toward the bottom of the page.
  4. Select EndNote for Windows or OSX depending on your computer type and click Add to Cart on the right side of the page.  ITS Software distribution is only distributing licenses for the most current version, EndNote 21.
  5. When you are ready to check out, click on the Cart icon in the upper right corner next to your name.
  6. The $108 cost for EndNote will be charged to your OneCard expense account.  You will need to have the funds available in your OneCard expense account at the time of checkout.  You can add funds to your OneCard here.
  7. You will be emailed a downloadable link and the required serial number /product key needed to install.

Faculty/Staff

  1. The ITS Software Distribution Office is a vendor in the BuyCarolina Marketplace in ConnectCarolina. To place a BuyCarolina order you need to have a BuyCarolina role in ConnectCarolina and a valid Chartfield String. If you do not have both of these, you will need to contact your departmental business office to place your software order. Some departments allow faculty and staff to place orders, and others may restrict the ordering to the business office or IT department.
  2. Go to ConnectCarolina at http://connectcarolina.unc.edu.  Log in with your Onyen and password.
  3. Click the BuyCarolina link from the Admin WorkCenter Links Tile.
  4. Click the Software Distribution box from the list of Additional Stores
  5. You will need a ChartField String to charge the $108 expense to your department.
  6. Once the Chartfield String has been entered, you will be directed to the vendor catalog, where you will see the link for "ITS Software Distribution." ITS Software Distribution is only distributing licenses for the most current version, EndNote 21.
  7. After completion of your order, you will be emailed a downloadable link and the required serial number /product key needed to install.

Comparing reference managers

  EndNote
(Desktop)
Zotero Sciwheel (formerly F1000Workspace)
HSL Online Guides EndNote Zotero Sciwheel (formerly F1000Workspace)
Classes at HSL EndNote Classes   Sciwheel Classes
Cost $108 for students, faculty, & staff through UNC-CH
 
Zotero is free Free through UNC-CH
Notes See EndNote Basic guide for further details on the free online version   Use this link to create account.  Select No, I'm a new user then select password.
How is it used? Computer
+ Web
Computer
+ Web
Web
Major citation styles?
Annotation of PDFs
Locate full-text using UNC-CH subscriptions
Instructions for EndNote

Instructions for Zotero

Instructions for Sciwheel
Adds citation from a PDF
Sharing options X7 and above users have sharing options / email compressed libraries See group options here
 
Share unlimited projects and manuscripts
Free online storage EN21- three year access to EndNote Web with unlimited storage 700+ papers
(more space can be purchased)
Unlimited
Word Processor Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word
Google Docs
LibreOffice (all)

Microsoft Word
Google Docs
Manuscripts for Mac

Learning To Use EndNote

If you're new to Endnote, there are a few ways to learn how to use it.

  1. The Health Sciences Library offers introductory classes on Endnote about once a month while university classes are in session. To find out when the next class is, check out the events page.
  2. This guide offers instructions on most of Endnote's basic functions and some of the more advanced ones, like creating your own citation style.
  3. The company that sells Endnote has a lot of good tutorials on their website and Youtube channel. The introductory videos below appear on their Youtube channel and will get you off to a good start.

EndNote for iPad

An EndNote iPad App is available for download from the Apple Store. EndNote iPad App

To learn more, check out FAQs for the EndNote iPad app.

Note: You cannot use the Endnote iPad app without an Endnote Online account (see our page on Endnote Online). The Endnote app will only access references that you have synced with your Online account.