No.12: Importing into EndNote

Importing from Ovid databases

Use Direct Export from within Ovid to export immediately, or save citations to a text file for importing later into EndNote. This can be done in Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PsycInfo, Medline-In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Old Medline and EBM Reviews - Best Evidence (ACP Journal Club).

Export from Ovid

Method 1: Direct Export

EndNote must be installed to use this method.

  1. Perform your search in Ovid and display the citations
  2. Go to to Results Manager beside your results.
  3. Select Complete Reference from the Fields options.
  4. Select Direct Export from the Result Format options.
  5. Deselect Include Search History.
  6. Select Save from the Action options.
  7. Select Export results to EndNote, then Continue.

EndNote will open automatically, ready for import.

Method 2: Import citations within EndNote from a saved text file

Select linefeed

Step 1: Create a text file

  1. Follow instructions as above in Ovid, but select Reprint/Medlars as the Citation Format.
  2. Select the appropriate linefeed and Continue.
  3. Save as a text file (*.txt).

Citations may also be emailed, using the Email option, then saved as a text file using your email client.

Step 2: Import the text file

Import into EndNote
  1. Open EndNote, and either create a new library or open an existing one.
  2. Select File/Import to open the Import box.
  3. Use Choose file to select a saved text file.
  4. In Import Option field, select the appropriate Endnote filter (see EndNote filters)
  5. Select Import.

Importing from The Cochrane Library

Save citations from the Cochrane Library as plain text (see Fact Sheet No.5 "Cochrane Library: Exporting citations" for more detail).

To import the saved text file into Endnote:

  1. Open EndNote, and either create a new library or open an existing one.
  2. Select File/Import to open the Import box.
  3. Select the text file to import.
  4. Select the appropriate filter (see EndNote Filters).
  5. Select Import

EndNote filters

EndNote comes with a selection of pre-installed filters. Select Edit/Import Filters/Open Filter Manager to see the list. Extra filters can be downloaded below.

EndNote filters
Database Filter name Filter location Notes
Tip: Check that imported data has been entered correctly. For example: if you have out-of-date filters, then page numbers from Medline and Embase will import into the year field in EndNote. Get the latest filters from EndNote support. Other changes may be made by cutting and pasting within EndNote.
Ovid Medline MEDLINE (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid Embase EMBASE (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid Cinahl CINAHL (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid PsycInfo PsycINFO (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations MEDLINE In-Process (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid Old Medline OldMEDLINE (OVID) EndNote  
Ovid EBM Reviews - ACP Journal Club acp Download Developed by the University of Auckland Library. Save this file to the Filters folder where EndNote is installed.
The Cochrane Library uq cochrane library University of Queensland Library filters list Developed by the University of Queensland Library.
  • 1. Scroll through list to find filter, and follow instructions to download.
  • 2. Save to the Filters folder where EndNote is installed.

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