1. Getting Started

2. Customizations

3. Output Styles

4. Connection Files

5. Illinois Specific Connection Files

EndNote is powerful software, but you'll want to make a few minor adjustments before you're ready to start building a library. Making these changes will ensure that your version of EndNote will work properly with our library system, the databases you want to search, and the citation styles you need.

First, open EndNote, and choose "Create a New Library." Or click on the "File" tab in the top left hand corner, select "New...", and name your new library. By default, the library is saved in My Documents/EndNote.  You can name the file what you want, though the default is My EndNote Library.enl

Set up proper links to the library's proxy servers

1. If you're running Windows, click on the "Edit" tab and Select "Preferences..." from the dropdown menu. If you're running Mac OS, select Preferences from the EndNote X9 menu.
2. Select "URLs & Links" from the list of Preferences. ISI Base URL should say: http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi
3. OpenURL Arguments should say: ?sid=ISI:WoS&aufirst=AUFIRST&aulast=AULAST&issn=ISSN&isbn=ISBN&atitle=ATITLE&title=TITLE
   &volume=VOLUME&issue=ISSUE&date=DATE&spage=SPAGE&epage=EPAGE
4. The location of your Connection Log is particular to each computer, so your information will look different from this illustration.

Set up access to full text

1. Select "Find Full Text" from the list of preferences
2. Make sure all "full text search options" boxes are checked
3. OpenURL path should say: https://i-share-UIU.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/openurl/01CARLI_UIU/01CARLI_UIU:CARLI_UIU?
4. Authenticate with URL should say: https://proxy2.library.illinois.edu/login?url=
5. When you're finished, click OK

In order to search a database from within EndNote, you will have to set up connection files for each database that you plan to search. Your version of EndNote may have come with Connection Files, but unless you have specifically adapted them to the library servers, they won't work.

The library has adapted some connection files for use with specific databases and vendors. You can browse a list of University of Illinois adapted connection files in the box below.

Please note: The library no longer provides support for connection files, so if a connection file does not exist for the database you want, or if you successfully added the connection file but it doesn't work, then you must search from within a database and export the records to EndNote. For information on how to do this, see the next tab, Building a Citation Library.

If you find a database connection file that you'd like to add to EndNote, right click on the connection file, select Save as..., and save it to the Connections folder associated with EndNote, or you can save it to the desktop and then move it. Once you've saved it, you will need to open it with EndNote if this doesn't happen automatically. This will then add the connection file to your Connection Manager.

You can check which connection files you have by going to the Connections Manager: click on the Edit tab, select Connection Files, then click on Open Connection Manager. Then scroll down to see which connection files are selected.  You can select additional files, and you need to select the files you just added to your Connections folder.  Files that are selected will appear in the left column of the main EndNote screen, under online search.

NB: If you want to use EndNote connection files to search databases from off campus, you must connect using the Technology Services VPN Protocol.

Following the directions above, download these University of Illinois specific connection files (where available) in order to search databases and catalogs that U of I subscribes to from within the EndNote program.

While these connection files can be useful, they come with a couple of caveats.

1. The library no long provides support for these connection files, so if any of them stop working, we won't be able to replace them.
2. These connection files only work if you are on campus. If you are off campus, then you must connect via a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) protocol. For more information, see the guide on the Technology Services website. 
3. If you do not see a connection file for a database you'd like to search, then you must search the database's native interface, then export to EndNote.
4. Even if you do see a connection file, it may actually be easier to search the database's native interface.