Do not save in OneDrive or iCloud
In case of problems, first check that you have not saved or synchronized your EndNote library or Word document in OneDrive, iCloud or other cloud solutions.
Questions about using EndNote with Word
These questions come up when working in Word, but are often solved in the EndNote program.
Where is the EndNote tab in Word?
Answer:
For OUS:
Use the version Word with the EndNote plugin. Go to Start > Mine administrative programmer > Word med EndNote OUS (Or you can search for the application.)
You must close the Word application you have opened before you can open this one.
For Windows:
Check if the add-in is turned off or disabled.
In Word:
- Go to File > Options > Add-ins Manage: COM Add-ins > Go... See if EndNote Cite While You Write is ticked off. If not, tick it and close the window.
- Go to File > Options > Add-ins Manage: Disabled Items > Go...Tick EndNote–CWYW (Cite While You Write) if it is there
If the Endnote-tab is still missing, try uninstalling and reinstalling EndNote. On UiO machines you can do this via the Company Portal.
For Mac:
Endnote > Customizer > Make sure that CWYW (Cite While You Write) is selected.
Why does the EndNote tab look different?
Answer:
Check if Word is connected to the EndNote program or EndNote Online by clicking Preferences and then Application. Choose the application you are using.
Cannot insert citations in Word (Mac)
The Insert Citation button is not working
This may be due to security settings on your Mac.
Go to Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Automation and allow both applications (Word and Endnote) to control each other.
The EndNote tab in Word is "grayed out" and inactive
- Close Word and go to Applications
- Right/Control-click on Microsoft Word and select Get Info
- Check if Open Using Rosetta is checked. If it is, uncheck it and reopen Word. The toolbar should work again.
Why do my references have curly brackets?
Answer:
This is because Instant Formatting is off. Turn Instant Formatting on. If nothing happens, use the Update Citations and Bibliography button.
Why does my reference look strange?
Answer:
There can be many reasons for this, you can try to fix it by using the Find Reference Updates feature.
Why is the journal name spelled incorrectly in the reference list?
Check if you have added a list of journal names:
If it still doesn't appear correctly, it may be that the journal is not included in the lists, in which case it's easiest to change the Journal field in the EndNote reference to the spelling you want.
How do I add page numbers?
Answer:
Go to Edit and Manage Citations and write the page number in the Pages field. Do not write "p.".
Note: For some reference styles, the Pages field is inactive. For those, use the Suffix field instead. The Suffix field is not formatted automatically, so you have to enter ", p. #" for one page, or ", pp. #-#" for several pages.
Why is there an a, b or c after the year in the citation?
Answer 1:
To differentiate between similar references. (Eg. same author and same year)
Answer 2:
It may be due to duplicates in your EndNote library. Duplicates guide
Why does the name of an organization in the author field look strange? (Eg. Oslo Ui)
Answer:
Because EndNote treats all information in the author field as a human name, and inverts it automatically. You can avoid this by adding a comma at the end of the organisation's name. If the organisation has a comma in its name, you can add an extra comma (,,).
Why does the author's full name appear in the citation?
Answer 1:
It could be the the Output Style in your document uses the full name the first time you cite someone.
Answer 2:
You might have cited two authors with the same last name. Then the first name is shown to tell them apart.
Answer 3:
It may be due to duplicates in your EndNote library. Duplicates guide
How do I remove author, year or both from a citation?
Answer:
Go to Edit and Manage Citations and Formatting and choose format (eg. Exclude Author).
As a shortcut, you can right-click a citation, choose Edit citation(s) and change the formatting.
How do I change the font of the bibliography?
Answer:
In the EndNote tab in Word, click Configure Bibliography (the button is the small arrow) and the tab Layout.
How do I get live DOI links in the bibliography?
Answer:
Go to EndNote and Edit Output Styles. Add this at the end of the template for Journal Article: `https://doi.org/`
Why does the same reference appear several times in the bibliography?
Answer 1:
Make sure you do not have the same reference twice (or more) in your EndNote Library. If you delete a reference from your library you must insert it again in Word. See our duplicate guide
Answer 2:
If you have more than one EndNote Library, make sure you have used the same library. If you are using several libraries with the same Word document you might have inserted the same references from different libraries, and EndNote will treat them as different. Open the EndNote Library you want to use and close all other libraries. In Word: turn off and on formatting: Convert to unformatted citations > Update citations and bibliography. References from other libraries must be inserted again.
Why do I get several bibliographies in the document when I use the Update Citations and Bibliography button?
Answer:
Click on your bibliographies. The one which turns dark grey is the one connected to EndNote. You can delete the other ones.
What is Travelling Library?
Answer:
Traveling library is the name of the references used in a document. Traveling library appears in the Edit and Manage Citations menu if Word does not know which EndNote Library the reference is from. See how to add references from a Traveling Library to your EndNote Library
How do I break the connection from Word to EndNote?
Answer:
This cannot be undone, make sure you have saved a copy of your document first. To break the connection: Convert Citations and Bibliography > Convert to plain text.
How do I turn the connection from Word to EndNote back on?
Answer:
It is not possible.
What do I do when Word crashes and nothing works?
Answer:
Convert to Unformatted citations > Copy all text and paste it into a new plain document > Update citations and bibliography in the new document. Remember to save!
What does this error mean?
Many error messages are resolved by opening EndNote and Word again, or by checking that none of the files are stored in OneDrive, iCloud or cloud solutions. Test whether the same message appears in an empty document.
Examples of such error messages:
- “This command is not available”
- “This method or property is not available because the drawing operation cannot be applied to the current selection.”
- “Attempted to access an unnamed file past its end.”
- “Endnote error”
- "This method or property is not available because this command is not available for reading."
"The value should be between -8.000 and 8.000 in"
Answer: This is a known error in EndNote on Mac. The solution is to substitute the dot (.) with a comma (,) in the First line indent and Hanging indent fields.
"A COM Exeption has occured"
Answer: This is a critical error that can be resolved by reinstalling Microsoft Office.
"Attempted to access an unnamed file past its end" / "An attempt was made to access an unnamed file past its end"
Answer: Link to solution at support.alfasoft.com.
Questions about EndNote Libraries
These questions come up when working in EndNote.
Endnote requests a product key
Answer:
If you downloaded Endnote from UiO to your personal computer, the files come in a ZIP file that must be unzipped. If you get asked for a product key when installing, you need to cancel the installation, extract the files, and run the installation again.
Why is there no full text?
Answer 1:
You must be connected to the UiO or OUS network to access e-books and articles subscribed to by the University Library.
Answer 2:
Check if we subscribe to the journal, and see how to configure the settings for OpenURL (Find Full Text).
Answer 3:
Check if we subscribe to the journal, search in Oria.
How do I get abbreviated journal titles instead of full titles, or vice versa?
Answer:
EndNote has its own lists of correct journal names (Term Lists). The lists are included with the program, but must be activated.
First, delete all saved terms:
Library > Define Term Lists > Journals > Terms. Select all and Delete terms.
Afterwards, import a term list:
- Library > Define Term Lists...
- Select the Lists tab and select Journals
- Import List
You need to look up the journal list in the file archive. It is located in the Terms Lists folder located at the same location as EndNote was installed, usually on this file path:
Windows (UiO): C:\Program Files (x86)\EndNote\Terms Lists
Windows (OUS): P:\Mine Dokumenter OUS\EndNote\Term Lists
Mac: Applikasjoner/Programmer/Applications > EndNote > Terms- Open the Terms Lists folder and select your subject area, click Open.
Import only one list. If you work in several disciplines, select the subject from which you get the most references. When importing multiple lists, conflicts may arise between them.
How can I access my EndNote Library online?
Answer:
By using EndNote Online.
How do I export references to EndNote from databases where there is no send to EndNote button?
Answer 1:
Check if you can export references using RIS format. If so, the file can be imported to EndNote. Choose the RIS import filter when importing the file
Answer 2:
See our guide to add references manually
Why do I have to "choose filter" when I try to import a reference using Firefox?
Answer:
Firefox changes the format on the file you downloaded from "file-name.enl" to "file-name.enl.txt" and EndNote does not recognize this format. You can rename the file and remove .txt.
How do I add notes to a reference?
Answer:
Use the files Research Notes in the reference. If you have notes in other file formats (doc, rtf, etc), you can attach them to the reference. See how to add attachments
How do I cite royals?
Answer:
Write the name like this: Frederik,, Crown Prince of Denmark
How do I merge two EndNote Libraries?
Answer:
Open the library you want to keep, and import the other library in this one: File > Import > File > browse for the other library and use EndNote Library as Import Option.
How do I make backup copies of my library?
Answer:
This is how you make a compressed library (enlx file) of your library:
- File > Compressed Library .enlx
- Choose between with og without file attachments, and all references or just a selection.
- Click Next/OK (Windows/Mac), and save it in a suitable location.
This is also the easiest way to move your library.
This is how you open a compressed library:
- Double click the enlx file
- A new enl file and a corresponding data folder is extracted and saved in the same location as the enlx file. The library opens in EndNote.
Where is my library?
Answer:
Search for .enl files on your computer.
To find the name of your library, open a Word document you have used with EndNote. Go to Edit and Manage Citations to find the name of your library, and search for the name on your computer.
How do I convert my library to version 21?
Answer:
If you have updated the EndNote program to version 21, you will need to convert the EndNote library you used in previous EndNote versions (eg X9) for it to be compatible with the new version.
To convert older library files:
- In EndNote: File > Open Library...
- Browse to the file you want to convert and open it.
- You will see a dialog box stating that the file needs to be converted. Select OK
- If necessary, give the new library a new name and save it (do not save in OneDrive, Dropbox etc.).
- The new library will open in EndNote 21. The old EndNote file will remain where it was.
How do I move my library?
Answer 1:
First, make a compressed file of your library. Then move the enlx file to a new location.
Answer 2:
In EndNote: File > Save a copy and save it to a new location.
Why can't I open my library?
Answer 1:
Check if you have moved or renamed the enl file without moving or renaming the corresponding data folder. If possible, rename or move the data folder so that they have the exact same name and are in the same location.
Answer 2:
Check if your library is saved in OneDrive, iCloud or other clouds. This will damage your library. Move your library to a different location and try to open it again.
Answer 3:
It is possible to recover a damaged library. Follow these instructions from Alfasoft.