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Import 4: Can I convert a Reference Manager database to EndNote?

Answer:
Quick instructions that do not maintain word document compatibility or RefIDs here.

In-depth instructions that maintains both word document compatibility and RefIDs here.

EndNote 8 and later for Windows and all Mac versions cannot convert any Reference Manager database directly. EndNote 4, 5, 6 or 7 cannot directly convert a Reference Manager version 10 or higher database. To convert, do the following:

  1. In Reference Manager go to the Export option in the menu and Export your data in the RIS format, which gives you a text file.
  2. Transfer the file to the computer with EndNote.
  3. Open EndNote.
  4. Open or create a library to import the references into (Note: if you have more than one library open, the data you import will go into the active library).
  5. Go to the File menu, and choose "import"
  6. Select the text file you exported from Reference Manager.
  7. Select "RIS (Reference Manager)" as the import option.
  8. Import the file.
 You can directly convert a Reference Manager 8.x/9.x database to EndNote for Windows version 4.01, 5.x, 6.x, or 7 as follows:
  1. In EndNote select File / Open / Open Library.
  2. Under "Files of Type" select "All Files (*.*)".
  3. Find the Reference Manager database that you wish to convert and select it as the Library to open.
  4. Click Open and a dialog box will appear. Click Convert to begin the creating an EndNote library without customizing the field and reference type mappings. If you click Customize you can select the destination Reference Types for the Reference Manager reference types, as well as set the destination EndNote fields for the fields in the Reference Manager database.
  5. After clicking Convert, enter a name for the EndNote library and click Save.
Note that this process creates a new EndNote library from your Reference Manager database; your original Reference Manager database files will not be affected.
If you download this program and follow these steps, you should be able to retain your RefIDs and be able to convert your Word documents.

After you have downloaded the file RIS_Sort.zip, you will need to extract the contents of the .zip file. If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can double click on the file and then drag the RIS_Sort folder onto your Desktop.

Converting a Reference Manager database to EndNote while retaining the RefID
  1. Open the database in Reference Manager.
  2. In Reference Manager 11 Go to "File > Export." In Reference Manager 9 and 10, go to the "References > Export."
  3. Set the "Output Format" to RIS.
  4. Click on the "..." button and select a name for the file and save the file onto your Desktop.
  5. Make sure that "References options" is set to "All references in list" and click "Export" When the export is complete close Reference Manager.
  6. Go into the RIS_Sort folder on your Desktop and double click on RIS_Sort.exe.
  7. Click on the "Browse" button next to "Input File:" and select the file you saved in step 4.
  8. Click Run.
  9. Click OK to the Done message and click Exit.
  10. Start EndNote and create a new EndNote Library "File > New Library."
  11. Go to "File > Import."
  12. Set "Import Option" to "Reference Manager (RIS)."
  13. Set "Duplicates" to "Import All."
  14. Click "Choose File" and select the "–SORTED" version of the file you exported.
  15. Click on the "Import" button.
  16. Press CTRL+F to search your new library, search for the title
    "PLACE HOLDER DELETE"
  17. If there are any matching references press CTRL+A to highlight all of these temporary references and then press CTRL+D to delete the references.
  18. Press CTRL+M to display all of the references again.


Converting a Reference Manager Word document to be used in EndNote
  1. Copy the output style "RefMan to EndNote.os" from the Output Styles folder to your "C:\Program Files\Reference Manager #\Styles" folder, where # is the version of Reference Manager you are using.
  2. Make a backup copy of your Word document.
  3. If you are using Word 2000, 2002(XP), or 2003:
    Go to "Tools > Reference Manager > Generate Bibliography."
    Select the "RefMan to EndNote.os" output style and click "OK."
    Go to "Tools > Reference Manager > Remove Field Codes."
    Go to "File > Save As" and give the file a new name.
  4. If you are using Word 2007: Click on the "Add-ins" tab and click on the "Generate Bibliography" button.
    Select the "RefMan to EndNote.os" output style and click "OK." On the "Add-ins" tab click on the "Remove Field Codes" button. Click on the Office button in the upper left corner and select "Save As" and give the file a new name.
  5. With the EndNote tools installed in Word, and the converted database open in EndNote you should now be able to format the document using EndNote.


This page was last modified on: February 28, 2008

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