EndNote logo Banner
Contact UsAbout UsWhat's NewProduct InformationSupport and ServicesPurchase EndNoteHome Page

Frequently Asked Questions
Back

Database 6: How can I move, back up, or transfer my library to another computer?

Answer:

Special Note for EndNote X and later users:

You can save your complete library (the filename.enl file as well as its associated .Data folder and all of its contents) to a single
compressed filename.enlx file in order to easily back up your library or send a copy to a colleague. Later, you can easily restore (unzip) the compressed library with EndNote. Note this will only work if everyone is using Endnote X or later.

To save to a compressed library file:

  1. Open the library in EndNote.
  2. Endnote X/X1: from the "File" menu, select "Send to" and then "Compressed Library".
    Endnote X2: from the "File" menu, select "Compressed Library (.enlx)" and then "Create".
  3. Use the file dialog to save to an EndNote Compressed Library (filename.enlx).

To restore a compressed library file:

  1. Use EndNote (version X or later) to open the filename.enlx file, which will extract the .ENL file and the .Data folder to
    the same folder where the .ENLX file is located.
  2. Use EndNote to open the filename.enl file as you normally would to use the library.

For EndNote 9 and Earlier:

The library itself is a file that you can move or copy to another location, and is self contained with EndNote 7 and earlier. For EndNote 8 and later the library data is also contained in the .Data folder associated with the library. If you are making a backup or moving/copying the library, you will need to also move/copy this .Data folder, or you may lose data.

If you plan to email an EndNote 8 or later library to someone, you must send all of the files found in your library's .Data folder. While you cannot attach an entire folder to an email, you can use a third party program (such as WinZip or StuffIt, or Windows Compressed folders) that can zip your library and .Data folder into a single file to send via email.

With EndNote 8 and later, always move the .Data folder. For EndNote 8 and later, if you are moving just the .enl file from one computer to another, and a .Data folder is already present on the destination computer, the EndNote program will read the database information from the existing .Data folder and not the updated .enl file. So, if you are not transferring the .Data folder with EndNote 8 or later you may not actually update the library on the destination computer.

More information about the .Data folder can be found in this FAQ.

This page was last modified on: June 15, 2008

Copyright | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Disclaimer

Send questions, comments, or suggestions about this page to the
webmaster