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EndNote problems

Back to EndNote training and help

You can avoid many common problems by keeping in mind the following.
  • Keep all your references in a single EndNote library even when they cover more than one subject.
  • Keep backup copies of your EndNote library and any associated .Data folder of images as well as both unformatted and formatted versions of your Word document.
  • Enter each author on a separate line in an EndNote record. See Tutorial unit 2.1 - Entering author
  • Turn off instant formatting in your Word document and work with an unformatted document. See Tutorial unit 4.1
  • Do not delete from your EndNote library any reference that appears in your Word document. See Tutorial unit 1.1 - Delete a reference.
  • When importing references into EndNote from a database search, save the search results in the correct format, import with the correct import filter and import into a temporary file first. See Tutorial unit 3.1
  • Unformat your Word document in your current EndNote version before upgrading to a new Endnote version.
  • Check EndNote's Frequently Asked Questions for compatibility between versions of Windows, Word and EndNote.

Word - Endnote setup problems

If EndNote does not work through Word's Tools menu after installation, one or more of the following may be the reason.

1.
Two CWYW (Cite While You Write) files need to be in your Microsoft Office Startup directory.

CWYW file names vary in different versions e.g. for EndNote 7 and Word XP, they are EN7CWYW.dot and EN7Cwyw.WordXP.wll.

  • You may be able to copy the files from SYSTEM(C:)\Program Files\EndNote\.
  • Or you may need to get the latest files from the EndNote web site.
  • Copy or download the files to your Office Startup directory, which is often at - SYSTEM(C:)\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office..\Startup
  • To see file names or download files or get more instructions, see EndNote FAQ CWYW1.
2.
The two CWYW files need to load properly when Word starts.
  • In Word Tools > Templates and Add-ins, the CWYW files are listed under Global Templates and Add-ins. Mark both files.
  • If Word gives a macro security warning, mark Always trust macros from this source and Enable macros.
  • If necessary, in Word's Tools > Macro > Security, click Trusted sources and check that Trust all add-ins and templates is marked.
  • See EndNote FAQ CWYW4 for details.
3.
Sometimes other software's add-in files for Word (e.g. SnagIt) can conflict with EndNote's add-in files.
  • In Word, Tools > Templates and Add-ins shows which potentially conflicting software add-in files are loaded.
  • EndNote FAQ CWYW11 gives instructions on disabling them.

Cite While You Write - problems using Word and EndNote

The formatted Word document is cluttered with unintelligible coding such as
{ADDIN EN.CITE <EndNote><Cite><Author>...
This coding represents the travelling library of inserted citations in the formatted document. To hide the coding, in Word choose Tools> Options. Under the View tab, uncheck Field Codes. See also EndNote FAQ CWYW12.
How can page numbers be added to in-text citations e.g. (Schwarz, 1990, p. 180) or authors be omitted from in-text citations?
See Tutorial Unit 4.2: Edit temporary unformatted citations

In the bibliography, why does the second author appear as J.E.R. instead of Jones, E.R.? Check the Author field in the EndNote record. Authors must be entered on separate lines. See Tutorial Unit 2.1: Entering author
In the bibliography, why is the author's 2nd initial missing i.e. Jones, J. not Jones, J.E.? Check the Author field in the EndNote record. You need a space or full stop between the 1st and 2nd initials - Jones, J.E. or Jones, J E but not Jones, JE. See Tutorial Unit 2.1: Entering author
An institutional author's name such as University of Adelaide appears as Adelaide, U.O. in the bibliography. Add a comma after the institutional author in the EndNote record - see Tutorial Unit 2.1: Entering author.
If the author still doesn't display correctly, make sure the Author term list settings (through TOOLS > DEFINE TERM LISTS > Authors) do not have Delimiters ticked.
I keep my Word document foramtted but EndNote still inserts the citation in its temporary form {author, year #no} If you choose to work with a formatted document against our advice, make sure instant formatting is enabled for the current document through TOOLS > ENDNOTE > FORMAT BIBLIOGRAPHY > INSTANT FORMATTING (and for new documents through Tools > EndNote > Cite While You Write Preferences).
How is a paper prepared for sending to a publisher? Remove field codes from the publisher's copy (not from your own copy) of the paper. See Tutorial Unit 4.1: Submit the final paper to a publisher.
Is it possible to produce a bibliography which is not attached to an article or essay?Yes. See Tutorial Unit 4.3: Print or export a separate bibliography
Inserting citations into a Word document gives the following error message: "Can't save this reference: too many references in library EN52A.TMP" but my EndNote library has only a few hundred references. The travelling library in the formatted Word document (the citations buried in the hidden field codes) may have become corrupted. Save a copy of the Word document under a new name and unformat this copy. In future work with the unformatted document and reformat only when you need to check its final appearance.

Output Style problems

How can I preview a large number of styles quickly from within EndNote? You can look at styles for bibliography references (but not in-text citations) through EDIT > OUTPUT STYLES > OPEN STYLE MANAGER with Style Preview selected. See Tutorial Unit 4.1 Select an Output Style
What can I do if an output style isn't included with EndNote? You can get styles from elsewhere, edit existing styles or create new styles. See Tutorial Unit 4.2 Find extra citation styles
I have edited an output style so that the phrase retrieved from followed by a URL appears in the citation. When no URL is present, the phrase retrieved from still appears in the citation. When editing the style, use Link Adjacent Text to ensure that an added phrase appears in a citation only if a field has some content. Choose Link Adjacent Text from the Insert Field menu and insert it between the words retrieved and from and again between from and the URL field. See the Modifying Style Templates section of EndNote's Manual.
The output style specifies journal abbreviations so why do they not appear in a formatted bibliography? You need to include abbreviations in your journal term list. See Tutorial Unit 4.4: Journal term lists and journal abbreviations.
I'm using the Chicago style and don't get footnotes.Chicago A includes footnotes, Chicago B does not. See each style in the EndNote style manager. See also Tutorial Unit 4.2: Insert and format citations in footnotes.
Initials appear for some but not all authors in citations in the APA 5th style. This is caused by APA 5th's setting for citations with the same author last name. See EndNote FAQ Styles 3.

EndNote and Database problems

I can't connect to a database through EndNote.We do not support connecting through EndNote. It is better to search the database and export or import references. See Tutorial Unit 3.
I can't export from a database to EndNote using the browser Safari on a Mac.Try another browser. See EndNote FAQ: Import2