EndNote Guide: Install & Backup

Establishing an account for EndNote Online is highly recommended for its features.

• add references anywhere, anytime regardless of device being used
• synchronize content and settings across all devices where EndNote is installed
• share citations with a group 

You can establish the connection between the installed version and your EndNote Online account during initial set up, or wait until later.  

If you already use the free web-based EndNote Basic, you will link the installed version to this same account.  Then the fuller capabilities of EndNote Online become available.   

• An EndNote "Library" stores your references and attachments.  Its default name is "My EndNote Library".
  During installation, you will  can personalize it.  This way, if you choose to share a library with colleagues, its name will indicate that it came from you.  Examples: “My EndNote Library_YourName”  … or whatever. 

You might consider naming your Library (and later, your Backup Folder)  by starting with the word "EndNote".  This makes finding files much easier, since they are alphabetized together.

Example:  EndNote_MyLibrary_MyName"
 

• Initially, it is best to maintain just one Library, and assign references to one or more subfolders called Groups.  Although it is easy and often justified to have more than one EndNote Library, only one can be synchronized with EndNote Online.      
   

• Optional: Make notes or save screenprints to document your installation.  EndNote file management is easier if you know where the program and associated files are installed on your computer.    

• Files for running the software will be located in Program Files (the software and associated operational files)
• Files unique to the user will be stored in Documents (your data, your watched folder, and backups).
  Important:  Do not store EndNote files on external memory or in the "cloud".  Over time they can become corrupted.  See Backup tips for details.