Downloading References from Library Databases

There are several ways to move citations from library databases into Endnote, ProCite, and Reference Manager:

• Direct export from the database website
• Export records from My Research Port to Endnote or ProCite
• Save search results as a text file and import into Endnote or ProCite
• Search databases through Endnote (using connection files)

Option 1: Direct Export from the Database Website

"Direct export" sends your search results directly to your bibliographic management software. Databases from EBSCO, FirstSearch, and ISI, among others, provide this option. You can tell which vendor a database comes from by clicking on the "i" button next to the database's listing in Research Port.

This option gives you the most search options and transfers the data to Endnote or ProCite the most cleanly.

1. Go to Research Port from the Libraries' home page. Click on the by Database Name tab and find the database you want to search. Click on the link for the database, which will open a new browser window.
   [Endnote 8 users: Use Internet Explorer.]
2. Instructions for database vendors providing direct export: (Click on the "i" button next to the database in Research Port to find out the vendor.)
   

   Database vendor	Instructions
   ABC-CLIO	Conduct your search in America: History & Life or Historical Abstracts, then click on the checkbox labeled "Tagged" next to each record you want to save. When you've added all the items, click on "Export options" at the top of the page or beneath any record. In the Output options section, select EndNote/ProCite/Reference Manager. Click the Send button at the bottom of the page. EndNote or ProCite will automatically open and you'll be asked which file you want the records saved in.
   EBSCO	Conduct your search in the database, then click on "Add to Folder" next to each record you want to save. When you've added all the items, click on "Folder has items" at the top of the results list. Click on "Save to Disk" and then on the blue "Bibliographic manager format" tab. Select "Citations in Direct Export format" and click Save. EndNote or ProCite will automatically open and you'll be asked which file you want the records saved in. [Endnote 8 users: When asked to select a filter, choose the Refman RIS filter.] ProCite users may find that all of their citations end up on one record instead of separate records. Use option #3 below instead, to save results as a text file.
   ISI (Web of Knowledge)	Conduct your search and then click on the checkbox next to each record. Before moving on to the next page of results be sure to click the "Add to Marked List" button in the box on the right. Once you've selected all your records, click on the Marked List button at the top of the screen. Under Step 2, click on the "Export to Reference Software" button. EndNote or ProCite should automatically open and you'll be prompted to select the file you want the records saved in.
   OCLC FirstSearch	This option available for EndNote users only. Conduct your search in the database, then click on the checkbox next to records to be saved. Once you've selected all your records, click on the Marked Records button in the blue toolbar. Click on the Export button. [EndNote 8 users: when prompted, select a filter with the same name as the database you searched. Be sure the Information Provider is OCLC FirstSearch. If there is no matching filter available, use the RefmanRIS filter.]
   ProQuest	Conduct your search in the database, then click on the checkbox next to records to be saved. Once you've selected all your records, click on the orange Marked List tab at the top of the page. Click on the Export link at the top of the list. Click on the first link to export to Endnote or ProCite.
   ScienceDirect	Conduct your search or browse for an article. From a results list, click the checkbox next to each item you want to save and then click on the Export Citations link at the top of the results list. Or, when viewing a record for an article, click on the "Export Citation" link in the box on the righthand side of the page. On the Export Citations page, in the File Format drop-down menu, select "RIS format." Click on the Export button. EndNote or ProCite will automatically open and you'll be asked which file you want the records saved in. [Endnote 8 users: When asked to select a filter, choose the Refman RIS filter.]

Troubleshooting: If you have an older version of Endnote or ProCite and have trouble using the "direct export" option, download the Export Plug In (for Windows only). After you save the file to your computer, close your browser windows and then click on the file to install it.

Option 2: Export records from My Research Port to Endnote or ProCite

Available for databases that have a magnifying glass icon next to them in Research Port. This option gives you basic search options and transfers core citation information into your bibliographic management software.

1. Go to Research Port from the Libraries' home page. Click on the by Database Name tab and find the database you want to search. Click on the link for the database, which will open a new browser window.
   [Endnote 8 users: Use Internet Explorer.]
2. On the results list, click on "Add to My Research Port" for each records you want to save.
3. Click on the My Research Port tab at the top of the screen, then click on the checkbox in the header of your results list, next to the Author header. That will select all records you've saved. Click on the link "Save or E-mail Selected Items."
4. Select "citation manager" from the pull-down menu labeled "record format". Click on the save button.
5. Your bibliographic manager should automatically open on your computer, and you will be asked to choose the library you want the citations to be saved in. If nothing happens, see the Troubleshooting section.
   [Endnote 8 users: When asked to select a filter, choose the Refman RIS filter.]

Option 3: Save search results as a file and import into Endnote or ProCite

Available for some databases (see the list of vendors below). Requires some setup in your bibliographic manager software. This option allows advanced searching options.

1. Go to Research Port from the Libraries' home page. Click on the by Database Name tab and find the database you want to search. Click on the link for the database, which will open a new browser window.
2. Do your search in the database. Select the records you want to send to your bibliographic management software. Instructions for database vendors providing this option: (Click on the "i" button next to the database in Research Port to find out the vendor.)
   

   Database vendor	Instructions
   CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts)	Conduct your search in the database, then click on the checkbox next to the records you want to save. When you've selected all your records, click on the blue "Save/Print/Email Records" button. Select Full Format from the pulldown menu at the top of the screen. Then click on the Save button to save the text file on your computer. Continue to step 3 below.
   EBSCO	Conduct your search in the database, then click on "Add to Folder" next to each record you want to save. When you've added all the items, click on "Folder has items" at the top of the results list. Click on "Save to Disk" and then on the blue "Bibliographic manager format" tab. Select "Citations in a format that can be uploaded to bibliographic management software" and click Save. Follow the instructions to save the citations as a text file. Go to step 3 below to continue.
   OCLC FirstSearch	Conduct your search in the database, then click on the checkbox next to records to be saved. Once you've selected all your records, click on the Marked Records button in the blue toolbar. Click on the Export button and then next to "Export To:" select "Text file." Click on the Export button. Save the file and then go on to step 3 below to continue.
   ProQuest	Conduct your search, then click on the checkbox next to each item you want to save. Once you've selected all your records, click on the orange "Marked List" tab. Click on the link t o "Export records to EndNote, ProCite, or Reference Manager, then on the link to "Download in a format compatible with ProCite, EndNote, Reference Manager and RefWorks." Click on File > Save as... in your browser to save the file as a text (.txt) file on your computer. Go to step 3 below to continue.
   RLG	Conduct your search, then click on the "Save" link next to each record you want to save. Once you've selected all your records, click on the "Saved" link in the blue bar at the top of the page. Click on "Preferences" at the top of the page and select either "Endnote native format" or "ProCite native format." Then click on Apply Preferences. At the top of your results list, click on the "Print" link, then follow the instructions to save the page as a text file. Continue to step 3 below.

3. Open up your bibliographic management software and the library or file to which you want the records added.
   Endnote users:
   1. Click on File > Import.
   2. Select the file you just saved. For "Import option" or "Import filter" choose the database you just searched, and be sure that the Information Provider matches the vendor's site you just searched. (If you're not sure what vendor a database is from, go to Research Port and click on the "i" button next to the database.) Click Import. The records will be added to Endnote.
   ProCite users:
   1. Click on Tools > Import text file.
   2. Select "Tagged format" and the configuration file to use. Make sure that the vendor matches the version you just searched. (If you're not sure what vendor a database is from, go to Research Port and click on the "i" button next to the database.) Click on the transfer button.
4. Check your citation to see that they transfered properly. If data did not transfer, or transferred to the wrong field, try a different option or see your bibliographic management software manual for tips on how to improve the filter/configuration file.

Searching databases through Endnote (using connection files)

At this time, it is not possible to search databases from Endnote, using connection files. Connecting to databases through Endnote's Connect function requires usernames and passwords to databases, and the Libraries are unable to provide those. However, you can connect to the Libraries' Catalog and search it using Endnote.

return to top