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Augusta University

EndNote X9 for Windows: Organize your Library

Step-by-step Guidance on using EndNote on PC

Intro: Organize your Library

Many EndNote users create multiple libraries to organize their work. The problem is one can only sync one EndNote Library per EndNote Online account at a time. 

A best practice is to have just one EndNote Library and organize your references into Groups and Sub-groups. Groups are displayed in the left-hand navigation panel. That way, you can sync your references to EndNote Online and retain your organizational structure.

How to create Simple Groups and Smart Groups

 

Quick Steps: Menu Bar: Groups > New Group > Type name of new Group > Copy references into Group by drag & drop OR highlight references and select Groups > Add References

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select Groups > New Group from the Menu Bar.
    • OR right-click over the My Groups heading on the left-hand panel and select New Group.

       

  2. Type the name of your new Group, e.g. Bats.

     

  3. You can now add references to your Group from your Library in two ways:
    • Drag & drop to copy references into the Group (hold down the Shift key & highlight to select multiple references) and drag them onto the Group.
    • OR Highlight the reference/s then select Groups > Add References from the Menu Bar.  

       

Drag references to group screenshot

This EndNote Training (2014) video tutorial shows you how to organize your references using Smart Groups and Combination Groups. Although it was demonstrated on EndNote X7, the steps are still applicable to EndNote X8. This is EndNote Training's latest video on this topic.

FAQs about groups

Q. Can I add a reference to more than one group?

A. Yes. You are adding a 'ghost copy' of the reference to your Group from your 'All References' list.

Q. If I delete a reference from one of my groups, will it be deleted from the Library altogether?

A. No. You are deleting a 'ghost copy' of the reference, so it will only be removed from the Group, not your 'All References' list (the All References List is what you see when you first open your EndNote Library).

Q. If I delete a reference from my 'All References List', will it be deleted from my group/s?

A. Yes. This is because you are deleting the reference from the 'All References' list.