Skip to Main Content

EndNote 20 for Windows

Step-by-step guidance on using the most popular functions of EndNote 20 on PC

Intro: Organize your Library

This page explains how to organize your EndNote Library into Groupsets and Groups. 

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 Group Sets with groups underneath. Groups are displayed in the left-hand navigation panel. That way, you can sync your references to EndNote Online and retain the skeleton of your organizational structure.

How to create Group Sets and Groups

 

Quick Steps: Menu Bar: Groups > Create Group Set > Right-click on the Group Set > Create Group > Type name of new Group > Carbon copy your reference into Group by drag & drop OR highlight references and select Groups > Add References

Step-by-Step:

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

       

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

     

  3. Right-click on the Group Set > Create Group - name your Group.
  1. Add references to your Group from your Library using one of 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. 

       

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.