Opening a Library

To open a library when the EndNote program is already running, select Open from the File menu and select Open Library. If you have previously opened a library, you can use the Open Recent list to open a recently opened library and skip the dialog below.

When you select the Open Library command, EndNote displays a file dialog.

By default, this dialog displays all files with an extension .enl, .enlx, .enlp, or .lib. (.lib was the extension for very early versions of EndNote.) If your library name has a different extension, you should change the Files of Type option to All files (*.*). If your library is listed in the dialog, select it and click Open. If your library is not listed there, then it is probably saved in a different place on your hard drive or removable disk.

To locate a library not on the list, use your operating system's search feature to look for files ending in .enl, .enlp, or .enlx. Note the location of the file, then use the File > Open Library command in EndNote to locate and open the file.

When you open a compressed library (with the extension .enlx), EndNote uncompresses the files and opens the uncompressed version (with the extension .enl). After uncompressing a library, you should open the .enl file, not the .enlx file.