Converting EndNotes (and other) bibiliographic databases to BibTeX

This document tells you how to convert bibliographic databases in EndNotes (a popular program amongst Word users) to BibTeX format (a popular format amongst Scientific WorkPlace and LaTeX users).

If you have the EndNotes program you can also convert other formats (such as Reference Manager and ProCite) to BibTeX format (and other formats).

Obtaining EndNotes

IST is currently looking into favourable pricing for EndNotes for people at UW.

You can download a 30-day trial of EndNotes:
 


www.risinc.com


 


Obtaining References

One means of getting references is from Web-based databases, such as ones created with the Reference Web Poster program. For example:
  1. Click here to go to a sample database.
  2. Click on [Advanced Search].
  3. Change the first "Field to Search" to Year and enter 1998. Click on [Start Search].
  4. Click on the check boxes next to a few of the entries that appear. Click on [Export].
  5. Click on [RIS Format]. Save as "sample.isa".

Importing and Exporting References using EndNotes

  1. Launch EndNotes, and load an existing library or start a new one.
  2. Click on [File] [Import] and load "sample.isa" specifying "Reference Manager (RIS)" as the format.
  3. Click on [Style] [Set Styles Folder...] and then open the "Export" folder and choose "BibTeX.ens".
  4. Select the entries that you want to export.
  5. Click on [File] [Export] and save as type "Text File (*.txt)" and save the file as "sample.bib".
  6. Now you can merge "sample.bib" with one of your existing BibTeX database(s).

Reversing the Process: BibTeX to EndNotes (etc.)

  1. Launch "wBibDB" (BibDB for Windows) which comes with Scientific WorkPlace. (You can also download it from www.ctan.org).
  2. Load your BibTeX database file.
  3. Click on [Export], specify the format as "Refer", and save to "sample.ref".
Then:
  1. Launch EndNotes, and load an existing library or start a new one.
  2. Click on [File] [Import] and load "sample.ref" specifying "Refer/BibIX" as the format.

Last updated May 12, 2000 by Colin Campbell, IST.