EndNote essentials

Direct export

Most databases provide options to export citation information to automatically create references in EndNote. When searching in the databases, look for terms such as Export, Direct export, Export to reference manager, Send to Citation Manager, Export to RIS or similar terms, as this indicates the direct export functionality is available. Each database differs so check the Help menu in the database for instructions on how to export your references.



It is important to preview your references to ensure they are correctly formatted in your chosen style. EndNote is not able to recognise if there is incorrect or missing data so you should compare your references against the relevant referencing guide or style manual to ensure your references are correct.

Manual entry

You will need to manually create references for sources where reference information cannot be exported from a database, e.g. print materials, reports, webpages etc.



  1. Click on the New Reference icon or select the References menu and New Reference
  2. Select a Reference Type from the drop down menu (Journal article is the default - see guides below for which reference types to select when using the Curtin EndNote styles)
  3. Enter the item details into the relevant fields. You only need to fill in the fields required for your selected referencing style
  4. Once all relevant information has been entered, click Save (Windows) or click the red cross in the top left corner of the New Reference window (Mac)
  5. The reference will then be added to your library.

Populating the author field:

  • Use the format Last Name, First Name e.g. Smith, John J.
  • Enter each new author on a new line
  • For corporate authors enter a comma at the end of the organisation name e.g. Department of Health,
  • Use the correct capitalisation when entering author names.

This brief guide outlines which reference types to select and which fields to populate in EndNote when using the APA 7th Curtin, Chicago 17th Author-Date Curtin and Vancouver Curtin EndNote styles.

Always check your EndNote reference outputs against the relevant referencing guide for accuracy.

When entering a reference into EndNote you only need to include the basic data. Unless stated otherwise, do not include punctuation or formatting such as colons, full stops, brackets, and italics, or text such as In, Retrieved from, ed., Ed. in the reference. The style will include this automatically when formatting the reference.

APA 7th reference types

  • For print items, leave the DOI/URL field blank
  • If the author and the Source/Publisher are the same, leave the Publisher field blank
  • Some reference types may require manual changes - see Convert to Plain Text
Reference type EndNote fields Notes
Audiovisual Material
Use for: TV series
For a single episode from a series use Television Episode 		Author, Cast, Year, Title, Type, Publisher, URL Cast field: Enter the contributors role
Blog
Use for: Blog post		 Author, Year, Date, Title of Entry, Title of WebLog, URL  
Book
Use for: Book		 Author, Year, Title, Edition, Publisher, DOI or URL  
Book section
Use for: Chapter in an edited book		 Author, Year, Title, Editor, Book Title, Edition, Pages, Publisher, DOI or URL  
Case
Use for: Case		 Case Name, Year Decided, Reporter Volume, Reporter Abbreviation, First Page, URL  
Conference paper
Use for: Conference paper		 Author, Year, Date, Title, Type, Conference Name, Conference Location, DOI or URL Type field: Enter Paper presentation or Poster presentation
Dataset
Use for: Dataset		 Investigators, Year, Title, Distributor, DOI or URL  
Dictionary
Use for: Online dictionary or encyclopedia entry
For an entry in a print dictionary or encyclopedia use Book Section 		Author, Year, Title, Editor, Dictionary Title, Edition, Publisher, Access Date, URL Access Date field: Enter in the format Month Day, Year
Film or Broadcast
Use for: Film or Video		 Director, Year Released, Title, Medium, Distributor, URL Distributor field: Enter the production company. Separate multiple companies with a semi-colon and space
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article		 Author, Year, Title, Journal, Volume, Issue, Pages, DOI or URL  
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article with an article number		 Author, Year, Title, Journal, Volume, Issue, Article Number, DOI or URL Do not populate the Pages field
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article - Advance online publication		 Author, Year, Title, Journal, Label, DOI or URL Label field: Enter Advance online publication
Music
Use for: Single song or track		 Composer, Year, Title, Form of Item, Album Title, Publisher, URL Form of Item field: Enter Song
Newspaper Article
Use for: Newspaper article		 Reporter, Year, Issue Date, Title, Newspaper, Pages, URL For a print newspaper, include the page number in the Pages field
Online Database
Use for: AMH, MIMs, Martindale, UpToDate		 Author, Year, Title, Publisher, Date Accessed, URL Date Accessed field: Enter in the format Month Day, Year
Pamphlet
Use for: Brochure, Fact sheet or Pamphlet		 Author, Year, Title, Type of Work, Publisher, URL Type of Work field: Enter the format, e.g. Brochure
Podcast
Use for: Podcast episode
For a whole podcast series use Audiovisual Material 		Author, Year, Title of Podcast, Number, Type, Title of Show, Publisher, URL Type field: Enter Audio podcast episode
Press Release
Use for: Press release		 Author, Year, Date, Title, Type of Work, Publisher, URL Type of Work field: Enter Press release
Report
Use for: Government or organisation report, Australian Curriculum		 Author, Year, Title, Report Number, Institution, DOI or URL For Australian Curriculum, enter the version in the Report Number field
Social Media
Use for: Facebook, Instagram etc.		 Username, Handle, Year, Post Date, Post Text, Type of Work, Provider, URL Enter capitalisation and spelling exactly as it appears in the post
Original Post field: if needed, include the format
Standard
Use for: Standards		 Institution, Year, Title, Document Number, Publisher, URL  
Statute
Use for: Act of Parliament		 Name of Act, Code, Sections, URL  
Television Episode
Use for: TV series episode
For a whole TV series use Audiovisual Material 		Producer, Year, Episode Title, Season, Episode No., Series Director, Title, Distributor, URL Producer field: Enter the writer and director
Series Director field: Enter the executive producers
Manually add the contributors roles
Thesis
Use for: Thesis		 Author, Year, Title, Degree, University, Place Published, URL Degree field: Enter Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis
Place Published field: Enter the database name
Web Page
Use for: Webpage on a website		 Author, Year, Title, Publisher, URL  
Web Page
Use for: Webpage on a news website		 Author, Year, Date cited, Title, Publisher, URL Date Cited field: Enter Month Day article was posted
Web Page
Use for: YouTube or streaming video		 Author, Year, Date cited, Title, Type of Medium, Publisher, URL Date Cited field: Enter Month Day video was posted
Type of Medium field: Enter Video
Web Page
Use for: Lecture		 Author, Year, Title, Type of Medium, Publisher, URL Type of Medium field: Enter the format, e.g. iLecture, PowerPoint Slides

Chicago reference types

  • For print items, leave the DOI/URL field blank
  • Some reference types may require manual changes
Reference type EndNote fields Notes
Audiovisual Material
Use for: TV series
For a single episode from a series use Television Episode 		Author, Year, Title, Type, Series Editor, Place Published, Publisher, URL Type field: Enter Television series
Blog
Use for: Blog post		 Author, Year, Date, Title of Entry, Title of WebLog, URL Enter the word blog in the Type of Medium field if it doesn’t appear in the blog name
Book
Use for: Book		 Author, Year, Title, Edition, Place Published, Publisher, DOI or URL  
Book section
Use for: Chapter in an edited book		 Author, Year, Title, Book Title, Editor, Edition, Pages, Publisher, DOI or URL  
Case
Use for: Case		 Case Name, Year Decided, Reporter Volume, Reporter Abbreviation, First Page, URL  
Conference paper
Use for: Conference paper		 Author, Year, Title, Type, Conference Name, Conference Location, Date, DOI or URL Type field: Enter Paper
Dataset
Use for: Dataset, Dataset created using a company database		 Investigators, Year, Title, Data Type, Place Published, DOI or URL Data Type field: Enter Dataset
For dataset from company database, include Access Date in the format Month Day, Year
Film or Broadcast
Use for: Film or Video, YouTube or streaming video		 Director, Year Released, Title, Format, Running Time, Series Director, Country, Distributor, URL For YouTube video, leave Series Director, Country and Distributor fields blank
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article, Journal article with an article number, Journal article - Advance online publication		 Author, Year, Title, Journal, Volume, Issue, Pages, DOI or URL For Advance online publication, enter Forthcoming in Issue field
Music
Use for: Song or album		 Composer, Producer, Year, Title, Volume, Album Title, Format of Music, Publisher, URL Producer field: Enter creator’s role, e.g. vocalist, band
For single song, enter track number in the Volume field
Newspaper Article
Use for: Newspaper article		 Reporter, Year, Issue Date, Title, Newspaper, Pages, URL For a print newspaper, include the page number in the Pages field
If there is no author, you will need to manually alter the reference to comply with Chicago requirements
Pamphlet
Use for: Brochure, Fact sheet or Pamphlet		 Author, Year, Title, Place Published, Publisher, URL  
Podcast
Use for: Podcast episode		 Author, Year, Title of Podcast, Number, Title of Show, Type, Series Title, Place Published, Publisher, URL Type field: Enter Audio podcast
Series Title field: Enter the name of the website
Press Release
Use for: Press release		 Author, Year, Date, Title, Type of Work, Date, URL Type of Work field: Enter type of release e.g., Media release, Press release
Report
Use for: Government or organisation report, Annual report		 Author, Year, Title, Report Number, Place Published, Publisher, DOI or URL  
Social Media
Use for: Facebook, Instagram etc.		 Username, Handle, Year, Post Text, Provider, Post Date, Time, URL You will need to manually alter the capitalisation used in the post text to comply with Chicago requirements
Standard
Use for: Standards		 Institution, Year, Title, Document Number, Publisher, URL  
Television Episode
Use for: TV series episode
For a whole TV series use Audiovisual Material 		Producer, Year, Episode Title, Season, Episode No., Title, Format, Location, Distributor, URL  
Thesis
Use for: Thesis		 Author, Year, Title, Thesis Type, University, URL Thesis Type field: Enter Master’s thesis or PhD diss.
Unpublished Work
Use for: Lecture		 Author, Year, Title of Work, Type of Work, URL Type of Work field: Enter the lecture format e.g., iLecture, PowerPoint Slides
Unpublished Work
Use for: Company or industry profile from a database		 Author, Year, Title of Work, Series Title, Type of Work, URL Series Title field: Enter the name of the profile series
Web Page
Use for: Entire website		 Author, Year, Series Title, Access Date, Access Year, URL If there is no date, enter n.d. in the Year field and include Access Date and Access Year
Web Page
Use for: Webpage on a website		 Author, Year, Title, Publisher, Access Date, Access Year, URL If there is no date, enter n.d. in the Year field and include Access Date and Access Year

Vancouver reference types

  • Enter access dates in the format Month Day, Year
  • For print items, leave the DOI/URL and Access Date fields blank
Reference type EndNote fields Notes
Audiovisual Material
Use for: YouTube or streaming video		 Author, Title, Type, Date, Year, Access Date, URL Type field: Enter source name
Blog
Use for: Blog post		 Author, Title of Entry, Title of WebLog, Date, Year, Access Date, URL  
Book
Use for: Entire book		 Author, Title, Edition, Publisher, Year, Access Date, DOI or URL  
Book section
Use for: Chapter in an edited book		 Author, Title, Editor, Book Title, Edition, Publisher, Year, Pages, Access Date, DOI or URL  
Case
Use for: Case		 Case Name, Year Decided, Reporter Volume, Reporter Abbreviation, First Page  
Conference paper
Use for: Conference paper or poster		 Author, Title, Type, Conference Name, Date, Year, Conference Location, Access Date, DOI or URL Type field: Enter the type of presentation, e.g. Paper, Poster
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article, Journal article with an article number, Cochrane systematic review		 Author, Title, Journal, Year, Volume, Issue, Pages, DOI or URL Enter article numbers in the Pages field
For Cochrane, enter Cochrane Database Syst Rev in the Journal field
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article - Advance online publication		 Author, Title, Journal, Original Publication, DOI or URL Original Publication field: Enter Published online and the date
Journal Article
Use for: Journal article published in a supplement		 Author, Title, Journal, Year, Volume, Issue, Part/Supplement, Pages, DOI or URL Part/Supplement field: Enter suppl and the supplement number or letter
Newspaper Article
Use for: Newspaper article		 Reporter, Title, Newspaper, Issue Date, Year, Section, Pages, Access Date, URL  
Podcast
Use for: Podcast episode		 Author, Title of Show, Title of Podcast, Date, Year, Access Date, URL  
Report
Use for: Government or organisation report		 Author, Title, Institution, Year, Report Number, Access Date, DOI or URL  
Social Media
Use for: Facebook, Instagram etc.		 Username, Post Text, Post Date, Year, Access Date, URL Post Date field: Enter Month and day
Statute
Use for: Act of Parliament		 Name of Act, Code, Access Date, URL  
Thesis
Use for: Thesis		 Author, Title, Thesis Type, University, Year, Access Date, URL Thesis Type field: Enter Dissertation or Master’s thesis
Web Page
Use for: Webpage on a website, Online reference works (AMH, Martindale, MIMs, UpToDate)		 Author, Title, Publisher, Dated Cited, Year, Last Update Date, Access Date, Access Year, URL Publisher field: Enter name of website

Organise references into groups

As you add references to your library, they will show in the default Unfiled group in the Groups panel. You can create your own groups to help organise your research for different assignments and projects.

  1. Click Groups in the menu bar and choose Create Group or right mouse click on My Groups in the Groups panel and choose Create Group
  2. Type in a name for your group and hit Enter
  3. Highlight the references you wish to add and drag and drop them onto the group or right click on the reference, select Add References To and select the relevant group.

Creating a Group Set allows you to organise related groups within your EndNote library.

  1. Click Groups in the menu bar or right mouse click on My Groups in the Groups panel and choose Create Group Set
  2. Enter a name for the Group Set and hit Enter
  3. You can add a new group by right clicking on the group set and choosing Create Group
  4. You can also drag and drop existing groups onto a group set.

Tags (EndNote 21)

EndNote 21 has a tags feature which allows you to create customisable labels for your references.

  1. Select Tags in the menu bar and Create Tag…
  2. Enter a name for the tag, assign a colour and click Create Tag
  3. Highlight the reference you want to tag and click Manage Tags on the Summary tab
  4. Select the relevant tag (or tags) and click OK
  5. Tagged items will appear under My Tags in the Groups panel.