Endnote 5.0

After a quick install, starting a new library is a snap. Creating each new entry, or reference, has a nice rhythm to it. You'll maneuver through any number of fields (EndNote provides several dozen, and you can also add customized fields) by tabbing or clicking, and auto completion will keep you moving along as the software recognizes past entries. And no need to manually save after each entry: every time you change data, EndNote saves.

The Cite While You Write technology in EndNote 5.0 allows for even greater integration with Microsoft Word 97 and 2000. This feature allows you to locate and insert citations without leaving your Word document. Because EndNote functions as a Word add-in, you'll find citation commands immediately off the Tools menu in Word. After pulling up a reference by any number of criteria, EndNote automatically inserts the citation and updates your bibliography. You can then format the citation with the Format Bibliography command. If you don't immediately see the style you're looking for, no need to fret: the Style Manager gives you access to the hundreds of styles available, letting you add to your favorite annotative styles.

EndNote is well suited to handling professional bibliography work: each reference in a library can hold a total of 64,000 characters, or about 16 pages of text. Additionally, each library can grow to about 32,000 records, or about 32 MB.

After entering your references, you've created a venerable library for yourself--searchable and concise. You may also import reference data, which allows you to avoid re-keying any other bibliographic work you've already done in Refer, BibIX, ProCite, or any tab-delimited data from spreadsheets, databases, and word processing applications. EndNote 5.0 has grown to include more than 700 styles, ranging from standards such as The Chicago Manual of Style and APA to lesser-known journal styles ranging from Advances in Agronomy to Yeast.

Another feature new to 5.0 is the traveling library. Each formatted citation in your document is saved with field codes that embed reference data in the document. When you share your paper, your citations go with it--even if you and your colleague are not using the same database.

A powerful application for academic, professional, and personal use, EndNote 5.0 is a complete resource for gathering and maintaining bibliographic references and sharing your work with colleagues. --Emilie Dirks

Amazon.com Product Description
EndNote 5 is a new version of the bibliographic software popular among researchers, students, and librarians. It is used to search online bibliographic databases, organize references, and create instant bibliographies. EndNote 5 introduces a new level of integration with Microsoft Word, along with a traveling reference library that follows the document for easy collaboration with colleagues.

The Cite While You Write feature lets you locate and insert citations without leaving Microsoft Word. EndNote 5's new instant formatting creates your bibliography as you type, without waiting, guessing, or taking extra steps. Cite While You Write locates references in your open EndNote library and provides you with a selection list. If you don't find what you're looking for, simply modify the search to receive a new list. EndNote retains your last 10 searches to easily recall previous selection lists. As you insert a citation in your document, EndNote formats the in-text citation and builds the bibliography instantly.

EndNote 5 automatically creates a hidden traveling library as you cite references in Microsoft Word. The traveling library contains complete reference data for all your citations. When you're ready to send this document to colleagues for editing, they'll have all the necessary information to add, delete, and reformat citations. Wherever the document goes, the references travel with it.

EndNote 5 includes multilanguage and discipline-specific dictionaries for greater accuracy in spell checking. Dictionaries include American Medical, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. The addition of new output styles to format bibliographies brings the total to more than 700. New connection files expand the Internet libraries available for remote searching. Users of EndNote 5 and the ISI Web of Science--the premier citation database used by institutions worldwide--can now create searches in EndNote. A link to the original ISI Web of Science record is stored in the EndNote 5 reference--ready to link to full text and other scholarly databases through ISI links.

The tech support has been very responsive, too, and new filters and other support files are available as downloads at the main site ([URL]).

Yes, there are a few quirky features that still linger from the old versions. The interface isn't as modern as, say, Procite's, but Endnote still works well. It is well worth purchasing and will save you many hours of additional work if you are a graduate student or academic. I'd seriously consider it for undergrads, too, if only for the time and headaches saved in converting from format to format when you're writing papers. Does anyone really want to memorize the differences between CBE, MLA, APA (5th ed), Chicago A, Chicago B, and so on? I didn't think so, and with Endnote, you don't have to; the program will automatically format these references for you.

No, I don't own stock in the company; I'm just a convert to Endnote who, after purchasing two previous versions (3.0 and 5.0) has now ordered version 6.


Huge improvement from 2.3 (but still no geography journals!)   June 14, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

As someone who was using the 2.3 version of EndNotes (that came on floppy disks) and just updated, let me say the differences are polar. Controlling the format of your bibliography is infintely easier (numbering, spacing, fonts, etc); the number of reference types/templates has at least doubled (including "electonic sources"); the ability to unformat and reformat citations in Word is a major plus; the field completion in the database is a major time saver.

Although some tasks are more difficult than one would expect (e.g. adding page numbers to in-text citations) and there are a few minor bugs that will likely be cleared up in updates, overall this is an excellent buy for those using versions 3 or 2, or for some poor unfortunate person who still lacks a proper reference management program. While the flexibility is not complete, it has vastly improved.

Now if only they would get on the ball and include formats for Geography journals. I mean, at least one journal in the discipline has to be on the same level of readership as "Yeast" (especially since geography by nature operates at much larger scales).


Incredible tool, but could improve usability   April 30, 2002
Manny Hernandez (Palo Alto, CA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I've recently been exposed to this incredible tool for organizing bibliographical references, and most of my initial impressions are summarized in this thought: "I wish there had been something like this when I was writing my Thesis!" However, I have to note that, as a software, it doesn't adhere to what I consider to be some de facto standards widely used today. For example, what would you normally expect to see, if you haven't voluntarily saved anything when you are going to close a window in a software you are using? "Do you want to save?" Right? Wrong... or at least that's what EndNote's developers decided.

Another thing which I didn't like, actually has a lot to do with the integration of the software with Microsoft Word. This integration is actually one way, i.e. everything you edit on EndNote gets reflected in Word, but NOT viceversa. This can be truly inconvenient at times.

However, all in all, with its downsides, the program actually succeeds at helping people writing essays, thesis, books, etc. to organize without much hassle all the references they need to include in their publications.


Absolutely Excellent   December 11, 2001
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is an extremely valuable software page if you work with lots of references. For individuals writing research papers, theses, dissertations, and grants, you will find this package saves you hours and greatly increases your organization and effectiveness in formatting and utilizing references. Endnote is extremely easy to use, and by all means take advantage of the online features immediately. Buy this software, you won't be sorry, I only wish I used Endnote during the years I was in graduate school.