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Register with BTR
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sub-sections
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End note Version 3 reviewed |
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Contents |
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Introduction, Editing, Searching, Z39.50, Sorting, Marking, Styles, Import filters, Printing, Non-Roman characters, Conclusions, Main article, Features Table
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Introduction |
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The first thing that you notice about EndNote is the user interface - it is certainly a "clear desk" approach with
no icons or floating toolbars etc. there are just a set of drop-down menu options along the top of the screen and the last database used open in a simple summary window showing author, date and
title. This is a typical impression of the system right through when compared with ProCite and Reference Manager. A no-nonsense, simple approach is taken and the result may be a lower feature
count but it is a good useable product, fast and efficient with all the basics available PLUS, and it is a big plus, the ability to search Z39.50 libraries around the world without having to pay for
another product like BookWhere. (See technical briefing on Z39.50).
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Editing |
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To edit a reference from the database simply double click the list item and a window with a list of fields opens up where you can either type
directly into a field or by opening a linked list of terms - and you can easily bring in terms and aid consistency of entry. EndNote allows you to create up to 31 term lists and each can be linked to a field
if required - a key advantage over the other products in this review. Terms may be copied from one list to another, exported and imported. Term lists can be updated from the records entered into a
database and can even be shared amongst different fields if desired.
The only disappointment is that you cannot directly see related references or a hit count when browsing a term list. The nearest you can get is to pass a term directly to the search window and then search for hits.
You may open an edit window for any number of records by double clicking on the list title, but EndNote does not automatically display the record as
you browse through - unlike ProCite and Reference Manager. And there is just the one display format at this stage - the edit window - you cannot preview the final citation style.
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Searching |
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EndNote scores well on the basic searching on its own databases but has succeeded in a considerable step forward by integrating a Z39.50 client
seamlessly in to the searching so that it is as easy to search any library on the Internet as it is to search your own databases of references.
Records found via the Z39.50 search can be loaded directly into your EndNote library - I found absolutely no problems using it and the pre-set connection files to a wide range of libraries worked first time.
The basic search process is through a simple search window (see screen shot) that offers basic AND, OR, NOT operators in combination across all
or selected fields. Words can be matched or part words matched via auto right truncation. This provides an easy, quick and intuitive search method.
By using a selection of options to search "showing references" from a previous search, it is possible to get anything from the database
fairly easily.
The searching is fast via an optional batch-built "QuickFind" index and the fact that is built right across all fields if required makes
the searching a lot simpler than Reference Manager where only some of the fields are indexed.
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Z39.50 |
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As mentioned, the Z39.50 searching in EndNote is a unique feature.
The alternative is to use a separate Z39.50 client like BookWhere which would add a lot to the overall price - especially if the product is being rolled out to a large number of users.
The configuration capabilities for the Z-Client are adequate and exceed some of those in stand alone products in so far as you can actually set up
the attributes for each search type - useful is a little dangerous to change without a full understanding. See the Z39.50 technical briefing for more detail.
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Sorting |
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Sorting in EndNote again is simple but effective - up to 5 levels of sort can be defined - and these are used against the currently show records in
the "Library" window.
The same sort definition is used throughout the system - i.e. you can set one sort criteria and this then sorts the records that you view, and any printout that you may then generate. Other products allow the sorting to be linked to the output style to save the effort of redefining it each time.
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Marking |
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EndNote has a slightly different approach to marking records – you can highlight them and then restrict the view to just those highlighted before
proceeding to other actions.
This works well but records can more easily become un-highlighted via an odd click. ProCite and Reference Manager allow records to be both marked and highlighted with different actions able to be defined for each set. ProCite adds the capability of grouping for added flexibility.
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Styles |
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There are over 300 styles for output and there is good control over how the data is laid out with attention to the many idiosyncrasies of the
publishers. EndNote is particularly strong in the life sciences and medicines.
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Import filters |
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Similarly, import filters can be selected from a wide range of standard tagged and delimited file formats including ProCite. You can create your own
filters including comma delimited ones - although I could not find a way to create additional delimited import files. EndNote can deal with MARC records - but not of exchange record files - only the simplified
tagged MARC format is supported. During the import process there is no real control over the process apart from being able to say how to treat the duplicates - on a number of occasions when trying an import
there was a status message but it went too fast to read.
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Printing |
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Non-roman Characters |
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Many academic papers require Greek or other non-Roman script characters, diacritics to be entered as part of the reference.
EndNote treats Greek and English exactly the same and makes no attempt to display them separately. It does however treat words with diacritics separately so that if you need to search for résumé it does not find resume whereas ProCite would treat the two words the same.
If you work extensively with Greek characters or foreign languages and scripts then this aspect of the searching should be carefully assessed.
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Conclusion |
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