After formatting, it would like so:

The payoff for busy academics is that the style is chosen at the last minute; you can easily reformat your paper according to a large number of bibliographical styles supplied by Niles. Furthermore, EndNote can add a bibliography of all cited sources at the end of your document--and that bibliography can be in a different style.

Data Entry / Text-Editing / Windows / Dialogues

Data-entry in EndNote takes considerable advantage of the Windows and Macintosh graphical user interfaces. Functions that we have become accustomed to in Word--for instance typing Control-I for italics--are supported in EndNote; text styles such as italics are displayed right on the screen.

The windows are simply designed, and one rarely searches the screen for information. The basic view of a database is a list of references, with the columns indicating author name, year of publication, and title. The user cannot control the contents of these columns (though one can add one additional column to display EndNote Record Numbers).

Occasionally a Windows user will be surprised because of lingering Mac-centric design decisions. For instance, if all records in a database are selected, a Windows user is habituated to a press of an arrow key to cancel the selection (try this in a Eudora mailbox for the proper action) . . . but nothing happens. You must press Control-A again to toggle the deselection of all records.

Niles tells us that a mouse is required for Windows EndNote, and indeed this is true--some functionality is not available through the keyboard, and there are missing short-cut keys in some dialogues. For example, when entering data for a Search dialogue, one drop-down list allows the user to "Search whole library" or "Omit from showing references" the results of the search. The only way to toggle this option is with the mouse. Similarly, when searching, one cannot select the field to search on with the keyboard. Of course the mouse is second-hand for most users; complete support for the keyboard would be extremely helpful.

For diacritics, Windows users must use the Windows Character Map Accessory, or enter ANSI numeric character codes with the keypad. Both of these methods for entering "foreign" characters are awkward.

Import and Export

EndNote provides a rich set of import/export features (see the Comparison Chart for details); it is very likely that you can convert an existing bibliographical database to EndNote's format, or export your own database into the format of another software package.

For earlier versions of EndNote, one could buy an additional package called EndLink; this add-in is now a part of the standard program. EndLink is a sophisticated filtering module that transforms bibliographical data from CDROMs and online services into EndNote's internal format. A random list of the many filters available includes: PsycLit, PAIS International, MEDLINE, Current Contents, Carl Uncover Reveal, Eric, Ovid, etc., etc.

Z39.50 Support: But the most important new feature of EndNote 3.0 is the inclusion of a Z39.50 client. To use this you will first need a connection to the Internet--if you're using a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer, or email such as Eudora, you're probably set up correctly to use this client out of the box. On the File menu one selects Connect and then picks from a list of libraries and databases such as the Library of Congress, UC's MELVYL, Ovid--in short, any Internet resource that has a Z39.50 server. Once the connection is made, EndNote pops up a search dialogue. You then enter your search terms as you would on your own local database, click Search; and then EndNote retrieves matching records from your remote resource. The results are displayed as an ordinary EndNote database (thus there's nothing additional to learn), and the data is cleaned up a bit. For scholars in the Humanities who use books, this facility is invaluable. One can connect to the Library of Congress and scrounge for various keyword matches; the results are instantly formattable as a printable database.

After a brief conversation with a librarian, I was able to create a connection file for our university catalog, as well as OhioLINK, a union catalog for colleges and universities in Ohio.

Note that the new Z39.50 client does not usually mean that you'll never have to convert another downloaded datafile with EndLink; the client only works with resources that have Z39.50 servers.

Searching and Sorting

EndNote's database functionality is rich; one can search and sort based on a full range of criteria. These functions are very quick. It is also possible to create high-speed indices on keywords or on the contents of the entire database; this results in virtually instantaneous searching even on a slow machine. One drawback: multiple searches and sorts cannot be saved. It is possible to save one set of search criteria as a default.

The alphanumeric search order is determined by the operating system language setting.

Bibliography Generation

EndNote's bibliography generation is easy. There are two basic strategies. A file can be scanned on disk, and formatted references will be inserted appropriately, and a bibliography will be appended. The other method is to use an Add-In for Word and WordPerfect. These Add-Ins provide menu items that enable one to format a paper without leaving the word processor.

View 3: Using the Word Add-In

General Assessment

EndNote is one of the best solutions for those who must manage large numbers of references, and most users in the Humanities are pleased with what EndNote does. At the same time, most longtime Humanities users of EndNote have experienced frustration with matters of detail. I've provided an attached Humanities Wish-List; if you have suggestions for this list, please write me at norman.49@osu.edu.