EndNote 21: Desktop: EndNote X9.3 and EndNote 20

Nov 2, 2020•Article

EndNote X9.3 introduced a new database engine to EndNote. EndNote X9.3 and later libraries will not be backwardly compatible with older versions of EndNote. If you work in an environment with multiple versions of EndNote, you can convert your libraries to the new database engine using the instructions below.

Forward Compatibility to EndNote X9.3 and later

• To use libraries created with EndNote X9.2 and earlier, convert the library through EndNote X9.3 or later. To do this, in EndNote X9.3 or later select File / Open / Open Library...and select the old EndNote library file you wish to convert. EndNote X9.3 or later will create a new library and leave the original library unchanged.

Backward Compatibility with earlier EndNote versions

• If you are using the sync feature that would be the easiest way to access the library on a machine with an older version of EndNote.
• You could start a new library in the older version then go to Tools and Sync. You would enter your EndNote online details and the library will download to that machine. You would be able to use the library on both computers and have your changes sync back and forth between the versions.

EndNote X9.3 and later libraries are not backward compatible with previous versions.

To use EndNote X9.3 and later libraries with an older version of EndNote without using Sync:

1. Export the EndNote X9.3 or later library to a plain text file (.txt) using the EndNote Import format:
2. Open the library in EndNote X9.3 or later and make sure all references are showing.
3. Click on the file menu and select "Export".
4. Pick a name and location for the text file, set the Output Style to "EndNote Export" if you do not see it in the list go to "Select Another Style" to find it, uncheck the option "Export Selected References" and click "Save".
5. In the older version of EndNote Click on File > Import > File (on Windows) or File > Import (On Mac).
6. In the Import dialog, click “Choose” or “Browse”  and select the export file.
7.  Select "EndNote Import" as the “Import Option”.
8. Change the “Duplicates:” option to your requirement.
9.   Set the “Text Translation” to "No Translation" and then click on “Import”.
10. Your references will be imported.

Compatibility Issues:

• The older version of EndNote will not import any groups from the EndNote X9.3 and later version of the library.
• In order to have access to the file attachments the PDF subfolder of the EndNote X9.3 and later version of the library would need to be added to the new library created with the older version of EndNote.
• Please contact EndNote Technical Support for help with conversion or backwards compatibility issues.