# 'Cannot open Endnote Library'

**URL:** <https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506>\
**Category:** Reference Manager General\
**Created:** [January 6, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506 "2010-01-06T14:18:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![goatkarma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@goatkarma](https://community.endnote.com/u/goatkarma)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506/1 "2010-01-06T14:18:27Z")

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I’m trying to open an endnote library in RefMan11 and it won’t work!

I go through the instructions in the help section (i.e open, ‘read-write-exclusive’,create reference manager database’, select the db to create and click ‘convert’, but it comes up with the following error:

**Cannot open Endnote Library in c:\pathtothlibraryisere (It may be open in another application).**

The problem is that it isn’t open in another program! I’ve tried it on a couple of computers and it says the same message. &nbsp;

Any suggestions, thanks!!

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**Author:** ![jimmym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@jimmym](https://community.endnote.com/u/jimmym)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506/2 "2010-01-09T00:07:43Z")

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The steps you’ve read in the Reference Manager 11 Help file are for libraries created with EndNote versions 7 and earlier.&nbsp; With the introduction of EndNote 8, the EndNote library structure changed and the new library conversion process involves exporting and importing references from a RIS formatted text file.&nbsp; If you visit our website here- [http://refman.com/support/faqs/Import/faq3.asp](http://refman.com/support/faqs/Import/faq3.asp), you’ll find an FAQ with the updated instructions associated with this process.&nbsp; Please let me know if this helps.

Best Regards,

Jimmy M.

Customer Technical Support Representative Scientific  
Thomson Reuters  
Phone: +1 800 336 4474  
ResearchSoft Product Support

[thomsonreuters.com](http://thomsonreuters.com)

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**Author:** ![goatkarma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@goatkarma](https://community.endnote.com/u/goatkarma)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506/3 "2010-01-11T13:30:54Z")

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Thanks Jimmy,

So is there no way to import the endnote file without first exporting it in a RIS formatted file from Endnote? Unfortunately we do not have Endnote anymore so cannot get access to export.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![jimmym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@jimmym](https://community.endnote.com/u/jimmym)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.endnote.com/t/cannot-open-endnote-library/350506/4 "2010-01-21T18:37:11Z")

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The demo version of EndNote X3 can be used to export your references in the required format-[http://endnote.com/endemo.asp](http://endnote.com/endemo.asp).

Best Regards,

Jimmy M.

Customer Technical Support Representative Scientific  
Thomson Reuters  
Phone: +1 800 336 4474  
ResearchSoft Product Support

[thomsonreuters.com](http://thomsonreuters.com)