Copying references into a library on a different computer

Is it possible to copy references in one library and take them to a different EndNote library on a different computer? (I do not want to copy the whole library and take it to a different computer. I seem to lose groups, etc. in the process, and it is cumbersome.)

Thank you for the reply. I am using EndNote on three different computers (2 Macs and 1 Windows) (because I have three offices where I have to use it), thus I transfer references/libraries between these three computers, from every direction. The version on the Macs is X1, and the one on the Windows, I don’t remember exactly, but I bought it last year, I think, so it must be pretty new. In terms of transferring libraries, I have been copying both .enl and .data, so there shouldn’t be a problem…

The reason you are losing group information may be due to the version differences between machines. Group function has been evolving every version upgrade, so backward/forward compatibility is not really guaranteed at all.

But, before that, why don’t you work with a flash drive or external portable hard drive, and work on the single library? Then, you don’t need to copy or synchronize your data between machines. All you need is the discipline of routine back up.

Another suggestion is, if you are working more than 3 machines, consider introducing NAS RAID drives. Price is dropping, and the speed is really good. Of course, it gives you extra security about data loss.

Message Edited by myoshigi on 11-14-2009 08:03 PM

Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, I understand what you mean. Maybe I should just do that, in which case, should I just copy .enl and .data and use them on all computers? (Or do I need to copy more files/folders?) Even now, I actually do use just one library, as you suggest, since, after working on a library, I make a copy of it and take it to another computer and add it to the library folder in the new computer. I guess I wanted to transfer just the references I worked on to a different computer.

(By the way, I wasn’t using the “compress” function when transferring libraries. I was simply dragging .enl files and .data folders into my USB memory to move them to a different computer. Should I be doing something else?)

I’m not 100% sure about what you are trying to do, but do you mean you wan to copy some references you “appended” to the libarry in one computer to another computer? But, all you need is to copy .enl file and the associated .data folder with the same name. Everything should be exactly copied, including group information. If not, it should be Mac-PC problem, or version inconsistency problem.

Message Edited by myoshigi on 11-14-2009 09:10 PM