Convert ENL to RIS

A reference manager, journal submission system, or collaboration platform may require RIS instead of an EndNote library. Exporting produces a portable citation file while leaving the original .enl library unchanged.

.enl is the native library file used by EndNote desktop for bibliographic references, notes, groups, and library settings. EndNote libraries normally include a matching folder such as My Library.Data, which can contain attached PDFs and supporting database data; keep this folder with the .enl file when moving or backing up a library.

What the RIS format is

RIS is a plain-text citation exchange format supported by Zotero, Mendeley, Citavi, RefWorks, bibliographic databases, and many manuscript-submission systems. Records use tags such as TY for reference type, AU for author, TI for title, JO for journal, and ER to mark the end of a record. RIS transfers citation metadata without requiring the destination to open EndNote's proprietary library structure.

Export with EndNote desktop

1. Make a backup of the .enl file and its associated .Data folder, or create a complete library copy from EndNote. Open the library in EndNote desktop.
2. Select the references to convert. To export the entire library, do not restrict the export to selected references.
3. Choose File → Export.
4. In the export window, choose RefMan (RIS) Export in the Output Style list. EndNote versions may label or expose this style differently; install or enable the style if it is absent.
5. Set the file type to Text Only if EndNote displays that option, name the output with a .ris extension, and save it.
6. If the dialog includes Export Selected References, enable it only when the highlighted records should be exported. Otherwise, EndNote can export all references in the current library scope.
7. Import the resulting file into the target application and inspect several records, including journal articles, books, web pages, multiple-author records, accented names, and records containing DOI or URL fields.

Use another desktop application

Zotero does not normally open an .enl library directly. If EndNote desktop is unavailable, ask the library owner to export EndNote XML or RIS from EndNote. Zotero can generally import EndNote XML, after which you can select the imported references and choose File → Export Library or File → Export Items, select RIS, and save the file. This two-step route is preferable to attempting to parse the native ENL database with an unverified utility.

There is no generally reliable online converter for a native ENL library. A web service must understand the associated EndNote database structure, and uploading the library may disclose private research data. Do not upload an .enl file or its .Data folder to an unknown service; use EndNote desktop or obtain an EndNote XML/RIS export from the source installation instead.

Conversion limits

RIS contains citation metadata, not the complete EndNote environment. Groups, smart groups, search settings, library preferences, formatting rules, and most attached PDFs are not preserved. Attachments may be ignored or reduced to links, depending on the export and importing software.

RIS implementations differ in their handling of reference types, custom fields, dates, corporate authors, accented characters, DOI values, and URLs. The destination may classify conference papers, theses, or web pages differently, and unusual EndNote fields may be dropped. Check the imported records before submitting a manuscript or replacing the source library. Exporting only selected records can also omit references required by linked citations.