About Z39.50 Access and
Bibliographic Management

What is EndNote®? | What is a Connection File? | What are Filters?
About Z39.50 Compliant Databases | Additional Resources | Download Instructions

For users of citation software users such as EndNote®, Procite® and Reference Manager®, the Salmon Library provides Z39.50 access to the library's WebCat. This web page also provides the U of Alabama--Huntsville connection file for use in the EndNote Windows® software. The Endnote connection file for Apple® computers is also available. Connection files for Procite® and Reference Manager® are currently not available.

What is EndNote?

EndNote is a software tool for managing references. You can search bibliographic databases, import references into your database(s), and create and format bibliographies in various styles. The package is not available on public workstations at the Salmon Library but is available for purchase. If you are a UAH student, inquire about the educational discount at the campus bookstore. Additional pricing and purchasing information is available from the producer. You may also choose to download a free trial demo copy.

Note: The Salmon Library does not support or recommend EndNote. The Library is merely making this information available as a service to the members of the UAH Community who are using EndNote to manage their bibliographic citations.

What is a Connection File?

EndNote uses connection files to let you connect directly to online bibliographic databases, search for the references, and retrieve those references without leaving EndNote. These individual connection files in EndNote provide the information required to connect to a Z39.50 compliant database. You may also wish to check out EndNote's information on connection files and their full list of downloadable connection files not requiring an account. Most of these connection files already are included in the Connect folder that installs when you load the EndNote® program. However, the connection file for the Salmon Library has been made available only recently and therefore was not shipped with EndNote 4.0.

What are Filters?

Import filters are the files used by EndNote to decipher information that has been downloaded from an online database. You can read EndNote's information on filter files and see their full list of downloadable filter files. Most of these filter files already are included in the Filters folder that installs when you load the EndNote® program.

Instructions for FirstSearch (FS) databases. | Instructions for SilverPlatter (SP) Databases | Instructions for InfoTrac (IAC) Databases | Instructions for Cambridge (CSA) Databases | Instructions for EBSCO Databases

About Z39.50 Compliant Databases

EndNote® connection files only work with Z39.50 compliant databases. Z39.50 is a standard communications protocol that facilitates information retrieval across diverse collections of data resources and between different types of computers and computing environments. A Z39.50 compliant database requires that it be run on a Z39.50 server. The Salmon Library WebCat is such a server. Also it is possible to capture references from other databases and import them into EndNote using the Import feature within EndNote. This method uses filters to place the captured information into fields in the EndNote record. First you need to save your references, then you need to import them into EndNote.

Additional Resources

Specific Download/Import Instructions

Instructions for using EndNote with the UAH library catalog (WebCat):

The following is basic information about our Z39.50 WebCat server. However, it is recommended that you download the
"U of Alabama-Huntsville" connection file (or the MacIntosh® version) and add it to your EndNote connections folder. Then you can connect directly without any further action needed.

  • Database Name: Unicorn
  • Database Description: University of Alabama in Huntsville Online Catalog
  • Domain Name: librarycatalog.uah.edu
  • Port Number: 2200
  • Server Software Vendor: Sirsi Corporation

Instructions for ABI-Inform

Check the boxes next to your desired search results. Select the "Marked List" link in the header of the window. Click the "EMAIL ARTICLES" button, insert your e-mail address in the appropriate field, and select "Send Email." Be sure your session Preferences are set to email articles as plain text, not HTML formatted attachments. You will receive one message for every marked reference. Save references e-mailed to you as "Plain Text" or "Text Only". (ABI-Inform does not provide a uniformly tagged source code for importing. To retrieve the title, journal name, city, date/year, and abstract from your text file, you must manually copy and paste the information into EndNote.)

Instructions for America: History & Life and Historical Abstracts

After checking the boxes next to your desired search results, select the "Tagged Results" button at the left side of the screen. Click the "Output Option" button and select the Full Entry, Tagged Entries, and ASCII Display radio buttons; then click "Submit" at the right. At the next screen displaying your results in fixed width text format, select Save As... (Plain Text or Text Only, plus the ".txt" file extension for Windows) from the File menu, or Select All from the Edit menu and copy and paste the results into a blank text file.

Instructions for Cambridge (CSA) Databases

After you have saved your citations, you will need to open a database in EndNote, select Import from the File menu, then select the CSA file you just saved and the CSA filter you want to use. Click on the Import button and your citations will be downloaded into the EndNote database. The ASFA filter is compatible with all CSA Life Sciences databases, including Biological Sciences, and Environmental Science and Pollution Management, and is the best option for the Materials Sciences databases. The Sociological Abstracts filter may be used with Social Services Abstracts and Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts. See CSA Bibliographic Manager page for more info.

Instructions for Engineering Village (Compendex)

There is a two-step process for importing EV2 Compendex records to EndNote (Make sure you have downloaded the filter first):

  • Export EV2 Compendex records into RIS format: Select RIS from the pull-down menu and click Save/Download in the Results Manager. In the Save As dialogue box, the user must create a file name and specify to which directory the file will be downloaded.

  • Import records into EndNote: Open EndNote, select Import from the File menu. Choose the file to import, select "Ei Compendex (Ei)" for the Import Option in the Import dialogue box, and then click Import.

Instructions for EBSCO Databases

Save in 'Bibliographic manager format' as a text file (.txt). Enter your email address and click Send.

Instructions for FirstSearch (FS) Databases

On a page of the Search Results, click on the check box of each reference you want to save. Select Marked Records under Results at the left. Then click the Email button. On the following screen, select to send the marked records with detailed records, in plain text format. Enter your email address and click Send.

Instructions for InfoTrac Databases (Expanded Academic Index, General BusinessFile, etc.)

Mark the boxes next to your desired search results. Click on the "Mark List" link in the header of the window. Select to send your marked references via E-mail; you will receive one message for every marked reference. Save references e-mailed to you as "Plain Text" or "Text Only". (You must import each reference file individually or copy and paste the data into a single text file. To retrieve the abstract from the "Abstract:" field of the text document, you must manually copy and paste it into EndNote.)

Instructions for PubMed

Display your search results in MEDLINE Report format. At the bottom of the page, locate the Save button. Save the reports in PC Text format of Macintosh Text format, as appropriate.

Instructions for SilverPlatter (SP) Databases

Use the WebSPIRS Save button to save your search results to a file. Select to show filed names as "Short labels" from the popup menu and to show "All fields" under "Which fields?" Next, be sure the check box to include record numbers is checked; then click the Save Records button.

Instructions for ScienceDirect

No filter is required if you are using EndNote 4.0. Tag Documents; select 'Export' (link above first article); select RIS Format, select 'Export'. Select 'Open this file from its current location'; choose EndNote4; choose the appropriate Library and select open.

(For further assistance with bibliographic management software and how it is used with Salmon Library resources, please e-mail David P. Moore or use the online form).