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Open an .enlx file (compressed EndNote library) (Beta)

Unpack a compressed EndNote library and export all references and PDFs, without EndNote.

Opens: ENL, ENLX, sdb.eni
Saves: EndNote XML, RIS, BibTeX, CSV

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EndNote library
Choose files… or drop them here
.enlx, .zip, .enl, .eni · up to 200 MB each, 10 files max
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    Upload the compressed library (.enlx), a .zip of the folder containing “Name.enl” and “Name.Data”, or the file Name.Data/sdb/sdb.eni. Libraries from EndNote X8 and older: the .enl file alone is enough.

    Options

    Adds “EndNote group: …” keywords so you can rebuild your groups in Zotero or Mendeley.

    Your files are deleted after processing.

    An .enlx file is a compressed EndNote library: EndNote's File → Compress Library packs the .enl file, its .Data folder and, if you chose to include them, the attached files into one archive for backups or for sending to someone. EndNote unpacks it again when you open it. This page does the same without EndNote and hands you the references in open formats.

    How to open an .enlx file

    1. Upload the .enlx as it is. There is no need to unpack or rename it first.
    2. Tick Include references from the Trash only if you also want the references EndNote had moved there.
    3. Look through the result: number of references, groups, reference types, the first 20 references and how many attached PDFs were found in the archive.
    4. Download what you need: EndNote XML for Zotero, RIS for most other reference managers, BibTeX for LaTeX, CSV for a spreadsheet, or the ZIP that bundles these with the PDFs.

    Why you can't just unzip it

    An .enlx is an ordinary ZIP archive, and renaming it to .zip will let you extract it. You get the PDFs from Name.Data/PDF, filed in folders with numeric names, but the references themselves sit in a database file, Name.Data/sdb/sdb.eni, that other programs can't read as a reference list. This tool reads that database, together with groups and attachment links, and keeps each PDF matched to its reference.

    If PDFs are missing

    The attachments are only in the archive if the library was compressed with its file attachments. If the result says the library lists attached files that weren't in the upload, the .enlx was made without them. When you still have the original library folder, zip that folder instead (with Name.enl and Name.Data) and upload the zip.

    Good to know

    • Libraries from EndNote X9, 20, 21 and 2025 are supported, and older ones compressed by earlier versions too.
    • Groups are listed in the result and, by default, added to every reference as keywords that begin with EndNote group:.
    • Large archives are fine: each file can be up to 2 GB.

    Using Zotero next? The EndNote to Zotero guide covers the import step by step.

    More about what this tool reads and writes: EndNote Library Rescue.

    More with EndNote Library Rescue