Problem with exporting from Endnote

blackspruce

I'm trying out Zotero for the first time. Thought I'd begin by bringing in my Endnote library, which I've been using for several years. I exported the endnote library as a RefMan(RIS) export, txt file (saved on the desktop), and then copied the script on this page (http://www.zotero.org/support/kb/exporting_from_endnote_with_pdfs), saved it in notepad as "ris-fix.vbs" (also on the desktop), and ran this script. I immediately got the following message:
"Windows Script Host"
"Script: C:\Users\Forrest\Desktop\ris-fix.vbs
Line: 9
Char: 1
Error: ActiveX component can't create object: 'UserAccounts.CommonDialog'
Code: 800A01AD
Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error

I'm running Windows 7 (home premium), and have Endnote X4.
I don't read vbs... so I haven't a clue how to fix this.

noksagt

That script has been reported to not work with Windows 7. I don't have Windows 7 to test/modify it. You can potentially follow the instructions at:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/ITCG/thread/bd96d326-59f2-42b0-b04d-4ed65c4ce692
to make it work in Win7. Or you can use it on a pre-Win 7 machine. Or you can use another method to find/replace in that file.

fleischf

Well, as I said, I don't understand a word of vbs script or whatever this is. I looked at that link, and it is all gobbledygook to me. I do have access to an XP machine, so I threw my whole Endnote library on an external hard drive, and then ran the script on the XP machine. It worked! I can see that all the links are repaired.
When I try to open the resulting corrected file (i.e. the .txt file with all of my references in ris format), I immediately get the following error: "An error occurred while trying to import the selected file. Please insure that the file is valid and try again."
Actually, I'm seeing that Zotero did import the first 2 references in the file (out of about 3000).

fleischf

My apologies - I accidentally created 2 accounts here - just to clarify, blackspruce and fleischf are the same person.

adamsmith

fleischf - you're the same person as the original poster? My recommendation would be to split the RIS file up - into pieces to see if you get them to work. There is a good chance that Endnote put some invalid RIS into some items and Zotero chokes on it.

fleischf

Thanks - yes - I'm both fleischf and blackspruce - I registered 2 accounts by mistake when I was setting this up. I tried splitting it up, and I find that I can import some pieces, and as you say, it chokes up in other places. My question now - is there any way to know which references are being lost?

adamsmith

No, unfortunately not - but if you could narrow it down and then post a sample of an RIS that doesn't work to gist.github.com (copy and paste from notepad into the window on the page, click "create public gist" on the bottom, post the link here) someone can take a look.

fleischf

Well... here is the first one I found:

git://gist.github.com/973248.git gist-973248

adamsmith

yeah - that won't work for a number of reasons:
A type needs to be defined for RIS (TY - .... in the first line of an item)
There can be no line breaks in the RIS fields (as with the RN field - which isn't even defined in the RIS specs afaik - should probably be L2) - either each of these lines would have to start with the Tag (RN - or L2 - respectively) or they would all have to be inserted without line break and separated with semicolons.
These aren't Zotero requirements, but the official ris specifications.

http://www.refman.com/support/risformat_intro.asp

Maybe one of the translator people here can say if some of this can be done better in Zotero, but it's not always easy with Endnote's screwed up export output...

ajlyon

Zotero is pretty accommodating for line breaks in some fields where they commonly occur, like abstract, keywords, and note. There are some general compatibility improvements I've made in the RIS translator-- I can't say for sure it'll work, but try:
Please go to http://github.com/ajlyon/zotero-bits/raw/master/RIS.js and save the file to the translators directory of your Zotero data directory (http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data). Try running the import again.