Zotero doesn't recognize .txt from Endnote?

bethphillips2

Hi -

I'm *brand* new to Zotero, and want to import my Endnote library. I followed all instructions to export my Endnote library and went to import to Zotero, but it won't let me import .txt? The file is "grayed out" and I can't select it to import....what gives?

adamsmith

change the file extension to .ris. ALternatively, open with a text editor, select all (ctrl+a), copy (ctrl+c) and then use "Import from Clipboard" in Zotero.

bethphillips2

Thanks! Changing the ris extension was not allowed by Endnote, but Import from Clipboard worked great!

adamsmith

great. You could have changed the file extension after exporting from endnote using the rename feature of your operating system. On Windows you'd probably have to make the file extension visible first.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Show-or-hide-file-name-extensions

Zebulon_B_VDS

Had the same issue -huge library from ancient Endnote version exported as .txt file was not recognized by Zotero. Tried renaming it to .ris, but this still didn't work. As with Beth, though, the ctrl+a/ctrl+c /Import from Clipboard did the trick.

Michael Shepherd

Hi - I too am new to zotero and have an issue importing a text file exported from the Cochrane Library. No download appears on the screen, so tried the export option. I managed to get a good looking text file and tried renaming and copying without success. I am using Windows 7

adamsmith

copy&paste one sample RIS entry here so we can have a look.

Michael Shepherd

Here's a sample from the file. IT seems to be the standard format that other reference software uses - I used to use Ref Man and Endnote.

Record #1 of 140
ID: CD005191
AU: McQueen Jean
AU: Howe Tracey E
AU: Allan Linda
AU: Mains Diane
AU: Hardy Victoria
TI: Brief interventions for heavy alcohol users admitted to general hospital wards
SO: McQueen Jean, Howe Tracey E, Allan Linda, Mains Diane, Hardy Victoria. Brief interventions for heavy alcohol users admitted to general hospital wards. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2011 Issue 8 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005191.pub3
YR: 2011
NO: 8
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005191/frame.html
KY: Adult [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Young Adult [checkword]; Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking [epidemiology] [therapy]; Alcoholism [epidemiology] [therapy]; Counseling [methods]; Ethanol [poisoning]; Hospitalization; Patient Education as Topic [methods]; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
CC: HM-ADDICTN
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005191.pub3


Record #2 of 140
ID: CD004148
AU: Kaner Eileen F.S.
AU: Dickinson Heather O
AU: Beyer Fiona R
AU: Campbell Fiona
AU: Schlesinger Carla
AU: Heather Nick
AU: Saunders John B
AU: Burnand Bernard
AU: Pienaar Elizabeth D
TI: Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations
SO: Kaner Eileen F.S., Dickinson Heather O, Beyer Fiona R, Campbell Fiona, Schlesinger Carla, Heather Nick, Saunders John B, Burnand Bernard, Pienaar Elizabeth D. Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2007 Issue 2 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004148.pub3
YR: 2007
NO: 2
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004148/frame.html
KY: Humans [checkword]; Alcohol Drinking [therapy]; Alcoholism [therapy]; Emergencies; Family Practice; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
CC: HM-ADDICTN
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004148.pub3


Record #3 of 140
ID: CD002008
AU: Baldwin Christine
AU: Weekes Christine Elizabeth
TI: Dietary advice with or without oral nutritional supplements for disease-related malnutrition in adults
SO: Baldwin Christine, Weekes Christine Elizabeth. Dietary advice with or without oral nutritional supplements for disease-related malnutrition in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2011 Issue 9 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002008.pub4
YR: 2011
NO: 9
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD002008/frame.html
KY: Adult [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Dietary Supplements; Dietetics; Body Weight [physiology]; Dietary Services; Disease; Malnutrition [diet therapy] [etiology] [mortality]; Nutrition Processes [physiology]; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
CC: HM-CF
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002008.pub4


Record #4 of 140
ID: CD005030
AU: Gates Simon
AU: McCambridge Jim
AU: Smith Lesley A
AU: Foxcroft David
TI: Interventions for prevention of drug use by young people delivered in non-school settings
SO: Gates Simon, McCambridge Jim, Smith Lesley A, Foxcroft David. Interventions for prevention of drug use by young people delivered in non-school settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2006 Issue 1 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005030.pub2
YR: 2006
NO: 1
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005030/frame.html
KY: Adult [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Counseling; Adolescent; Program Evaluation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Schools; Substance-Related Disorders [prevention & control]
CC: HM-ADDICTN
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005030.pub2


Record #5 of 140
ID: CD004015
AU: Lewin Simon
AU: Munabi-Babigumira Susan
AU: Glenton Claire
AU: Daniels Karen
AU: Bosch-Capblanch Xavier
AU: van Wyk Brian E
AU: Odgaard-Jensen Jan
AU: Johansen Marit
AU: Aja Godwin N
AU: Zwarenstein Merrick
AU: Scheel Inger B
TI: Lay health workers in primary and community health care for maternal and child health and the management of infectious diseases
SO: Lewin Simon, Munabi-Babigumira Susan, Glenton Claire, Daniels Karen, Bosch-Capblanch Xavier, van Wyk Brian E, Odgaard-Jensen Jan, Johansen Marit, Aja Godwin N, Zwarenstein Merrick, Scheel Inger B. Lay health workers in primary and community health care for maternal and child health and the management of infectious diseases. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2010 Issue 3 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004015.pub3
YR: 2010
NO: 3
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004015/frame.html
KY: Child, Preschool [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Health Promotion; Breast Feeding; Child Abuse [prevention & control]; Child Health Services [standards]; Child Mortality; Community Health Workers [standards]; Home Health Aides; Immunization; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Health Services [standards]; Parent-Child Relations; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary [prevention & control]
CC: HM-EPOC
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004015.pub3


Record #6 of 140
ID: CD007536
AU: Whitworth Melissa
AU: Dowswell Therese
TI: Routine pre-pregnancy health promotion for improving pregnancy outcomes
SO: Whitworth Melissa, Dowswell Therese. Routine pre-pregnancy health promotion for improving pregnancy outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2009 Issue 4 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007536.pub2
YR: 2009
NO: 4
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD007536/frame.html
KY: Adult [checkword]; Female [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Pregnancy [checkword]; Young Adult [checkword]; Pregnancy Outcome; Health Behavior; Health Education [methods]; Health Promotion [methods]; Maternal Behavior; Preconception Care [methods]; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors
CC: HM-PREG
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007536.pub2


Record #7 of 140
ID: CD006869
AU: Roberts Neil P
AU: Kitchiner Neil J
AU: Kenardy Justin
AU: Bisson Jonathan I
TI: Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder
SO: Roberts Neil P, Kitchiner Neil J, Kenardy Justin, Bisson Jonathan I. Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2009 Issue 3 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006869.pub2
YR: 2009
NO: 3
PB: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
US: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006869/frame.html
KY: Female [checkword]; Humans [checkword]; Male [checkword]; Cognitive Therapy [methods]; Desensitization, Psychologic [methods]; Psychotherapy, Brief [methods]; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic [prevention & control] [psychology]; Time Factors
CC: HM-DEPRESSN
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006869.pub2

adamsmith

That's not a valid import format. RIS entries have to start with
TY -
and ende with
ER -
they also use hyphens, not colons. Refer/Bibix looks completely different.

Since the Cochrane library is on Wiley, you should be able to import using Zotero's URL bar icon, though.

Michael Shepherd

OK - the URL bar icon didn't come up - my browser is Chrome.

adamsmith

and you have the Chrome connector for Zotero installed?

GabrielURFIST

Hi,
When I export some reférences from myendnoteweb (bibtex or ris) , I try to import them to zotero but zotero did not recognize format (bibtex or ris). I change extension .bib or .ris ... but same "alert message". I copy/paste from content of one of both files (bibtex or ris) and it work good. Why import file didn't work ? I don't have this problem before (with version 2.X of Zotero).

Michael Shepherd

Hi again -

I reinstalled the Chrome connector and still nothing on the Cochrane URL bar. Tried changing : to - in the ris/text file and still get the same 'not in supported format' message...

Simon

Michael Shepard: The Chrome connector cannot import files. You need to do this from Zotero Standalone (File->Import).

Simon

GabrielURFIST: This is probably fixed in Zotero 3.0.3. If not, start a new thread.

Michael Shepherd

Simon - thanks, I did know that - the Chrome connector bit is the preferred approach, the import a second option.

Using the Cochrane library, I am unable to download a list of references direct to Z Standalone and also cannot import a downloaded list.

adamsmith

Import won't work - as I say above, the problem isn't just the colon. RIS records need to start with TY and end with ER. That's required by the specs and Zotero requires it for import.
Can you import individual entries from the Cochrane library via URL bar icon? If not, could you provide an example URL of an item where you don't see a URL bar icon?

Michael Shepherd

Individual records import fine from the URL bar, it is a list of references that do not. See for example this short list.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/mainSearch?mode=startsearch&products=all&Query5=&Query4=&FromYear=&Query3=&Query2=&Query1=alcohol+health+promotion&ToYear=&zones5=tables&zones4=abstract&zones3=author&zones2=article-title&zones1=%28article-title%2Cabstract%2Ckeywords%29&opt4=AND&opt3=AND&opt2=AND&unitstatus=none&opt1=OR&

adamsmith

OK, I can confirm that. That doesn't look like it'll be a super-quick fix - the Cochrane search results are different from other Wiley searches - but I'll try to get to it in a while.
I can't help you with the manual import - there is just too much to change to make it worthwhile. You can try to contact the Cochrane library (and/or Wiley) and let them know that their export format is not valid RIS (nor valid anything else) - maybe they'll be responsive.

Michael Shepherd

Thanks for looking.

adamsmith

Cochrane library search results now work. Translators take 24hs to update or you can update immediately from the general tab of the Zotero preferences.

Michael Shepherd

Great that the Cochrane Library now works, but on individual records it seems to be picking up the wrong date from the record (all 1996 rather than the actual publication date).

adamsmith

if you don't mind, could you report that to Wiley/Cochrane? Zotero uses the bibtex data on the site and that has "year = {1996},"
we could probably hack around that - the correct date is in the site header - but I'd much rather they fix that on their side and we keep the translator clean.

james.k.russell

Is there a size limitation I should be aware of?
I have been trying to migrate from EndNote. I use RefMan format to export from EndNote, import to Zotero using Import. My EndNote library has > 30,000 references (and handles them quickly). I tried exporting the whole thing. EndNote handled this fine, but Zotero choked. I've been trying it a piece at a time, by first author initial. Zotero has imported pieces fine, so I don't think it is a format problem, but eventually (and fairly early in the alphabet) Zotero just seems to fail to import - it becomes non-responsive for hours. I've handled the notification about a script apparently being stuck (Continue), but it still doesn't complete in any reasonable amount of time. I've tried in Firefox extension and stand-alone (on Win 7). I've tried on different computers, and it gets stuck in different places (so I don't think it is some particular corrupt reference, e.g.).
I really like Zotero, and would like to transition - but I don't seem to be able to get there.

aurimas

30,000 items would take a while to import. If I understand correctly, Zotero does not choke on any one part of your library (when you try to import by pieces). That is, if it gets stuck and you try to redo the import, everything goes through properly? If not, then (A) how many entries are you trying to import for the segment that gets stuck? and (B) could you post the file somewhere (gist.github.com or pastebin.com or somewhere else) so we could do some testing with it?

It might help if you disable syncing in the preferences while performing a large import (I'm not certain that syncing occurs during import).

james.k.russell

Correct - does not consistently get stuck at any particular point. I have turned of sync, fwiw. It may be that what I need is less coffee and more patience. I've gotten farther today than I had before - importing N at the moment. Largest piece so far successfully on board has 9628 entries. I don't think there's much point in me posting an example - any large collection would likely have the same issue.
Thanks.

jvcruz

.

adamsmith

which format exactly did you export it to? post a sample entry here (i.e. in RIS from from TY - to ER - )

jvcruz

.

adamsmith

that's the Wikipedia citation template. Unfortunately Zotero currently doesn't import that. It would certainly be possible to write an import translator, but it's a fair amount of work and there really isn't much of a use case for it.

jvcruz

.