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Mendeley

This guide provides on overview of how to use Mendeley to create a personal database of references that can be inserted into documents created with Word.

Adding Files to Mendeley

You can add files to Mendeley by:

1. Dragging and dropping a PDF into the middle pane of Mendeley

2. You can also add files by selecting the file and then clicking Add Files or Folder. 

*Note: Not all PDFs have information that Mendeley can extract, and sometimes the citation information will be missing, incomplete, or incorrect. You may have to enter citation information manually, search the Mendeley catalog, or enter the DOI, PMID, or ArcXiv ID under Catalog IDs and use the Lookup (magnifying glass).

Export references directly from other Elsevier products such as Science Direct or Scopus to Mendeley by:

  • When reading an article, click the export button, then choose "Save to Mendeley."

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Do you already have a lot of articles/PDFs?

Mendeley can often read through a PDF and create a record for the item based on the information it finds. You can load files individually or even upload a whole folder of PDFs.

Note: Mendeley will try to create an accurate record from an article. Most PDFs directly from the publisher do well, but you should always check for errors.

Importing From EndNote, Zotero, Etc.

If you already use Zotero to manage your references, you can set up Mendeley to continuously import any documents you add to Zotero.

If you currently use Endnote™ or RefWorks for reference management, you can easily import your library into Mendeley:

  • ​Export your library from EndNote (.xml format) or RefWorks (.ris format) and name/save the file accordingly.
  • In Mendeley, import this file you just created:
    • Web: Click "+ Add" and select one of the options.
    • Reference Manager Desktop:  +Add New > Import library >  and select the type of your exported file > choose your export file.
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