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Systematic and Systematic-like Reviews

Using direct export from online databases

Records or groups of records found in online databases, such as EBSCO, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science, can be directly exported as an RIS file to go into Covidence and/or your EndNote library.

The steps for exporting records to EndNote may vary depending on the database and the browser you are using.

Use the tabs to find the specific instructions for your database.

See these further instructions for Importing references in Covidence including importing from PubMed.

Items found using EBSCOhost databases can be exported to EndNote, both individually and as a group. As with all exports it is important to check your references in your EndNote library as some editing may be required.

  • Run your search and view the results.
  • Use the checkboxes to select individual, multiple, or all records on the page.
    • To export all results across pages, click Share > Add to folder, then go to the folder (top right) and export from there.
  • Once you’ve selected the records:
    • Click the Export icon (in the toolbar above your results or inside the folder view).
  • In the Export options:
    • Choose Direct Export in RIS Format.
    • Click Export.
      If your browser is set to automatically open .ris files with EndNote, the references may import directly when you click Export Citation(s). If not, you can double-click the downloaded file to open it in EndNote, or open EndNote and go to File > Import > File, then select the downloaded file to import it manually.

Exporting large numbers of results

  • Run your search and view the results.
  • Use the checkboxes to select individual, multiple, or all results:
    • To select all results on the page, tick the checkbox at the top of the list.
    • To export more than one page, click Select all above the list (Scopus allows exporting up to 2,000 records at once).
  • Click the Export button at the top of the results list.
  • In the Export options:
    • Set Export format to RIS format (for EndNote, Mendeley, etc.).
    • Under Output, select the fields you want (e.g. Citation information, Abstract, Keywords).
  • Click Export.
    If your browser is set to automatically open .ris files with EndNote, the references may import directly when you click Export Citation(s). If not, you can double-click the downloaded file to open it in EndNote, or open EndNote and go to File > Import > File, then select the downloaded file to import it manually.

Exporting individual or multiple citations

  • Run your search in Web of Science and view the results.
  • Use the checkboxes to select one or more records you wish to export.
  • At the top of the results list, click the Export button.
  • In the Export menu:
    • Set Export To as EndNote Desktop (or EndNote Online if you're using the online version).
    • Under Record Content, choose the level of detail you want (e.g. Full Record and Cited References for complete details).
  • Click Export.
    If your browser is set to automatically open .ris files with EndNote, the references may import directly when you click Export Citation(s). If not, you can double-click the downloaded file to open it in EndNote, or open EndNote and go to File > Import > File, then select the downloaded file to import it manually.

Exporting large results sets or all results

  • Run your search and view the results.
  • Above the results list, look for the Export button.
  • In the Export window:
  • Set Export To as EndNote Desktop (or EndNote Online).
  • Under Records, choose:
    • All records on page (default), or
    • Records from and enter a range (e.g. 1 to 500).
  • Under Record Content, choose the level of detail (e.g. Full Record and Cited References).
  • Click Export.

Note: Web of Science allows you to export up to 500 records at a time. For larger result sets, export in batches by adjusting the record range in step 3.

Exporting individual or multiple citations

  • Run your search and view the results.
  • Use the checkboxes next to each citation to select one, more or all records.
  • Click the Export link (top right of the results list).
  • In the Export window:
    • Set Export To as EndNote.
    • Under Selection, choose Selected Results.
    • (Optional) Under Fields to Display, choose Complete Reference to include abstracts and other details.
  • Click Export Citation(s). 
    If your browser is set to automatically open .ris files with EndNote, the references may import directly when you click Export Citation(s). If not, you can double-click the downloaded file to open it in EndNote, or open EndNote and go to File > Import > File, then select the downloaded file to import it manually.

Exporting large results sets

Ovid may limit how many results can be exported at once (e.g. 1000). For large result sets, export in batches of 1000.

Items found using ProQuest databases can be exported to EndNote, either individually or as a group. As with all exports it is important to check your references in your EndNote library as some editing may be required.

  • Run your search and view the results.
  • Use the checkboxes to select individual or multiple results
  • Click the ellipsis at the top of the list to open All Save & Export Options
  • Select EndNote
  • In the Export/Save window:
    • Select Output to: RIS
    • Choose the content to include
  • Click Continue
    If your browser is set to automatically open .ris files with EndNote, the references may import directly when you click Export Citation(s). If not, you can double-click the downloaded file to open it in EndNote, or open EndNote and go to File > Import > File, then select the downloaded file to import it manually.

Export large results sets

Adding Grey Literature

If you are also using Grey Literature sources in your review these can be manually added to your EndNote Library (create a new Group called "Grey Literature"). Then from EndNote you can export an .xml file (of that Group of references) which can be imported into Covidence.

See: How to track databases, registers, and other sources for further detail on importing into Covidence.

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