## 6.3 Compressed library

You may want to share your EndNote library with others. You can do this by creating a compressed library. A compressed library contains both EndNote files of your library: The EndNote file (.enl) and the linked data folder (.data). The compressed library is smaller than the EndNote file and data folder together. You can exchange it via e-mail. e.g. with students or colleagues.

How do I create a compressed library?

1. Go to 'File' in the menu bar and choose 'Compress library (.enlx)
2. In the pop-up window that appears, you can choose either 'Create' or 'Create & Email'. Choose the option that suits you best.
3. On the right-hand side, you can choose whether you want to save the compressed library with, or without attachments.
   With attachments means that PDF files you have added are also saved.
4. Next at the bottom you choose which references you want to save, all references in the entire library, or just a particular group/group set.
5. After this, click 'Next' and save the file in a desired location. If you have chosen 'Create & Email', your standard mail programme will now open with the compressed library as an attachment.

How do I open a compressed library?

1. Find the compressed library, it can be recognised by the .enlx extension.
2. Open the compressed library. You will now see that the location where the compressed library was saved now contains a .enl and .data file.
3. You can now continue working in the EndNote library. Changes will automatically be saved in the EndNote file (.enl).
   If you want to share the library again, create a new compressed library.

Knowledge clip
Knowledge clip without sound. The instruction shows EndNote 20; this procedure is unchanged in EndNote 2025 (Mac as well).