Using Endnote on Desktop, and PDF annotation/markup software on Ipad: Suggestions?

[hejduk]

While I hate the layout of Endnote, it does a really great job of storing, managing, and creating what I need. (I'm aware of Mendeley, Zotero, etc, but Ednote does exactly what I need). I'm trying to go completely digital with my PDFs this fall (2nd year of PhD program), but need something that "marries" well with Endnote.

Anyone figured out a workflow where they can use Endnote for referencing and bibliography creation on the Desktop, while using some software on the Ipad (or similar) for annotating/marking-up the PDF? Endnote has a the ability to markup/annotate in the desktop client, but the interface is far from great.

[Chasely]

I think the best app for annotating PDFs on the iPad is PDF Pen. As far as how that would work into your workflow, I'm afraid I can't be much help. I generally save everything to Dropbox so that I can work on it and have my saved versions show up anywhere on any computer.

[Eigen]

I use Goodreader.

I keep all my PDFs numbered by Endnote ID # (Most recent=largest #) First Author, (Year), note. Then I use Goodreader to sync that file of PDFs to my iPad. You'll want to make sure you're not making internal copies of the PDFs in Endnote, however- you want all the PDFs stored in a single folder that Endnote then links to.

Goodreader lets me annotate the documents and sync them back to my desktop, as well as syncing up new PDFs or annotations that I add via the desktop.

There *should* be an Endnote app for the iPad released sometime this late summer/fall, it's in Beta now.

[hejduk]

I keep all my PDFs numbered by Endnote ID # (Most recent=largest #) First Author, (Year), note. Then I use Goodreader to sync that file of PDFs to my iPad. You'll want to make sure you're not making internal copies of the PDFs in Endnote, however- you want all the PDFs stored in a single folder that Endnote then links to.

I'm a little confused after reading the top, so maybe by mentioning my workflow, you can elaborate some? I will bring a source into Endnote, and attach the PDF. Even if you bring in a PDF, and keep it, Endnote makes a copy of that PDF and puts it in the Endnote library data folder. I have this folder on Dropbox. When I open a Pdf in Endnote, and annotate it, I'm working on the copy Endnote made that is stored in the library data folder in Dropbox.

So it sounds like I'd keep doing this, and just make sure to open the PDF in the library data folder in Dropbox and mark it up in GoodReader?

There *should* be an Endnote app for the iPad released sometime this late summer/fall, it's in Beta now.

You are definitely correct here! Endnote X6 will be out in September for Mac, so only make sense for the iPad app to become available in the same timeframe.

[Eigen]

You have two options when you attach a PDF in Endnote- either it makes a copy, or it doesn't. You can change this somewhere in the options, I forget where offhand.

I find it easier to keep all of my PDFs grouped in one folder (all 600 of em) with detailed names. Then I attach those files to Endnote. Since I have Endnote set to not make a copy of that PDF, it doesn't store a copy in the library folder.

Previously, I was using the Endnote Library folder, but I had some significant problems when I tried migrating to a new system- about half of the internal links that Endnote uses broke. Similarly, I can use the same library of PDFs on both Mac and PC, just by changing one line in the syntax of the link, and Endnote will do that as a batch change to make it easy.

For accessing on an iPad, I really didn't like the multiple folder structure that Endnote used in it's library file (although I use X2, so that may have changed in more recent versions) and preferred having all of the PDFs in a single file.And since it's a single folder, it's an easy sync to and from GoodReader, and very easy to browse. Since Endnote applies ID #s to all records, I used those in my file naming system so that my files default to the order of most recently added.

And yes, if you want to keep doing it the way you have it, make sure you open up the proper file from your Library Data folder and mark it up in Goodreader, then sync it back.