(3) Assuming there are errors to correct, does Zotero have sufficiently powerful global search-replace tools? (2) Done right, can the EN database be transferred with 99.9% accuracy? Including a pretty wide range of reference types, data fields, math symbols, diacriticals, etc. (1) Is Zotero ready for very large databases? (I followed some instructions for migrating my EN database to Zotero, which mostly worked OK, but now it takes 3-4 minutes for Zotero to open the file and finish loading “tags”. A few examples of the issues I am worried about: Hopefully, some of you with extensive experience using both programs (and porting between them) will be motivated to document some of the specific similarities and differences you’ve encountered.

But, I haven’t found the detailed advanced-user level comparison of pros and cons that I am looking for. I’ve been browsing various sources for insight into this, and this list seemed promising. I quickly narrowed the search to Zotero, but I have not been able to convince myself that Zotero is (yet) ready to replace EndNote in my (group’s) workflow.

So, before I settle into making do with EndNote 20, I’m giving the alternatives another look. (Specific example: the rows in the main window listing the records are effectively “double spaced” and there appears to be no option to condense this.) I think it went from the best interface among the competitors to really awful. But, while setting up my (fully maxed out) new MacBook Pro, I was shocked at the interfaces changes in the latest version of EndNote (v20.2). So far, I’ve concluded it would not be worth the trouble. I expect to encounter lots of obstacles when/if I make the switch. I lead a research group that shares my master database, using devices that vary in OS, age, etc. Since then, I’ve used EndNote with MS Word for hundreds of research papers and other documents, most with collaborators who use EndNote. But, I am very heavily invested in that program: My library is about 65K records, accumulated over 30+ years (starting in 1989 with EndNote Version 2), with many records customized for various purposes, many customize styles and import and export scripts, etc. I have long wanted to leave EndNote, for various reasons. Happy new year (it's got to be better than the last one.)

Endnote mac m1