Mendeley - Citation Management Software

To add references to your Mendeley library:

• Import from Databases and Websites with theWeb Importer
• Import from Databases using Database Features or Saving an RIS file
• Add References Manually
• Search & Add References from the Mendeley Web Catalog

Citations in your personal Mendeley library are also added to the Mendeley Web Catalog. If you do not want to share a citation, deselect the option for Share this reference anonymously with Mendeley Web Catalog at the very bottom of the right-side document details pane.

Use the Web Importer browser extension when viewing a citation record, or a list of search results in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, or  a website or a webpage, such as an article on the LA Times website.

As you add the citation(s) to your library, the Web Importer attempt to add the PDF to your library. Click on the ... at the bottom of the Web Importer pane to change this setting. 

If the Web Importer does not work well, look for an options such as Cite/Save Citation/Export or a quotation mark icon to save or export the citation in RIS format. Depending on the database,

• you may be able to directly export to Mendeley, or
• you may have to save the RIS file and then import it into your library by clicking + Add new > File(s) from computer.

You may have to try out different methods. Note: RIS files are universally compatible with reference managers, regardless of platform or tool. 

Add PDFs or RIS files by dragging and dropping the file into the center pane of Mendeley Reference Manager or Mendeley Web. Mendeley will attempt to extract citation information from the files.

Additional import options are available by clicking on the + Add new button towards the top left of Mendeley Reference Manager. If you have a DOI, PMID or other identifier, search using this number to populate the fields. Otherwise, type in the citation information.

Note: not all PDFs have information that can be extracted by Mendeley; the citation information may be incomplete or incorrect.

• You may have to edit citation information manually in the citation details pane.
• Within the details pain, use the magnifying glass Lookup Tool (under Identifiers in the right-side details) to search for a more accurate citation using the DOI or ISSN.

Both Mendeley Web and Mendeley Reference Manager allow you to search the crowd-sourced Mendeley library.

• On Mendeley web, you will see the search bar front and center on the homepage.
• To access this feature in Mendeley Reference Manager, go to the Tools menu heading and select Search for articles online.