You can use any email address to register for an account with Mendeley, then fill out your profile and connect with other researcher or set your account to private.
Download Mendeley Desktop for MacOS, Windows or Linux
After you've registered for an account, you can download Mendeley Desktop, which can sync with the web and mobile versions and organize your reference. You can drag and drop PDF files onto the Desktop to easily create references and then annotate the PDFs with highlights and sticky notes as you read them.
Install the Mendeley Web Importer
A web importer works as an add-on to your web browser and makes it easy to import references from databases. For example, the Chrome browser extension allows users to save resources from supported websites with one click.
The plugin allows you to insert citations and bibliographies into your Microsoft Word docs (including Word 2016). The plugin also works with LibreOffice or BibTeX. Look for the "Install" link in the Tools menu of Mendeley Desktop.
Download the free mobile app from iTunes or Google Play.
Ebsco host databases:
Databases like Academic Search Complete and ERIC are owned by the company Ebsco host and function in the same way. Generally, the "Save to..." button doesn't always work well. Instead of using the "Save to..." feature, use the "Export" button, and export the citation in RIS format, and import it into Mendeley by choosing File - Import (or drag the file into Mendeley Desktop). Depending on the options available, you may also use either "Direct Export" or "Open With" options which are simpler.
Alternatively, If you are using the Web Importer bookmarklet, you can just click on the "Save to Mendeley" button on your bookmarks toolbar within the browser. As you add the citation(s) to your Library, you can choose to put them in a particular folder.
Elsevier Databases:
Databases owned by the company Elsevier (like ScienceDirect) an "Export" button appears near the top of the page. Elsevier databases allow users to save citation directly to Mendeley by selecting "Save to Mendeley"
Drag and Drop PDFs:
If you have downloaded the PDF onto the computer or device you are using, you can drag and drop the pdf into the middle pane of Mendeley. This will save the file to Mendeley and, potiental, extract the citation information (please be aware that the citaiton information may be incorrect and you may need to manually edit the citation)
You can share references and collaborate with other Mendeley users with Groups. There are three different "levels" of groups: Private, Invite Only, and Open. You can learn more about Groups here. Keep in mind that users with a free account can only own one private group with a max of three members but can join an unlimited number of groups.
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