What is MIME type "application/x-endnote-connection"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

application/x-endnote-connection is a MIME type used for connection files that configure EndNote. These files store settings that tell EndNote how to link with online bibliographic databases.

They carry data such as URLs, login details, and search parameters. This helps automate the retrieval of scholarly references when working with digital libraries.

Files with this MIME type use the ENZ file extension.

For further explanation, you can visit the EndNote website or review detailed file type information on Filext.

Associated file extensions

.enz

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/x-endnote-connection

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/x-endnote-connection">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-endnote-connection');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.enz

FAQs

What is the application/x-endnote-connection MIME type used for?

This MIME type is specifically used for EndNote Connection Files, which typically carry the .enz extension. These files contain configuration settings (such as server addresses, ports, and database names) that allow the EndNote software to search and retrieve references directly from online library catalogs and citation databases.

How do I configure Apache to serve .enz files correctly?

To ensure browsers prompt the user to open the file with EndNote, add the MIME type mapping to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Use the directive: AddType application/x-endnote-connection .enz. This tells the server to send the correct headers when a user clicks a connection file link.

Why does my browser download the .enz file as text instead of opening EndNote?

This usually happens because the web server is misconfigured and sending the file as text/plain or application/octet-stream. To fix this, the server administrator must update the MIME type settings to associate the .enz extension with application/x-endnote-connection.

Which software is required to open this file type?

Files served with application/x-endnote-connection require Clarivate EndNote (available for Windows and macOS) to be installed. When opened, the file usually installs a new connection profile into the user's EndNote settings folder, enabling access to a specific institution's database.

Is application/x-endnote-connection a standard IANA MIME type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that this is a non-standard or proprietary media type. It was defined by the developers of EndNote to handle their specific configuration files and is not part of the official public registry, though it is widely supported by web servers hosting academic resources.

How do I add this MIME type to Nginx?

For Nginx servers, you should modify the mime.types file or the types block in your server configuration. Add the line application/x-endnote-connection enz; to ensure the server delivers the file with the correct content type header.

What is the difference between .enz and .ens files in EndNote?

While both are used by EndNote, application/x-endnote-connection (.enz) files manage database connections for searching. In contrast, .ens files are Output Styles that dictate how citations and bibliographies appear in your documents. They are distinct file types with different internal structures.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.