The BibTeX-Endnote converter is available from and it's so featureful that it can even import BibTeX italics (much easier than trying to italicise within Endnote). To minimise the trauma, you could point out that there's a BibTeX to Endnote converter available that would let him/her bail out if it all gets too much.

Ideally you want to persuade your colleague to upgrade from Endnote to JabRef. Also, BibTeX files are fairly easy to edit with your favourite text editor. Various reference managers are available that use BibTeX as their base format: my favourite is Jabref (it's a java program so works on Windows and Linux). You will then be able to use bibutils to convert the Endnote-XMl file into various other formats (BibTeX and a few less famous ones as well). Second possibility: Instruct your colleague to save the database (from Endnote) in Endnote's own Endnote-XML format (which is presumably a text representation of the usual Endnote format). Be aware that Endnote allows you to write your own export filters, and its not hard to write a better BibTeX export filter than the one provided. First possibility: Instruct your colleague to use Endnote's 'BibTeX export' filter to export the database in BibTeX format.

Endnote alternatives for pc