How do I export results from Cochrane Library for a systematic review?

Run your search query in Cochrane Library, select the Trials (CENTRAL) or Cochrane Reviews tab, check 'Select all', click 'Export Selected Citations', choose 'PC (RIS)', check 'Include abstract', and click Export.

What is the export limit in Cochrane Library?

Cochrane Library allows exporting up to 20,000 trial records at once from the CENTRAL tab in RIS format.

Why are abstracts missing in my Cochrane export?

The 'Include abstract' checkbox is often deselected by default in the export dialog. You must check this box to ensure abstract texts are included in the downloaded RIS file.

Cochrane Library Integration Guide

Exporting Search Results from Cochrane Library

Export Cochrane Systematic Reviews (CDSR) and clinical trial records from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) with complete abstracts in RIS format.

By Lumina Editorial Team Published September 11, 2026 Updated September 11, 2026 Database export guide

⚠️ Cochrane Library Export Limits & Tab Separation

Cochrane Library organizes search results across separate database tabs: Cochrane Reviews, Cochrane Protocols, and Trials (CENTRAL). You cannot export all tabs in a single action. You must export results from each relevant tab separately (up to 20,000 records per export from CENTRAL).

Required Cochrane Export Settings

When clicking the "Export Selected Citations" link in Cochrane Library, ensure the export modal is configured to include abstracts.

Cochrane Library Export Dialog Mimic Recommended Selection

1. Select file type:

PC (RIS) Standard for review software

✓

Mac (RIS) Compatible RIS format

2. Include abstract:

Include abstract Crucial: unchecked by default on some views!

✓

⚡ Note: Both "PC (RIS)" and "Mac (RIS)" work identically in Lumina because both use standard carriage return conventions parsed by our ingestion engine.

Step-by-Step Cochrane Library Export Workflow

Execute Your Search Query

Use the Cochrane Advanced Search tab (Search Manager) to combine MeSH terms, title/abstract keywords, and Boolean syntax.

Select the Relevant Results Tab

Navigate to the tab you need to export. For clinical trials, click the Trials tab (CENTRAL). For existing systematic reviews, click Cochrane Reviews.

Select Records

Check "Select all" (or choose specific records or enter a numerical range).

Click "Export Selected Citations"

Click the export link positioned above the search results table. This opens the export options window.

Enable "Include Abstract" and Download

Choose **PC (RIS)** or **Mac (RIS)**. Make sure the **"Include abstract"** box is checked. Click **"Export"** to save the `.ris` file.

Handling CENTRAL Overlap with PubMed and Embase

Why CENTRAL has high overlap with other databases

CENTRAL derives many of its trial records from automated indexing of MEDLINE and Embase, supplemented by specialized trial registry handsearches. Because of this, a substantial portion of CENTRAL records will duplicate records already imported from PubMed or Embase.

Do not attempt to hand-filter CENTRAL files before import. Import the entire CENTRAL export into Lumina. Lumina's deduplication algorithm matches trials across databases using registry numbers (e.g. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT IDs), DOIs, PMIDs, and fuzzy title matching, documenting every duplicate for PRISMA reporting.

Troubleshooting Cochrane Exports

Empty abstracts in downloaded file: In Cochrane Library, the "Include abstract" checkbox is unchecked by default in certain browsers. If imported papers lack abstracts, re-export with this checkbox explicitly selected.

Exporting both Reviews and Trials: Remember that Cochrane Reviews and CENTRAL Trials must be exported as two separate files. Name them clearly (e.g., `cochrane_reviews.ris` and `cochrane_central_trials.ris`) before uploading.

Next Step

Upload your Cochrane Library export files into Lumina alongside your PubMed and Embase datasets to screen titles and abstracts with active learning prioritization.

Go to Import Guide Try the Demo