How do I export references from Embase for a systematic review?

Run your search query in Embase, select all results, click the Export button, choose 'RIS format (Mendeley, EndNote)', set output fields to 'Full record', and click Export to download the .ris file.

What is the export limit for Embase search results?

Embase typically allows up to 500 records per export for unauthenticated users and up to 10,000 records per export for institutional accounts. Larger searches should be exported in numbered batches.

Should I deduplicate Embase against MEDLINE before export?

No. PRISMA 2020 guidelines recommend exporting the raw yields of both databases independently. Import both into screening software like Lumina so the PRISMA flow diagram records the exact initial counts and deduplication statistics.

Embase Integration Guide

Exporting Search Results from Embase

Ensure your Embase reference exports contain full author, abstract, and EMTREE indexing metadata required for systematic review screening and PRISMA tracking.

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

⚠️ Embase Export Limits & Batching

Embase (Elsevier) enforces export limits based on your institutional license tier. Users without personal login can typically export up to 500 records per batch, while logged-in institutional users can export up to 10,000 records per file. If your search exceeds your account limit, export in numbered batches (e.g., Records 1 to 5,000, 5,001 to 10,000).

Required Embase Export Settings

When exporting references from Embase.com, selecting the correct output format and field set is essential. Screening software requires the abstract and citation tags to rank records effectively.

Embase Export Dialog Mimic Recommended Selection

1. Export Format:

RIS format (Mendeley, EndNote) Standard bibliographic format with tagged metadata

✓

2. Output Record Range:

Number of results: All results (or custom range e.g. 1-5000)

3. Fields to Include:

Full record (or Citation + Abstract + Index Terms) Includes Title, Authors, Abstract, EMTREE keywords, and DOI

✓

Step-by-Step Embase Export Workflow

Execute Your Systematic Search

Run your search query in Embase (using Quick Search, PICO Search, or Advanced Search with EMTREE terms and Boolean operators). Review your total hit count.

Select Records for Export

Above the results list, check "Select all" or choose the specific subset you want to export. To export the full set, you can select the range directly in the export dialog.

Click the "Export" Button

Locate the "Export" button in the action toolbar above the search results table. This opens the Embase export configuration modal.

Choose "RIS format" and "Full record"

Select **RIS format (Mendeley, EndNote)** as the format. Under fields to export, choose **Full record** or ensure that **Citation, Abstract, and Index terms** are checked. Never choose citation-only, as abstracts will be omitted.

Download and Keep Raw Export File

Click **Export**. The file will download as `.ris` (or `.ciw` in older setups). Save the file untouched without modifying or resaving it in word processors or spreadsheet editors before importing into Lumina.

Handling Embase and MEDLINE Overlap

Should you use Embase's built-in MEDLINE deduplication?

Embase offers an option to exclude MEDLINE records or apply an Embase-only filter (`[embase]/lim NOT [medline]/lim`). However, methodological guidelines (such as Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA 2020) recommend retrieving the full search yield from both PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase independently.

Export the complete Embase yield, import both databases into Lumina, and allow Lumina's multi-database deduplication engine to match records by DOI, PMID, and fuzzy title matching. This ensures your PRISMA flow diagram accurately documents total records identified per source and exact duplicate removals.

Troubleshooting Embase Exports

Missing abstracts after import: Confirm that you chose "Full record" in the export modal. If "Short record" or "Citation" was selected, the `.ris` file will not include the `AB - ` tag.

Export button disabled or stalled: Extremely large searches (>10,000 records) must be divided into smaller date or record ranges. Run exports in 5,000-record blocks if your browser session times out.

Next Step

Once your Embase `.ris` files are saved, upload them directly into your Lumina systematic review project or explore multi-database screening workflows.

Go to Import Guide Try the Demo