Instructions for using the Online Abstract Submittal System

Conventions used in the OASYS System

Submitting your abstract, one step at a time

The OASYS system divides the abstract submittal process into steps so that authors can enter information and confirm it is correct before moving to the next step. By following the buttons at the bottom of each page in the submittal process, you will automatically proceed through every step needed to submit an abstract. One page will follow another in the right frame of your screen until you are finished. After clicking the submit button at each stage, you will see a growing set of information that you have entered. You should proof it each time it appears, clicking the "Next step" button at the bottom of the page if the information is correct. Once you have decided to which program you will submit your abstract, the steps involved in abstract submittal are:

1. Select a topic (i.e. a session or symposium)
2. Describe your paper -- the title, presentation preferences, special equipment needs, etc..
3. Name the author(s) and enter their affiliations
4. Submit your abstract text

The functions that are available to you at any phase in the submittal process are shown to the left of these instructions, as links on the Abstract Control Panel. These links let you easily return and make corrections at any step along the way. If, for example, you realize after entering the 7th author that you made a mistake in the abstract title, just click on the ENTER TITLE link and change the title. If you made a mistake in an author's name, just click on the author's name in the Abstract Control Panel; the author information form will reappear in this space with the author's name on it, and you can change it right there. Select from the Abstract Control Panel when you want to go back to make revisions and don't want to back up all the way there.

Submit an Abstract

Step 1 -- Select Topic or Symposium

After you have selected a program (division) into which you will submit an invited or contributed paper, you will select the session where the paper will be presented. If you are not an invited author, usually you will submit into the General Papers session, which is reviewed by the program chair.

On the Topic Selection page, select the appropriate symposium or topic. Then click the "Submit Topic Information" button at the bottom of that page.

Within 60 seconds a confirmation page will appear in this frame, showing the information that you just entered or prompting you to provide missing information. Look over that information carefully. Then follow the instructions at the bottom of that page.

Note that the Abstract Control Panel, to the left of these instructions, is updated each time you submit new information. New links will appear in that panel, allowing you to return to a previous submission form at any time without backing up through every page.

If the Abstract Control Panel is not updated with each submission, or if the buttons at the bottom of a page do not work, then your browser is probably not set up to support JavaScript.  To enable JavaScript:

• in Netscape Navigator 3.0, use the browser's "Options - Network Preferences - Languages" command sequence to expose and select the "Enable JavaScript" option
• in Netscape Navigator 4.0, use the browser's "Edit-Preferences-Advanced" command sequence to expose and select the "Enable JavaScript" option.
• in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, use the "View-Options-Security" command sequence to expose and select "Run ActiveX Scripts".
• in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, use the browser's "View - Internet Options - Security" command sequence, then click on the "Settings" button, scroll to the "Scripting" options and Enable Active Scripting.

Does nothing happen? If you wait for a full minute and nothing happens after clicking a button or hyperlink, then either:

• the Internet, or your connection to it, is very busy (Try later.)
• you are behind a firewall, and some combination of browser and firewall settings is blocking receipt of the form (Ask your systems administrator to contact us.)
• or our server is down. (And that almost never happens. But let us know if you think it is.)

Step 2 -- Enter Title

Enter the information requested on the Paper Information sheet:

• the title of your presentation
• whether you were invited to submit it, or are contributing it in response to the Call for Papers
• any comments or questions you would like to share with the program organizers
• your preferred method of presentation (oral or poster)
• any special equipment needs

Then click the "Submit Information" button at the bottom of that page.

Within a few seconds you will receive confirmation of the information submitted and instructions on what to do next.  Soon thereafter the "Abstract Control Panel" in the left frame will be updated to show new actions now available.

If you don't see a confirmation appear in your web browser, then you might have lost your connection to the Internet. Take note of your ID number and password. (They're at the top of the Abstract Control Panel.) Re-establish your connection, and try again.

Rarely, authors will see a "Server Error" message after submitting information to us. This usually occurs because some of the information has been corrupted in transit. Just hit your browser's "Back" button, and try submitting again. If you still get an error message, please let us know.

Step 3 -- Name Authors

If you are satisfied with the confirmation of the abstract title, click the "Next Step" button at the bottom of the page. Or click the "Add New Author" link that now appears under the NAME AUTHOR(S) heading of the Abstract Control Panel. Fill in the requested information on the Author Information Sheet. Then click the "Submit Information" button at the bottom of that sheet.

Repeat the process if there is more than a single author. Make sure that you identify at least one author who will present the paper at the meeting.

• Complete contact information is required for the principal author and the presenter (if different).
• First name, last name, affiliation, and e-mail address are required for co-authors. If an author doesn't have an affiliation or e-mail address, enter N/A in the textbox. You must have an e-mail address to receive confirmation of the abstract submission.
• Unless the comment to the organizer requests otherwise (on the "ENTER TITLE" page), authors with identical affiliations will be listed in the published abstract as sharing the same affiliation and address.
• If possible, use variations in the name of the institution to differentiate between authors working at the same institution but in different departments. For example, if the primary author is in the Chemistry Department and his co-author is in the Chemical Engineering Department of MIT, the first might list his affiliation as "Massachusetts Institute of Technology" and the second as "MIT".

Step 4 -- Submit Abstract Text

After the last author has been entered, click the Submit Abstract Text button that appears at the bottom of the confirmation page, or click the "SUBMIT TEXT" link that now appears in the Abstract Control Panel.

Answer Question 1: "Does your abstract contain an image?"

• Images must be saved and uploaded as GIF or JPEG files. If necessary learn how to convert your image(s) to the appropriate format.

Answer Question 2 with Type/Paste text if you want to:

• Type your abstract directly into a text box on a form (easiest)
• Write simple abstract text in a word processor and copy and paste it into the Web form (easiest if you've already got your abstract text written and it doesn't include special characters or multiple images.)

Answer Question 2 with Upload HTML file if:

• You want to use tables, include multiple images, or control image placement, or
• You are comfortable creating an HTML file using your word processor or HTML editor and you prefer the speed and control that is provided by such tools

You will now either be able to enter your text into the Web form (if you chose Type/Paste text) or upload a file.

For text that you enter directly into the Web form:

• Type or paste your abstract text into the text box.
• To include italics, subscripts, superscripts, or special characters in your abstract text, copy-and-paste from the special characters page directly into the abstract text box.
• If your abstract includes graphics, specify the location of your graphics file (GIF or JPEG only) and its scaling factor. You can change the scaling factor later if necessary to stay with the size limits allowed by ACS.
• Click the Submit button.

If you need to upload an HTML file:

• Specify the location of your HTML file.
• Specify the name(s) of your graphic(s) files, if necessary, and their locations.
• Click the Submit button.

You will see Congratulations at the top of the next page if your abstract has been submitted successfully. If an error occurs during submission and you don't see this message, please report this to our technical support and retrieve your abstract later and try resubmitting the text.

You will receive confirmation of your submission at each step. Take note of the abstract ID number and password assigned to your submission. With that information you can return to this page if you lose your Internet connection, or if you must interrupt the submission process, or if you would like to modify your submission at any time prior to the deadline.

Look at the confirmations carefully. Most authors (and all editors) can find mistakes in the first submission of an abstract. If you see an error, just back up¾ or click the appropriate link in the Abstract Control Panel¾ and correct it. After you have submitted all required information, including the text and any images, you should see all of that information in the confirmation on your screen; if you don't, it means that that the information was not received and you should try again.

Abstracts that are too large will not be accepted or stored. If you receive an error message telling you to reduce the word count or the image size(s), please do so; otherwise, no text or images will be stored.

If the text was submitted as an HTML file and must be edited:

1. Locate the original file on your computer.
2. Edit the text in your word processor or HTML editor.
3. Save it again in HTML format.
4. Upload it again.
5. Repeat the process as required until you receive confirmation that the text has been accepted.

Retrieve and Modify an Existing Abstract

To retrieve and view or modify an existing abstract:

1. Return to http://oasys.acs.org/oasys.htm
2. Have your Abstract ID number and password handy when you return.
3. Click the link near the top of the page labeled Resume Submission or View/Modify/Withdraw Abstract.
4. Enter the Abstract ID number and password
5. Use the Abstract Control Panel to view or modify the desired part of the abstract. For instance, click Enter Title to change a title. Then click the Submit button to send your changes.
6. To correct abstract text that was submitted as an HTML file, see above.

Transfer a Paper to Another Program

1. If the Abstract Control Panel is visible and the desired abstract ID appears at the top of it, then skip to #2 below. Otherwise:
   • Return to http://oasys.acs.org/oasys.htm
   • Click the link near the top of the page labeled Resume Submission or View/Modify/Withdraw Abstract.
   • Login using the ID and Password you were assigned.
2. Select Transfer Abstract from the Abstract Control Panel.
3. On the form that next appears in this space, the radio button in front of the current assignment will look different from the rest.
4. Click on the button in front of the new program to which this abstract should be be moved. (The button in front of the old assignment will be automatically deselected.)
5. Click the Submit Information at the bottom of the page.
6. The display will flicker several times as the abstract is transported to the new program. If you logged in with something other than the abstract password, and if your password does not allow access to the new program, then you will see a confirmation of the transfer but you will not be able to reverse it.

Withdraw a Paper

1. If the Abstract Control Panel is visible and the desired abstract ID appears at the top of it, then skip to #2 below. Otherwise:
   • Return to http://oasys.acs.org/oasys.htm
   • Click the link near the top of the page labeled Resume Submission or View/Modify/Withdraw Abstract.
   • Login using the ID and Password you were assigned.
2. Select WITHDRAW from the Abstract Control Panel.
3. Between TITLE and STATUS, select "Withdraw paper from program".
4. Under the Comments to Organizers section, type in your reason for withdrawing your paper.
5. Click the Submit Information at the bottom of the page.
6. You will see Paper withdrawn from meeting on the confirming page.

Reverse a Withdrawal

Troubleshooting, FAQs

Tell me about how my abstract will appear in the printed abstract book.