Instructions for using the Online Abstract Submittal System

Conventions used in the Online Abstract System

Submitting your abstract, one step at a time

The Online Abstract 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 area you will submit your abstract, the steps involved in abstract submittal are:

1. Title Page
2. Name the author(s) and enter their affiliations.
3. Submit your abstract text.
4. Confirm and proof your submission

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, or if you encountered an "invalid record number" or "corrupt data" error after backing up.

When making corrections, Do Not Use the Back Button On Your Bowser! This can cause you to lose data that you've entered, but haven't submitted yet.

Submit an Abstract

Step 1 -- Title

Enter the information requested on the Paper Information sheet:

• the title of your presentation
• your preferred method of presentation (oral or poster)
• research designation
• category

Then click the "Submit" 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. If you encounter an "invalid record number" or "corrupt data" error after backing up, try the links in the Abstract Control Panel instead.

Step 2 -- 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 "Authors" link that is now available in the Abstract Control Panel. Fill in the requested information on the Author Information Sheet. Then click the "Submit" 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.

• The following information is required for the corresponding/presenting author: First and last name, Affiliation, Department, City, Country, Phone, Street address, a valid email address, Contact Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email.
  For all other authors, this information is required: First and last name, Affiliation, Department, City, Country, Phone, a valid email address.

Step 3 -- 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 "Abstract Text" link that is now available in the Abstract Control Panel.

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

• Type your abstract directly into the text box on the form
• 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 a table.)

Answer Question with Upload HTML file if:

• You want to use tables or have many symbols or special characters.
• 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

Click on "Open Abstract Text Submission Form Now" at the bottom of page.

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.
• Click the Submit Text button.

If you need to upload an HTML file:

• Specify the location of your HTML file.
• Click the "Submit Text" button.

You will be given one more chance to review your abstract. Please correct any errors that you see. Then click the button at the bottom of that page, labeled "Conclude submission".

You will see Abstract Submitted for Review 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.

Step 4 -- Confirmation

You only need to click once the button labeled "Conclude submission". Any changes that you make to the submission afterwards will automatically be displayed to those officials when they review your abstract.

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 click the appropriate link in the Abstract Control Panel and correct it. After you have submitted all required information, including the text, 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, please do so; otherwise, no text 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. Go to, http://ata.confex.com/ata/login.cgi
2. Enter your abstract ID number and password then click the "Login" button.
3. Use the Abstract Control Panel to view or modify the desired part of the abstract. For instance, click Title to change a title. Then click the submit button to send your changes.
4. To correct abstract text that was submitted as an HTML file, see above.

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:
   • Go to, http://ata.confex.com/ata/login.cgi
   • Enter your abstract ID number and password then click the "Login" button.
2. Select WITHDRAW from the Abstract Control Panel.
3. Type in your reason for withdrawing your paper.
4. Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
5. You will see Abstract withdrawn on the confirming page.

Reverse a Withdrawal

Troubleshooting, FAQs