System Guide
Follow these step-by-step workflow notes to submit manuscripts, complete review assignments, manage editorial decisions, configure manager tools, maintain users, and complete production.
Authors
Use the author workflow to create a submission, follow editorial requests, upload revised files, complete acceptance documents, and approve proofs.
Register or sign in
Open the journal site, choose Sign in or Submit, create an author account if needed, complete email verification when requested, then sign in to reach the dashboard.
Select the correct journal
Use the journal selector in the dashboard header. Every submission list, upload, invoice, and workflow action follows the selected journal, so confirm this before starting work.
Start a new submission
Open Submissions, choose Submit Manuscript, select the article type, and enter the title, abstract, keywords, subject area, declarations, and any journal-specific fields.
Add authors and affiliations
Enter every author in the required order, mark the corresponding author, add affiliations, and review email addresses carefully because system messages are sent to these records.
Upload submission files
Upload the main manuscript file, cover letter, figures, supplementary files, and any required declarations. Use clear file versions so editors can identify the latest manuscript.
Review and submit
Check all metadata, author information, and uploaded files before final submission. Submit only when the record is complete; the manuscript then moves into technical checks.
Track editorial progress
Return to Submissions to follow statuses such as Submitted, Technical Check, Under Review, Revision Required, Accepted, Production, Completed, or Published.
Respond to technical check returns
If the manuscript is returned, open the submission, read the editorial note, replace or add the requested files, correct metadata, and resubmit for checking.
Submit a revision
When Revision Required appears, choose Revise, upload the revised manuscript and response to reviewers, update any changed files, and submit the revised version.
Complete APC, invoice, and rights items
After acceptance, use invoice or rights-form links sent by the journal. Pay or mark payment as instructed, complete copyright or license forms, and keep confirmation records.
Review copyediting and proof queries
Open author query or proofing links from email, answer each query, upload corrected figures if requested, review the compiled PDF, and submit final proof approval.
Reviewers
Use the reviewer workflow to respond to invitations, complete reviews, handle revised manuscripts, and download certificates.
Open the invitation
Use the review invitation email link or sign in and open Review Tasks. Check the manuscript title, abstract, article type, due date, and available manuscript PDF.
Accept or decline the task
Accept only if there is no conflict of interest and the due date is workable. Decline the invitation if the manuscript is outside scope or cannot be reviewed on time.
Open the active assignment
After accepting, open Review Tasks and choose Submit for the active assignment. Download or view the manuscript PDF and supporting files before writing comments.
Prepare comments
Write comments for authors in a clear, numbered style. Put private concerns, ethical issues, or handling advice in the confidential comments field for editors only.
Upload a report when needed
If the journal requests a separate report, upload the file in the review form. Keep the comments field populated so the editor can still read the recommendation quickly.
Choose a recommendation
Select the recommendation that matches the review: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. The recommendation is advisory and the editor makes the final decision.
Submit the review
Review all fields, submit the form, and confirm the assignment moves from active tasks to completed tasks. After submission, changes may require editorial assistance.
Handle reminders and overdue reviews
If a reminder arrives, open Review Tasks and complete the assignment. If the review cannot be completed, contact the editorial office before the due date where possible.
Complete a re-review
When a revised manuscript is assigned, open the new task marked as a re-review, compare the author response with the revised file, and submit the follow-up recommendation.
Download the certificate
After the review is completed, open the completed task list and use Certificate when available to download the review certificate for that assignment.